Abide

 

     What will you do with today? With this moment? With the next hour? We all have choices throughout our days. Many of the hours are planned for us, with work and schedules, with laundry and meals, with friends and family. Maybe the best choices we make will come from within; our attitudes, our reactions, our ability to stay in step with the Holy Spirit throughout each moment, each hour, each day, each season.

     Abiding in Christ does not come naturally to us. It is a work of the Holy Spirit and it is a work in progress.  How do we allow the spirit within us to grow into the knowledge and wisdom of Jesus? Make it a habit this year to go to the word of God during times of frustration, of loneliness, of grief, and of joy and blessings and comfort. In other words, go to Him each day. Pray, read, meditate, love.

Jesus says,

“I am the vine. You are the branches. If you remain in Me and I in you, you will bear much fruit. Apart from me you can do nothing.” John 15:5

     Nothing? Well, I do stuff. That is our reaction to the statement of Jesus that we can do nothing without Him. Our purpose as believers is to glorify God with all we do.

     Sounds opposite of the world around us where we are valued for our education, for our money-making abilities, for our busyness and our business, for the success of our children, for our prowess iin sports, for our looks. With Jesus, we need to abide. Aaaah, sounds wonderful. Abide in Him today. Go to Him for everything.

Jesus,

Help us with our human frailties. And there are so many!  Remind us to forgive ourselves as well as others as we move through life. It is difficult to move away from what our flesh wants and to listen to the Sprit. Give us Your wisdom today as we abide in You through each moment, each hour, each day.

Amen