Abide….Remain

Recently, talking with someone, I commented, “So if I hear you correctly…you believe that the only way you can know God’s pleasure is if you serve and DO everything correctly?”   I asked, ” Are you tired, yet?”   This young person was indeed exhausted and in a desperate place with nowhere to turn for help.

As the conversation continued, I felt the gentle nudge of the Holy Spirit and realized that I too slip into this pattern of living.  Calendar full, I was already taking deep breaths.  I had been praying, reading, and seeking for a focus word for 2019. And as the Lord spoke, He has brought me full circle.

In our first church, God gave me a verse that I used to pattern my life.  A life verse if you will.  This verse was memorized and recited much at the beginning of my ministry journey, but with all things new the importance of its impact upon my life faded as time in ministry marched on.  The verse – John 15:5.

The focus and word for the year?  Abide.  In the Greek language, there are three words translated, abide.  Each one of them has as the central meaning – to remain or to continue staying or be persistent in your residing.  All three of these words are in the present, active, imperative voice.   The word “abide” is a command.

I believe one of the critical elements of living well from the glass house is learning to abide in the presence of our Lord.  The war on our focus is intense.  The battle to abide “in Christ” the vine is almost impossible with the activities of our lives!  If not diligent we become masters of religious work.  The work and the results of said work can become more important than the ONE we serve.  I believe we can even make “abiding” our work.  You know, “See how good we are” kind of mentality.  See us working for you Lord!  See us doing what you want us to do!  Do you see how hard this is?  Are you going to come through?  We glory in our work.

Andrew Murray writes in his book,  “Abide in Christ,” that the work of Christ to save us is the same power that will keep us residing in Him.  He does the work of abiding.  We don’t have to work ourselves up to the place.  We must surrender to Him and then He holds us.  He empowers us to abide.  It’s a paradox.

So where are you?  I’m revisiting lessons learned years ago and determined to be renewed, refreshed and restored in abiding.  I’ll share more on this in the coming days.

Don’t miss the opportunity to attend the “Empower Ministry Wives Retreat.”

Contagious Joy is taking a break next week.  We have a full year planned.   I hope you will join us at a You Lead, Refresh Retreat and or the Empower Retreat at the Cove!