I wanted to share an email/announcement that my Professor sent out to us all this week because I found it very profound:

'1 “I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. 2 Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. 3 Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you. 4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. 5 I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. John 15:1-5 (ESV)

I began the process of learning to play the guitar when I was 17 years old. I say, began learning because each time I pick up a new song I develop a new skill and the process of learning continues. Depending on the song and its difficulty, it can take me as little as a few minutes or as much as several days, perhaps even weeks, to master. Eventually, even the most difficult song can become second nature. What I have learned is that mastery is largely about muscle memory. The more I repeat the same pattern day after day, the more ingrained the pattern becomes until it is a habit that I can do with little effort focused on the actual transition from note to note, chord to chord, progression to progression. Once this takes place, then I am free to focus on the artistry of the song and enjoy it at a whole different level. I believe this is reflective of the abiding Jesus speaks of in John 15. Growing spiritually is about consistency over the long haul, and it may not always be easy or come naturally. Some of our growth will be simple like a song on the guitar that combines many of the chord progressions with which one is already familiar. Other growth will take more time and effort and even perhaps frustration to master, but the time invested will be well worth it. As we daily spend time in God’s Word and prayer we develop spiritual muscle memory that allows us to enjoy a relational intimacy with the Lord that is only available as these habits become second nature. I would never want to give the impression that we work for our salvation, but I also believe it is equally as egregious when the impression is given that we will enjoy a deep and rich relationship with Jesus Christ that consists of sporadic and sparse “check-ins” with our Savior. So be relentless about developing, maintaining, and deepening daily time abiding with the Vine. ' -Paul Simpson, Author/Teacher, Introduction to Apologetics, Liberty University