Abide

Abide: continue, dwell, reside, endure, remain, tarry, await, endure, lasting, lives, remain, stand by, stay, wait, keep to, hold to, persist, obey, follow, persevere 

Abide. God keeps bringing me back to this word over and over again. John 15 has been one of the most impacting chapters of Scripture in my Christian walk. I have learned that fruitfulness flows from intimacy with Jesus. I am desperate for God to fill me with Himself because I can do nothing in and of myself. If Christ doesn’t work through me, my efforts are futile. This verse must be stamped upon my heart and walked out everyday: “Remain in Me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in Me” (John 15:4).

If there was one thing I could convey to anyone about living a life after the Spirit, to abide in Christ is the most important thing.

What does it mean to “abide”?

“Find the meaning of life in Me. Find your value and confidence in Me. Find your purpose and direction in Me. Find the source for all spiritual achievement in Me. Find the strength to live each moment in Me. Find the wisdom to navigate the many turns of life in Me. Find forgiveness from all your sins in Me. Find the satisfaction of boundless joy in Me. Find the most glorious peace in Me. Find the most perfect love and acceptance in Me. Find the most satisfying life for all eternity in Me…To abide in Christ means to allow His life to possess you at all times and in every situation life brings. To abide means saying to God with the inhaling of every breath, “Not my will, but Yours be done.” To abide means sharing in a holy communion with our precious Heavenly Lover, listening to His gentle whisper at every turn of life’s drama. – Leslie Ludy

I must rest in His presence. I must practice the presence of God as Brother Lawrence did, who learned that there was no distinction between a time of business and a time of worship. He felt the presence of God whether he was working in his kitchen or worshipping in his church.

This is the reason of my existence: to sit at the feet of Jesus and abide in His presence. “One thing I have asked from the LORD, that I shall seek: That I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, To behold the beauty of the LORD And to meditate in His temple” (Psalm 27:4).

May we not just pray for the presence of God, let us practice the presence of God. Jesus, thank you for living inside of us today. May we be found loyal to God unto death. May we be found remaining in Christ, even if everyone else leaves and the world forsakes us. May we be steadfast in our pursuit of the One who is worthy to receive the reward of His suffering. May we be found wanting more of Him even when circumstances are so hard and we are tempted to quit. Let us put all of our hope and faith in the One who is able to keep us from falling. Let us hold fast to the One who gives us everything needed for life and godliness. He is the All-Sufficient, Ever-Faithful One. Holy Spirit, come fan the flame of our desire and passion for Jesus.