Continued Abiding

This morning in my quiet time with the Lord, I was reading a teaching someone had given me (sorry I don't remember who right now---most of you know I have no memory LOL), entitled "Marks of a Disciple."  It was a great little study btw, so someone please step forward to let me know who it was who gave it to me.  I really enjoyed it!!  And as you will see, it is bearing fruit.

I am going to include an excerpt from it so that you will see the context I am writing from.  This passage was based on John 15:1-8. (I included v 8 myself)

I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser.  Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit.  You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you.  Abide in Me, and I in you.  As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me.  I am the vine, you are the branches.  He who abides in Me and I in him, bears much fruit; for without me you can do nothing.  If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned.  If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire and it shall be done for you.  By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples.  

"Jesus teaches us that He is the Vine and that we (individual Christians, not different churches) are the branches with the responsibility of bearing fruit.  In order to bear fruit, we must abide in Jesus and allow Him to abide in us too (v4). The word abide (meno) in this context means 'an inward, enduring personal communion.'  The idea is 'to keep fellowship with Christ so that His life can work in and through us to produce fruit' (C.K. Barrett).  Thus, it is crucial that we maintain an intimate relationship with our Lord and not allow that relationship ever to take a back seat to anything or anyone else. "

It is in the words "inward, enduring personal communion", the idea "to keep fellowship with", the maintained "intimate relationship",  that the God visit called out to me.  All of these had one thing in common to me.  CONSTANT.  It is what binds them together.

Throughout the day, my thoughts flit from one thing to another.  Whatever is happening at the time fills them.  Whatever falls into my head consumes my thinking at that moment.  Good, bad or indifferent.  From the mundane to the things of great importance.  For the most part Jesus is not front and center.  This is not an intentional slight to Him, just the way the human mind seems to work  (at least my undisciplined, scattered one!!).  I go from one thing to the next and forget to include my precious Savior.  And this seems to be something He is working on me with a lot lately.  When I go back over my musings in this blog, I can see the thread of abiding running through it.

Jesus Himself is to have the # 1 spot in my thinking.  Yes, other things demand and clamour for  my attention, but there should never be a time when that continual, intimate abiding is not there.  Then and only then will I have the wisdom and strength I need in every situation, only then will I maintain the peace in my heart whatever the circumstances, only then will I bear His fruit and be a true disciple, only then will I be the salt and light, the witness He desires me to be.

Lord, I don't know how to do this, this constant, intimate communion with You. But I want to with all my heart.  Help me to maintain unbroken, unforgotten continual fellowship with You, every minute of every day.  Even when I am sleeping, I want You in my dreams.  Direct my steps, my heart, my speech.  Bear Your fruit in my life for Your glory.  Amen.

And then His answer from the "31 Days of Praise" devotional I read immediately following this writing:

"You who began a good work in me will carry it to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.  You are utterly faithful and will finish what You have set out to do. You will not abandon the work You have begun."

Was that not an amazing answer !!!  Hey, can I put big smiles on this thing???
: D      : D       : D      : D   That's the best I know how to do  LOL.

Romans 4:20-21  He did not waver at the promise of God through unbelief, but was strengthened in faith, giving glory to  God, and being fully convinced that what He had promised He was also able to perform.  

Don't waver my dear family.  He is fully able.