Let the Vine Define

Us worship leaders (in fact, most people) slip into a dangerous lie without even noticing it:

“My identity comes from what I do… the fruit of my ministry.”

You won’t say it out loud, but it sneaks in through the back door:

• “I’m a good worship leader because people love my voice.”
• “…because the room responded.”
• “…because people sing my songs.”
• “…because my Instagram is growing.”
• “…because YouTube comments are fire.”

We don’t mean to tie identity to output.
We just grew up in a world where what you do defines who you are.

“Hi, I’m Batsirai.”
“Oh cool, what do you do?”
Boom. The trap is set.

Carpenter. Lawyer. Teacher. Worship leader.
Title = identity.
Output = worth.

And suddenly your fruit becomes your proof.

If the set goes well → I matter.
If the room feels flat → I’m failing.
If the numbers drop → I’m insecure.
If the applause grows → I feel chosen.

But here’s the brutal truth you have to face:

You don’t get your identity from the fruit of the vine.
You get it from the vine itself.

A seed doesn’t become an “apple seed” after it produces apples.
It’s an apple seed because of where it came from — its origin, not its output.

Same with you.

Your identity is from your Father, not your fruit or followers.
From your Source, not your stats.
From your belonging, not your performance.

Fruit is a byproduct of connection, not a benchmark of your worth.

Healthy connection → healthy fruit.
Weak connection → frantic ministry.

You know this feeling:
When Christ matters most, ministry feels light.
When fruit matters most, ministry crushes you.

Because fruit can’t carry identity.
It was never designed to.

So here’s the shift:

Stop letting the stage define you.
Stop letting the room validate you.
Stop letting the metrics motivate you.

We don’t get identity from our fruit.
We get it from our Father.

Protect that connection - it's the only thing that matters.
Obesses over your Origin, not your output - let it overflow out of you.
Let the Vine define you — and watch the fruit take care of itself.

Hey - it would mean alot to hear from you

You can find me on Instagram @heyBatsirai - send a DM, let me know how I can support you better… assuming I am at all. (is this me looking for evidence of fruit 🤷‍♂️)