Hopefully much of the time spent these past few days and weeks have looked different for you as you have sought after the Lord while fasting. My hope is that your mornings have found a new routine, and your evenings a new way to end. And for everything in between, a true sense of abiding in Jesus. Because of course that’s the only way to find true fruit in fasting.
“Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me.” John 15:4 (ESV)
We’ve seen or heard these verses before but to abide is so much more than we make it out to be. Our days are filled with worry and work. So much so that by the end of them we can find ourselves withering. The call to abide is one ripe with benefits. We should heed it and by the Spirit live out the active life of abiding. Because abiding is the antidote to withering.
The Lord Jesus calls His people, branches, and body to abide in Him. To find our strength and our sustenance in Him alone who can truly provide it. It’s not merely lip service, or intentional thinking for a few minutes of the day. It’s more. It’s to remain without wavering.
As children of God we are to see abiding as being absolutely attached to our Lord.
It means then that we must not go weeks, days, hours or minutes without thinking upon the goodness of the Lord and all His benefits toward us (Psalm 116:12).
It means we must seek to find any moment we can to spend time with the Lord who loves to meet with His people.
Ultimately what I’m saying is that abiding is the goal of our praying and our praying is a means to abiding.
Your time to abide in Jesus is on your commute on the train, when you’re caring for your child by preparing them a meal, and the moment you find yourself restless at work.
The time to abide is the time you find yourself breathing.
Now. Abide in Jesus.
