how to abide in Christ
rest. dwell. remain.
*this post is all about how to abide with Christ.
we all need nourishment from the Word during difficult times in our lives. information is whirling around the internet, your everyday conversations, and your thoughts, may be leaving you confused and uneasy. at varying degrees, you’re being emotionally, mentally, physically, spiritually, or financially impacted. now, more than ever, you are searching for hope, peace, joy, provision, and protection. remaining grounded, and caring for your mental, emotional, and spiritual wellbeing is essential. so how do you accomplish this?
we take root
connect to the core of our being and draw sustenance from the Source—the Spirit within us. we are invited to a secure dwelling place where we can abide in the One who makes all things new. the One who radiates light in the darkness, establishes order out of chaos, makes barren places bloom, and transforms fear into faith. although everything around us seems unstable and ever-changing, we have a Guide who is secure and unchanging. he is waiting to lead us to what we all long for—the fullness of joy and complete satisfaction (psalm 16:11). when we abide in him, we leave a realm full of deficiencies and enter the perfect realm of his divine presence.
the meaning of abide in the bible comes from the greek word meinete, which can mean to remain, to persevere, to stay, or to continue. it’s a recurring action that requires awareness and intentionality. when life shifts, we must learn how to stay. plant our feet on a steady foundation and hold on to the promises of God. when faced with adversity, we must continue to persevere with patient endurance and trust. energy and strength are available to us, we just have to detach from the chaos and connect to our actual root of comfort.
the fruit of the Spirit is joy, love, kindness, faithfulness, goodness, peace, patience, gentleness, and self-control (galatians 5:22-23). doesn’t that sound incredible? it almost seems too good to be true. so what’s the catch? change. we can’t experience this without making some adjustments. bearing “much fruit” requires growth—taking the time to self-examine, surrendering control, disrupting negative thought patterns, and devoting ourselves to what serves our highest good. during difficult moments in my life, i have had to stop and figure out where my primary origin of information was coming from. i have had to identify what i was putting my trust in. there were moments where i had misplaced my sources. the media can be instructive, but it shouldn’t be our leading source of information. conversations can be helpful, but they can’t be where our confidence rests. we have a perfect Counselor, and with him, we have everything and can do anything (acts 17:28).
abiding in him can feel challenging, especially during the ebbs of life. but we have a perfect example of who we can imitate, Jesus Christ. he mastered the art of resting, dwelling, and remaining. in all seasons, and in every circumstance, he stayed connected to God. if we can cling to the perfection of Jesus, we will experience the good fruit we’re all in need of. and this will empower us to transmit what we could have never mustered up ourselves. we will become a channel of the essence of God. but don’t become disheartened if you feel that you’re lacking “much fruit” in your life. fruit-bearing is not our responsibility, it’s Spirit’s. our job is to surrender, abide, and trust in Him. if we do that, goodness will come. the joy will overflow, and the peace we receive will surpass our understanding because this fruit is a manifestation of God’s nature. but we can’t accomplish this through our own efforts. it’s that good. to embody the essence of God means we have to live in his presence.
have anxious thoughts been swirling around in your mind lately? i can relate. have you been feeling helpless while everything around you seems to be spiraling out of control? yep, me too. but today is a new day. thank God. no, really, thank him. he is Emmanuel, God is with us. he is omnipresent, near to us, and fully present in our lives. he is omniscient, knowing our unique situations and our individual needs. he is omnipotent, not limited to circumstances, and able to do anything.
he wants to give us the fruit of his Spirit and renew our spirits (psalm 51:10-12). and the good news is, it’s not about our own efforts and what we have to contribute. it’s about what he is extending to us and what is available for us to receive. he has given us Christ, and like a true vine, he wants to wrap himself around us. when we become fully intertwined, a complete transformation occurs—from the inside out. we become empowered, being able to withstand difficulties and prospering in every season of life. if we get connected and stay connected, we will have enough—enough peace, patience, joy, and love. we will lack no good thing. we can then walk in the Spirit, sharing what we have for the benefit of others. we can trust that the One who we abide in is good (psalm 34:8). he is the one thing that will always remain unchanging, and what he offers will never deplete.
take a moment to pause and reflect. what are you in need of?
love - to want what’s best for others, including those you disagree with ethically, morally, or politically
joy - having the right heart posture and praising God in any and every situation
peace - resting securely in God’s goodness while navigating this difficult terrain of life
patience - remaining calm amid upsetting circumstances
kindness - having moral goodness, even when the situation seems undeserving of it
goodness - showing integrity in the face of unfair or unjust situations
faithfulness - anchoring yourself to the promises of God and tuning out outside influences
gentleness - having a disciplined strength and submitting to the will of God in all circumstances
self-control - surrendering the illusion of control and becoming empowered by the will of God
HELPFUL BOOKS
his testimonies, my heritage: women of color on the Word of God by kristie anyabwile
words from a wanderer by alexandra elle
*this post is all about abiding in Christ.
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