As we begin 2023, I feel God has laid a new word on my heart. Last year was “embrace” and soon you will be seeing some writing I will be publishing in regard to the journey God led me to with embrace.
For 2023, back in November, I felt the word abide stand out to me as I was reading God’s word.
In the book of John chapter 15, Jesus is teaching about the vine and the branches. He begins in verse 4 talking about “abiding me, and I in you.“ As He continues on in verse seven He talks about,
“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. As the father loved me, I also have loved you; abide in my love.
If you keep my Commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my father‘s commandments and abide in his love. These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may remain in you, And that your joy may be full. This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.”
When we think about the word abide, it means to stay or remain. So, to abide in the Lord means we continually receive, believe, and trust Jesus is everything we need.
I don’t know about you, but I truly need to remember Jesus is all I need. I still struggle with self sufficiency, and the feeling I have to do this life on my own. I have to work hard and push through even when I feel called to rest because it’s all up to me. Which is completely a lie.
Because I know Jesus, it is not all up to me. Thank the good Lord! Because I am a sinful person, and I will screw up and I don’t have unlimited strength because I am human. And you are human.
Recently , I’ve also done a study of the book of Mark. What really stood out to me toward the end is, right before Jesus was crucified, and really throughout the book and His ministry, Jesus went away and abided with His Father. Jesus, though fully God and fully man, knew He needed His Father and the strength from Him for what was to come. So who am I to think that I can do this life on my own and not abide in my Father God?
I know I cannot do this on my own, and I honestly don’t want to. So as we enter 2023 my goal daily is to abide in my Father and allow Jesus to walk with me and provide me the strength I need for what is to come.
It’s my prayer you are able to do the same and abide in the One who loves you beyond measure, and Who I promise is the One Who will be everything you need.
Blessings to you in 2023!
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