The Upper Room Devotional 13 May 2026, Monday Message
Today’s Reading
John 15:1-8
Jesus said, “If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.” – John 15:5 (NIV)
A song that has been meaningful to me gives the assurance that God is with us both on the mountain and in the valley. Over years of growing closer to Christ, I have felt God’s presence with me on the mountains and in the valleys — on my best days and my worst.
But after evaluating my relationship with God, I have realized that the ordinary days between the mountains and valleys are the ones where I fail to feel God’s presence. The days that I fill with meetings, conference calls, and never-ending emails are the ones when I drift from God. I allow myself to be distracted and to think I can do life without God.
Jesus told his disciples, “If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.” We need to be connected to Christ every day if we want to bear fruit.
When we allow ourselves to be distracted on our in-between days, we unconsciously allow ourselves to drift. We must, with great intentionality, remain in Christ all our days.
Thought for the Day
I will intentionally turn to God on the ordinary days.
Prayer Focus
To make time for God each day
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May 2026 Wednesday Study Questions
Today’s Prayer
Loving God, help us to abide in you always, including on the days when the world distracts us most. Amen.
The Upper Room Devotional 13 May 2026 is a daily devotional magazine published in more than 30 languages and 100 countries around the world. The daily meditations are written by readers of the magazine and others interested in sharing their faith experiences through writing—both laity and clergy, published authors and new writers. Read More