Last week brought beautiful reminders to keep walking with God, no matter what the days may bring our way.
“I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing.” (John 15:5, NASB)
I sat looking at that verse for a bit. Much to my embarrassment, I admit that at times I think I can do things apart from Him. Then when I fall flat on my face, I come running to Him to fix it, or for help.
Yet, if I am reading this Scripture correctly, Jesus tells us only in abiding will our lives bear fruit. In ourselves, and on our own, we produce nothing.
“Instead of striving and straining, my great need is just to be still and abide.”
(Cynthia Heald, Becoming A Woman Who Walks With God, page 22)
Being still can be hard at times. Psalm 46 came to mind in reading the above quote. The opening verses of that psalm paint a picture of catastrophe – mountains slipping into the sea, the earth changing, waters foaming. Yet in the midst of all that, God tells us:
“Cease striving and know that I am God.” (verse 10, NASB)
Cease striving – “Let go. Relax. Wait on Me.”
And those are His words to us today.
The author asks: What hinders us from bearing much fruit in our lives?
The Lord seems to be telling me it is my striving, my straining, my scrambling to get all the pieces in place.
Maybe just maybe, He is saying the same to some of you.
What is hindering you from bearing much fruit in your life?
Let’s identify these things so we can relax, let go, wait on Him, and bear much fruit.
~*~*~
“Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful.” (John 14:27,NASB)
The subject?
Peace.
With all the stresses and turmoil facing our society and world, we are in need of peace. Amen?
And yet, in reading the verse, we are told our lives will not ever be without hardships. Christ did not promise us a life of ease. But He did promise us peace in the midst of dis-ease.
We know this to be true; and we need to be reminded of this truth often.
“These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33, NASB)
His Word has been spoken to us for the very purpose of providing us peace in the challenges we face every day. In the verse above, we are instructed to “take courage”, and we do this by ingesting God’s Word.
Because He has overcome the world, His Word will enable us to stand firm in these most unstable days.
The book asks: What are some ways in which we have experienced the peace of abiding in Jesus?
I remember one spring, in the midst of what was a most painful stretch of time, planting flowers (for the very first time in my life) on the side of our house. With my hands in the soil, I took the plants out of the little pots from the garden center, and planted them in the ground soil.
They were pansies. As I knelt there in the ground looking at them, watching them sway ever so slightly in the breeze, they looked like they were praising the Lord. I have never forgotten the peace and joy I felt in the moment.
We may not be happy with our circumstances but we can have God’s peace and joy.
Lord, thank You that as we abide in You, you fill us with Your joy, Your peace, and the courage to press on in life. Amen.
Keep abiding!
~*~*~Â
“Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, a virgin will be with child and bear a son, and she will call His name Immanuel.” (Isaiah 7:14, NASB)
A most familiar verse although usually connected to Advent or Christmas.
The author writes:
“So often when we are discouraged or afraid, we lose sight of the reality of God’s presence with us.”
(Cynthia Heald, Becoming A Woman Who Walks With God, page 31)
Anyone besides me ever lose sight of this?
It was the word “reality” in the above quote which stood out like a flashing neon sign. So I looked it up: “something that exists independently of ideas concerning it.”
Is that not the best?
No matter what we may think about it – God’s presence is factually and always with us. This is not an illusion, or a dream, or something we are imagining in our minds.
We need to remember, and remind ourselves, of this truth. May we be quick and sensitive to respond to Him when He seeks to make Himself known to us.
The book asks: What is one significant way that God has used to awaken you to the reality of His abiding presence?
~*~*~
As we still ourselves,
and abide in Him,
we discover the reality of His presence abiding with us.
Photo 1: by Jonathan Ybema on Unsplash
Great insights my friend. I couldn’t help but think of how, as a young Christian, I would often try and get out front of God and do things that He had not yet equipped me for. As expected, I often failed in the attempt; but it took time for me to understand that it isn’t how much I do for His kingdom that garners His blessing. It’s being obedient to His leading and plan for my life. In learning to walk with Him on this journey called sanctification, I’m finding more peace, productivity, and personal growth. Loved this post Ms. Joanne.
“….we are instructed to “take courage”, and we do this by ingesting God’s Word.” Yes! His words full of promises and hope keeps us full of His peace even in the chaos.
I loved reading your thoughts here, Joanne! I am always challenged by John 15 and the reminder that apart from him we can do nothing. It is so easy to get caught up in busyness, thinking it all depends on us. And it’s important to remember his presence with us, always.