A blog where women are inspired and encouraged to grow in their relationship with Christ.

Monday, May 6, 2013

How Connected Are You?







"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."
John 15:4-5 (ESV)

Abide. It’s one of my favorite words.  It connotes a deep, enduring, firmly planted relationship with Jesus.  It’s more than a casual stroll; it’s a long sojourn.  Jesus says we are to abide in Him.  And what’s even more incredible; He says He wants to abide in us!

The Greek word used in John 15 for Abide is Meno: to stay, continue, dwell, endure, be present, remain, stand, tarry (for) (Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance)

When I’ve studied these verses in the past, I’ve focused on what I need to do to abide in Christ. I’ve struggled with … 
Am I abiding enough?  Am I in His word enough?   
Do I attend enough Bible studies?  Do I pray enough?  
Do I worship enough?  Do I think about Him enough?

Lately, He’s been reminding me that it's not only we that abide.
He abides… dwells, endures, is present, and remains in us.  
 And because of that, we don’t have to struggle to abide enough.  
 We don’t have to labor and sweat bullets trying to get close to Him.   
We simply need to trust Him to help us sojourn with Him.  

A branch is nothing apart from the vine. It’s dead, brittle, and easily broken.  A branch can't graft itself into the vine.  It can't give itself life.  It can't bear fruit apart from the life-giving vine.   

Apart from our Vine, we can’t enter into an abiding, enduring, in-for-the-long-haul relationship.  Apart from Him, we. can. do. nothing.  But because He abides in us, we can experience a very real, not-in-our-own-strength, enduring, sinking-into-the-Vine forever relationship.  Yes, we can abide!  

Do you ever feel disconnected from the Vine? 
Do you ever try to abide with Christ in your own strength?
I'd love to hear from you!
Leave a comment!
Living in His grace,
  Mary

 It's always so good to hear from you!

41 comments:

  1. I couldn't of asked for something better to bless me with today than this. Oh the words of your heart for Jesus! On fire! Wow!!

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    1. Ashley, I'm so glad God knew what you needed! He is so good!
      I've missed you! Thanks for always being such an encouragement!
      Blessings and love to you, my sweet sister ~ Mary

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  2. Mary, when I get "too big for my britches", God allows circumstances to enter my life that force me to depend on Him. With maturity and life's trials, I have learned to run to Him quickly. Each morning, I rise at 4 for the sole purpose of spending time with God before the family rises. If I do not, my day is just wasted. But it is not just about spending an hour or so with Him, but continual fellowship throughout the day, and even night....that friend that is closer than a sister. :)

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    1. Grace, bless your heart for getting up at 4 to spend sweet time with our Abba! {I'm in a deep sleep at that time!} Yes! Continual fellowship throughout the day and night! I love your heart for the Lord... You inspire me!
      Blessings and love to you, sister:) ~ Mary

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  3. what a beautiful reminder! Stopping by from SDG, Blessings!

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    1. Thanks Katharine! God is so good to remind us to abide.
      I'm glad you came by!
      Blessings to you ~ Mary

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  4. "...it's not only we that abide.

    He abides… dwells, endures, is present, and remains in us."

    What a revelation! I never looked at it that way. Have a great week!

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    1. Victory, isn't that cool?! We can only abide in Him because of His life-giving power.
      It's so good to have you here!
      Blessings to you, my friend ~ Mary

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  5. I love the word "abide," too -- it makes me feel just so cradled in Him.

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    1. Jen, I feel the same way... Totally enveloped and saturated with His presence.
      Thanks for taking time to drop by!
      Blessings to you ~ Mary

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  6. Oh yes I struggle in my own strength to abide in Him, at times. I just want to be so close to the Fathers heart that I strive and strive and strive. Yet, what a good God that simply says, "Be still". "Cease from striving." "I will give you rest." So thankful that we don't just abide in Him....but He abides in us! Blessings friend, Jen

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    1. Jen, I'm with you. I'm so thankful that He abides in me which enables me to abide in Him. Because apart from Him we can do nothing!
      Thanks so much for coming by!
      Blessings and love ~ Mary

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  7. I have beat myself up over the quality of my quiet time with God for many years and it has constantly been my focus to improve that hour in the morning I desire to spend with God. I do think this is still important but I think that God is teaching me about abiding with Him at the moment. What I mean is sharing my whole day with God. To be aware of His presence by my side in amongst the daily tasks, noise and busyness not just in those quiet moments at the beginning of the day.

    We worship a God of grace who wants to be our friend and doesn't want us to reduce our time with Him to a quiet time that becomes part of the things we need to tick off our to-do list each day.

    Thanks for sharing some great truths here, Mary. Linked here from Time-Warp Wife. Blessings.

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    1. Mel, you've put it so well! I'm so thankful that we abide in Him and He abides in us... it's a symbiotic things. Apart from Him we simply can't do it. But, because He abides in us, we CAN! Love that!
      I'm so glad you came by and shared today!
      Blessings to you ~ Mary

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    2. Mel, when I click your name, it takes me to Google+, but doesn't give your URL so I can't visit you. If you happen to read this, please leave your site address. I really want to drop in for a visit! :) Thanks!

