I’ll never forget the day I was determined to remain in Christ all day long. I started with prayer and bible reading. Then, I put on some praise music to keep my thoughts on Him. It was wonderful. I found myself praying for others and for small things too. For example, I couldn’t find my cleaning gloves so I asked God to help me.
(Note: you know you’re being controlled by the Spirit when you find yourself in the mood to clean!)
Anyhoo, I asked and suddenly remembered where I had put them last! Things couldn’t have gone better. In fact, it was the best fifteen minutes of my life!
It’s true. That’s as long as it lasted. I didn’t even realize that I stopped “thinking” about God until that night as I crawled into bed and began my nighttime prayers.
At first I was heartbroken. I thought, “I’ll never learn to abide.” Truth is we can’t think about God consciously 24-7 and we’re not intended to. Abiding is more of an unconscious act—where we’re not continually thinking about God but He’s the first one we think of in times of joy, surprise, or sorrow.
Whether the surprise in life is a cup of God’s grace or a bitter cup of adversity, the person who abides experiences the abundant life of God living in them. This rich, full life draws on God’s provision—strength for the storm; joy in the midst of heartache, and love for our enemy. As Children of God, this is the kind of life we are meant to have.
President Franklin Roosevelt on December 6, 1933, as the Great Depression had the nation in its grip. Roosevelt spoke that day on the need for American families to be economically secure. He called his address: “The Right to a More Abundant Life.”
Jesus Christ once gave a speech on the same subject, saying in John 10:10, “The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.”
The abundant life that comes from abiding in Christ is not really a right to claim, but a blessing to receive. The Bible teaches that God gives us abundant mercy (Numbers 14:18), abundant provision (2 Chronicles 11:23), abundant kindness (Nehemiah 9:17), abundant pardon (Isaiah 55:7), and abundant peace (Psalm 37:11).
To feel secure in our relationship with Christ, we must not neglect the life he came to give us. Let’s plug into our source today by practicing His presence.
May God’s abiding Presence overwhelm you today!
Zoe says
Micca,
Great reminder.
I have an acronym for the word abide
Always
Being
In
Devine
Energy
Praying you will experience that today
Laurie Ann says
Wonderful reminder to abide in Him, and great teaching and wisdom that takes the pressure off…I truly enjoyed your post and it blessed my heart – very comforting.
Bonita says
I hope you plan to make this post into a devotion because it’s sure a great one!
Kathy S. says
Sweet invitation to abide in Him. What a picture of safety and security…what every girl longs for. I love Andrew Murray’s book “Abiding in Christ”.
Devotions for every day about remaining in Him.
Thanks Micca! and I can’t wait for your book!