Monday, July 11, 2022

Christ in me....


 Interesting but not surprising....

Yesterday morning God clearly gave me the word "abide". How do I know? I got to church and both the Sunday school teacher and the Pastor's sermon referenced the word abide several times. Such a Godfirmation! I began to write, before church, while listening to the song I've referenced below.

But this beautiful morning finds me with a fresh look and definitely a heightened interest to finish what I started. 

Thank you Lord that you are ABOVE all and IN all. Makes life so much easier, so less heavy IF I continually abide in the vine. 

Abide - to remain stable or fixed in a state.

"I am the first, I am the last, I hold the middle...I am the Door come enter in to peaceful meadows...abide in me"

"Stay close, don't let go.....for the seed I plant brings peace that always grows...stay close, don't let go.....abide in me...."

Beautiful lyrics from one of my favorite songs. Can I suggest pulling this song up, sitting in a quiet place, and allow the words to wash over you. Three minutes and forty one seconds you won't get back but will never regret.

https://youtu.be/7BjwdBmb37E

I simply cannot get past recent teaching about being IN Christ. Apart from Him I can do NO GOOD THING! I am IN Him. It has permeated my soul. Funny thing is it's not new teaching....I've heard it before. The difference? The timing, God's perfect timing. He gave me ears to hear, eyes to see and a heart ready to be changed at the exact moment, in his plan, for my life. That's how I know it's God and not me. I could not create this scenario even if I wanted to and even if I thought I had...it would never look as God had planned.

Read this beautiful scripture out loud. Do you ever do that when you're alone, in the quiet? Try it! It's so beautiful hearing God's words...yes, even in your own voice.


"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. I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever ABIDES in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. If anyone does not ABIDE in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. If you ABIDE in me, and my words ABIDE in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples. As the Father has loved me, so have I 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."
John 15:4‭-‬10

As a believer, I WANT to abide....I want to be stable. I want to be fixed. I want to be steadfast. I don't want to be a like a wave tossed to and fro as it says in this passage from James:

"If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind."
James 1:5‭-‬6 NIV

If any of you lacks wisdom.....

I've been in a trial of conflict that has been ongoing for two years. It's been painful and has remained unresolved. What's most painful is I can't fix it.... I actually have little voice in the resolution.

Anyone who knows me knows three things about me:

•I had a lot of instability in my childhood...
•I've had enough conflict in my life for multiple people
•I will do almost anything to AVOID conflict

I was taught, through a lot of fear and anxiety, how to smooth over conflict (and potential disaster) from a very young age. I've been a "peacemaker" all of my life. To the exclusion of anything that remotely resembled my own thoughts, opinions or voice.

So there...I am a fixer! Fixing it, for me, basically means moving on. Most of us know that moving on rarely fixes anything. "Dirt" swept under a rug does not get rid of the dirt. It's still there just hidden. Moving on isn't a resolution...it simply rids the circumstances of conflict, builds resentment and hurt and shatters relationships...for most....but for me....I have a well honed ability to forgive and forget. If that ability was from God and my actions were godly, that truly would be a beautiful thing. But, I know, for me, it's a well worn pattern of earthly behavior. 

I have avoided conflict my entire life...well instilled in me as a child and young adult...it became my protection...but it never resolved anything.

I desire greatly, as I approach my 65th birthday, to be stable. I want to be FIXED. How do I do it? What does that scripture say? ABIDE in ME! Abide IN the Vine. I cannot bear fruit unless I abide in the Vine...which is Christ!

Hallelujah! I get it!! I get that it is no longer I that lives but Christ IN me!! There is a great deal of freedom in knowing HE can do ALL that I simply can't! And Honestly I don't want to! I've heard that old familiar saying "Let go and let God" hundreds of times and though it's not actually scriptural it IS true. Release control! 

I'm sure I will falter many times but , for today, I claim victory!

Praise God!

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