When I became a believer, I thought living a Christian life would be fairly easy. Just read your bible, go to church, and live a good life. I didn’t stop and think about the battle that would ensue now that I was a child of the King. I didn’t think that my own human nature would strive against me in my daily walk. It didn’t take long for me to find out otherwise.

I guess I could say that only in the past six years or so that my faith has matured. Oh, before then I gained a lot of knowledge and insight into the Christian life; but it’s only been in recent years that it has finally manifested in my life. My relationship has deepened and stretched into new areas. I am seeing all that learning being put into action.

Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me.

John 15:4

One thing I am really enjoying is learning to abide in Jesus. To dwell, endure, hold to, stay with, obey, observe, and follow; that’s what abide means. To settle in and sink deeper; grow closer. Even as I write this I’m getting images of snuggling down under a warm blanket, getting all comfy before delving into His word; ready to spend a good amount of time with Him; learn more about Him and His ways.

To abide with Jesus we need to spend time with Him. You might have heard the phrase ‘He stuck to me like glue‘. Well, that is what we have to do with Him. We need to stay so close to see and learn everything there is about Him.

The only way we can do this is with the help of the Holy Spirit. Without Him guiding us; cautioning us when necessary; encouraging us at other times and reminding us when and how to stand firm against the enemy; we would be totally unable to live a victorious life while abiding in Christ.

Now he who keeps His commandments abides in Him,

and He in him. And by this, we know

that He abides in us,

by the Spirit whom He has given us.

1 John 3:24

Jesus gave us the Holy Spirit. He told His disciples that He had to leave so He could send another Helper, who would be able to help them do even greater things than Jesus did. We need to allow the Holy Spirit to work in us; changing us into what God wants us to be. This requires action on our part.

To abide in Jesus is to have a growing, intimate relationship with Him. To accomplish this takes work. It means getting up early to spend time with Him in prayer and His word. It means sacrificing things we used to do on a Tuesday night to now attend a small group study. It means going about your whole day with thoughts of Him coming through at random times, or remembering to pray for something or someone after your regular prayer time.

Think of a couple whose marriage you admire. What is it about their marriage that makes it a success? There is probably action on both sides; communication and meaningful time together. Relationships take work and your walk with Jesus is no different.

He who says he abides in Him

ought himself also to walk just as He walked.

1 John 2:6

The more we abide with Him, the more we learn about Him and how He lived. Then we can then put those things we’ve learned into action in our own Christian walk.

I want to hear after this time of sheltering in, that believers have continued on deepening their faith, strengthening their walks. We can’t slide back into old habits, lose our time spent with Him. This is a life long relationship. Will you settle for a mediocre one or would you rather have a life-changing, ever-growing one. It’s up to you.

As the Father loved Me, I also have 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.

John 15:9-10

Until next time, God bless.

~Brenda

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