To abide is to live, continue, or remain. The phrase abide in Christ pictures an intimate, close relationship, and not just a superficial acquaintance. Without the vital union with Christ that salvation provides, there can be no life and no productivity .Abiding is not what saves us, but it is one of the signs of salvation.
In
Jesus, dead things are brought to life. As Jesus followers, we have the
capacity to bear fruit, bringing life and healing to the world around us,
acting as agents of refreshment and revitalization. But in order to bear
fruit, we must abide. The only way to
unlock your purpose is to lean into the One who gave it to you.
If we want to be used by God in a genuine and meaningful way,
we need to abide in Him by identify the practices that allow us to do so.
Our purpose flows from His presence, which helps us develop a continual connection
with God. Below are five practices (adapted from Evangelist Beth Moore)
that can help you to abide in Jesus:
1.
COMMUNITY: Oftentimes,
an insight God is revealing isn’t complete until I’ve processed through it with
the perspective of a few friends. God always seems to use these trusted
ones to add on to what God is showing me, and using them to speak wisdom I
wouldn’t have come to on my own. It’s one more channel He speaks through
that I’ve found important to keep open.
2.
MUSIC: Nothing
is as uplifting and powerful as music.
Some weeks I can’t stop listening to worship music. Other times I go
long stretches without feeling the desire at all. I like to get in the
habit of listening to worship music regardless. I’ve found that even when the
feelings aren’t there it’s a powerful way of working strong truths down into my
heart.
3.
PRAYER: Prayer
changes our perspective. It reorients the mind to remind me of Heavenly
Father’s unwavering presence and relentless love for me. It steadies and
fills me. I get distracted praying in my head, but I’ve found that
journaling out my prayers allows me to truly concentrate and connect.
Journaling can be a helpful spiritual tool.
4.
SCRIPTURE: Reading
God’s Word is food. You might go out to dinner, and have a delicious steak.
You’ll remember it, and you can’t wait until you eat it again. Sometimes
we read the scripture hoping for an emotional experience and when we don’t find
it, we walk away disappointed. Like food, not every “feeding” will be
“memorable," but we will notice the effect if we don’t have anything
at all.
5.
SERMONS: Sermons
are a huge way to cultivate a connection with the Heavenly Father. Listening to
someone else who is committed to God is a way to draw closer to God.
Drive time is a great time for listening to inspiring sermons and
podcasts.
“Abiding in Jesus isn't
fixing our attention on Christ, but it is being one with Him... A man is
abiding just as much when he is sleeping for Jesus, as when he is awake and
working for Jesus. Oh, it is a very sweet thing to have one's mind just resting
there.” (Hudson Taylor) [i]
[i] Sources used:
·
“5 Ways to Practice Abiding in
Jesus” by Kaci Nicole
·
“Beth Moore” from Wikipedia
·
“What does it
mean to abide in Christ? “by Got
Questions
This post was inspired by my
Small Group Leader, Tom Critser.
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