Abide. Accept or act in accordance with, obey, observe, follow, hold to, conform to, stick to, heed, these are some of the formal definitions of the word ABIDE.
This is going to be my word for the new year. Specifically relating to my relationship with Christ and flowing out from there to every other aspect of my life. That sounds quite like a grandly simple plan in the ideals of being a Christian, huh? This is where the simplistic grace that we talk about daily overflows with the complexities of the nature of our amazing God through Christ.
And, with that thought I will try and explain what God has shown me just this morning. In the rarity of the quietness in our house.
We have had a rough 2013 to be quite honest. There are some parts of our lives that are simply transparent. The job search, having another miscarriage-knowing the sweet days of a brand new, sweet smelling, little life we are not celebrating as the holidays have come and gone, walking through some hard lessons in our lives while God refines us, financial strain, and then some not so transparent things that just sit in the recesses of my heart. What a year full of hurt. But that’s not the end that is never the end with God. Never. His mercies are new every morning. And yes, I truly mean His sweet mercies are brand new every morning. His provision over this year has been astounding. I cannot even think of a better word. I have been amazed over and over and over at the way He has provided for us. Definitely financially. But spiritually as well, wow. What healing power. He has loved us through so many people this year. I have studied God’s word, poured over His truth, cried with, laughed with, prayed with, and shared coffee and deserts with some of the most amazing women that I personally think walk on this earth. In a year in a half I have formed some of the sweetest and most spiritually deep and challenging friendships of my life. God is good. Walking through the murkiness and darkness it seems like it will never end but having sweet sisters of all ages and backgrounds helping me through each hard and frustrating step has helped me come out on the other side a better person. I am and will always be grateful for this hard hard year.
And now, as we have all prayed, Brian has been hired at a new church. A neat church, a great “fit” and where we know we are called to be. I know. And being my analytical, worrying, detailing self ‘knowing’ is not something that I claim a lot. It is where He truly has directed us.
And I am scared. Just being real. I am nervous. I am excited. And I am full of hope. But I know I need to walk through this new phase with a strong goal and a deep conviction so that January 1,2015 I can say wow once again at the amazing things God did while I clung to Him.
I think the word abide fits so well because I picture a little kid, ok to be honest a scared little girl, clinging to her mommy or daddy’s leg, taking each step with them and not missing a beat. Because to calm her anxious heart she needs to be right there. To feel the warmth of that body that she knows will protect her at all costs. To know that at any moment, if the need arises, that parent will scoop her up in their arms and face the danger, the hard terrain, or lift her up to see the beautiful breathtaking view she just can’t quite see and handle on her own.
That’s the beginning, to take every step, every breath, every heartbeat together. To be so consumed in God that His life and love flows through my veins.
“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. I am the vine and 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.” John15:3-5
I think that He has been teaching me this past year to abide, to know that everything good comes from Him, to understand that my next step must be lined up with His so that I can bear fruit. Not just fruit but much fruit. And not for me but simply for His glory. The next step never means I leave Him. I lean on Christ and draw from Him more heavily because bearing fruit means that I nourish others as well. That’s what fruit does. The flowers pollinate and replenish many things unseen. The harvest is not known to that flower and the fruit is consumed and used for the good of others. The branch is used as a vessel to produce all of these and without the vine the branch dies. Without the fruit the branch dies.
We have been through a long winter and I’m not sure I have produced much fruit, I have sat and soaked up the teachings just as a branch sits dormant in the winter but just after winter comes that glorious spring. And that is the abiding that God is calling me to know. To hang on and get fed so I can be poured out for others.
The chapter goes on to say, “If you abide in me and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. By this my father is glorified that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples. As the father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love just as I have kept my father’s commandments and abide in his love. These things I have spoken to you that my joy may be in you and your joy may be full.”
It is so deep, and so hard, yet so simple. Abide in Christ. Walk daily with Him, keep His commandments, produce fruit, glorify God, be full of joy. He lays it all out. I just need to start/continue by abiding. In Him all of the time.
I know this is all symbolic and it makes perfect sense in my mind because God really spoke to me through simply writing this passage out this morning. And if you’ve stuck with me through the end of this blogpost I thank you and challenge you to set a spiritual goal for the year, maybe even a word to be your mantra. To remind you of what God is teaching you.
