Abiding in Christ

I am tremendously blessed to have a wonderful mentor who is also my close friend. Her body has grown frail and her days are marked by pain, yet her spirit remains deeply anchored in Christ. Though she is suffering, her heart is still quick to pray, to encourage, and to speak life into others. She ministers with gentle words and there is a steady peace about her, not because her circumstances are easy but because her life is hidden in Christ. She has learned to practice God’s presence by remaining deeply connected to him and being aware of his presence at all times. In her weaknesses, Christ’s strength is made visible and her life is a beautiful testimony that abiding in Christ bears fruit through the power of the Holy Spirit in every season.

Do you want an abiding relationship like that? Would you like to talk to God honestly all day long, no matter where you are or what you are doing? Do you want to reflect God’s love to others even in times of suffering? Did you know you can? God wants that for us and he wants us to look up to him as we practice his presence. Abiding in Christ is a lifelong commitment and the late Andrew Murray called abiding “absolute surrender.”

Men and women of God have discovered that if they are going to be fruitful (Galatians 5:22-23) for the Lord they must spend time with him, determined to have a disciplined life and to to be intentional about giving God their bodies, minds, wills and hearts. “Always Being In Divine Embrace” like my dear mentor will lead to the “biblical good life” as described in Psalm 92:

The righteous will flourish like a palm tree,
they will grow like a cedar of Lebanon;
planted in the house of the LORD,
they will flourish in the courts of our God.
They will still bear fruit in old age,
They will stay fresh and green,
Proclaiming, “The LORD is upright;
he is my Rock, and there is no wickedness in him.”

Heavenly Father, thank you for the gift of abiding in your Son, Jesus Christ. You are the true vine, and we are the branches – apart from you we can do nothing. Help me to draw close to you and to remain in your presence, rooted deeply in your love, truth and your words. In Jesus’s name, Amen.

Throughout this day listen to: Abide by Aaron Williams and CAIN