I have been reading the Gospel of John in my morning devotion time and came across one of my favorite verses:"I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing," (John 15:5).
Jesus invites us to REMAIN in him. That is the key to life and growth and bearing good fruit. So, how can we remain in Jesus?
Share your thoughts and ideas with the group...
Answering honestly, I drift at lightning speed from Jesus. I have to work at it. It's not a bad thing, but somethig I've only recently realized. It's not a decision I make once and sit on my hands. You're all probably saying, "Duh!" I'm slow. It takes me a while.
ReplyDeleteSo for me I need to do two thing to remain in Jesus. First, I need to read scripture every day but more than a verse or two. I need to spend about a half hour at least. If I don't the train starts leaving the station pretty quick.
Second, I need to do things to help other people. Usually it's something small. But doing so helps me to remember all I have and just how much need there is out there. And then I inevitably remember the gift of life I have because of Jesus. So that helps me.
One last thing I suppose. I've started to really filter alot of Facebook stuff and now I am literally inundated with dozens of positive messages and reminders throughout the day. It makes a difference. Steering clear of the political battles and steering toward the positive encouragement. It's not all about avoiding bad news. It's about seeing all of it through the proper lense and responding in a way that means somethings, as opposed to just saying something.
Those are my thoughts.
Great ideas Jim - daily scripture reading and serving! Do you have a plan for how to make those a regular part of your routine?
DeleteStay in the Word, every single day. Not just a verse, but at least one or more chapters a day, ideally through a reading plan that has you learning from both the Old and New Testaments. And think about what you're reading while you read it, going over and over the same words if necessary to be sure you've gotten the message they carry for you. Then be quiet in a completely silent setting, preferably in complete darkness, to eliminate as much distraction as possible. Be aware of the genuine presence of the Holy Spirit of the Living God, right there with you, whether you are able to feel that Presence or not. Making this process a daily practice will help us learn how to remain in Jesus, and by remaining in him we deepen our relationship with him so that we can continue to remain ever more deeply in him.
ReplyDeleteHelpful thoughts Nanci! Have you been able to do this on a daily basis?
DeleteReading my devotional every day which I sadly say has been a challenge. But every time I go back to it, I realize that this has to be a priority in my life. It brings my focus back to where it should be and not where it has been. The night of March 4, I was worrying about the weather the next day as I had to be some where at 9:00 a.m. with no exception. I open my devotional and the first line is "Refuse to Worry!" I prayed for my faith to grow and to let go of the worry in my life. I did make it to my destination safely and the weather was fine. Amen!
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