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  8. Ahhh, abiding in Him. Whenever I think about it, I get a catch in my breath at the joy and rest it evokes! Wonderful, wonderful post. Thanks so so much for sharing it with my blog today.

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    1. Kate, it's amazing that we're invited to abide and even more amazing that He abides in us!
      Thanks for hosting the linkup!
      Blessings to you ~ Mary

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  9. I never realized the depth of the word abide. I desire to abide with Christ and Him in me! I love my times of communion when I feel just that...Him in me and I in Him. I love that still small voice I hear when I intentionally stop and abide in my Father. I long for those moments more often. Thank you for a reminder of that longing. Love, Rachael @ Inking the Heart

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    1. Rachael, I love your heart for God. "Him in me and I in Him"... Yes!
      Thanks so much for visiting!
      Blessings and love ~ Mary

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  10. Dear Mary
    This verse links so closely with Jesus' invitation to come to Him, all those who are wearied and heavy burdened. I had to smile when I read all the things you did to abide in our sweet Lord. I did the same. And it was all of no use. I have learned through hard experience that He didn't say that we should strive for Him!! It is a spiritual abiding. Oh, how wonderful He is when He looks at all us wearied strivers and invites us into His glorious rest!!!!
    Blessings to you, sweet friend
    Mia

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    1. Oh Mia, He's so full of grace to invite us to commune and abide in Him... Knowing that apart from Him, we can't even abide. No struggle, just He in us and we in Him.
      It's always so good to hear from you, my sweet sister.
      Blessings and love ~ Mary

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  11. When I started counting the gifts He leaves me daily - it helped me see Him everywhere, hear Him everywhere - and in the process, I abide more closely, where we communicate everywhere - not that I am a better person, not that I am more over-coming - but that I am closer to Him:)

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    1. Yes! He abides in us which allows us to become so much closer to Him. I love how aware you are of our Abba!
      I'm so glad you came by!
      Blessings to you ~ Mary

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  12. I sometimes become disconnected from the vine through my own fault. In confessing I find myself welcomed back to the vine where I can abide. Beautiful and encouraging thoughts, Mary.

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    1. Pamela, our God is so good to always invite us in with open, loving arms.
      Thank you for visiting!
      Blessings to you ~ Mary

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  13. "It’s more than a casual stroll; it’s a long sojourn. "

    Love this Mary. Thank you. So true.

    Heather

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    1. Hi Heather! What I really love is that He's in for the long haul with us!
      I'm so glad you came by! Thanks for your comment!
      Blessings to you ~ Mary

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  14. What a lovely reminder! And I love that you included the meaning of the Greek word. For me, it always deepens the picture being painted when I can understand the fullness of the word, and meanings often stand out that I never would have thought of. I tend to think of abiding in a present-tense sense, so it was neat that it can also mean "remain, continue, or endure." As in, if you are already abiding, keep at it! :)

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    1. It always helps me to know the Hebrew or Greek derivative of a word. Your so right! It does mean to sink in for the long haul... love that! I also love that we not only abide in Him, but He abides/endures/remains in us!
      Thanks so much for coming by!
      Blessings to you ~ Mary

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  15. Mary, I so love your heart. And while reading this post, I thought of a dear friend of mine who speaks often of abiding. I've passed this post along to her as well. Thank you for sharing your words with the #TellHisStory community.

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    1. Thank you Jennifer. I love that your friend often speaks of abiding and I especially love that you thought of her. I so appreciate your writing and hosting the linkup. Thanks for a job well done!
      Blessings and love ~ Mary

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  16. Abiding is wonderful because it is grace-based not work-based. It doesn't matter how much I read my Bible or how many times I go to church. It does matter that I am abiding in the vine not based on my accomplishments. That is Grace!!

    This was such a special post today. I linked up right after you over at Wednesday's Word.

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    1. Judith, I'm so glad you came by and commented! You're so right when you say that abiding is only by His grace!
      Blessings and love, my sweet sister ~ Mary

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  17. Beautiful post! I loved the thought that it is not only that we abide in Him but He in us. I needed that reminder this morning. Thank you for sharing. I visited from Thoughtful Thurs.

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    1. Thanks so much for coming by! I love that He abides in us... And only by His power and grace do we abide in Him. Apart from Him, we can do nothing! He's so good to us!
      Blessings to you ~ Mary

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  18. Very nicely written post! I really liked the branch and vine connection.Thanks for sharing at Faith Filled Friday!

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    1. Debbie, I love that God has grafted us in and allows and invites us to abide!
      Blessings to you ~ Mary

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  19. Abide and Remain - two powerful words!

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    1. We in Him and He in us... abiding and remaining. Yes, very powerful!
      Thanks for coming by!
      Blessings to you ~ Mary

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  20. a great reminder for us all human being.. visiting from blog she..

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    1. Thank you Guinevere! It's so nice to have you here!
      Blessings to you ~ Mary

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Your comments mean so much to me. I love reading each and every one! Thanks so much!