my word: a b i d e

"Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in Me. I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in Me, and I in Him, the same bringeth forth much fruit; for without Me ye can do nothing." 

{John 15:4+5}

Two years ago I started choosing a word for the year for me to focus on/study/and grow in. For 2016 my word was hope. For 2017 my word was bold. For 2018 my word is abide.

ABIDE: to remain; continue; stay

 "It is a tremendous freedom to get rid of all self-consideration and learn to care about only one thing - the relationship between Christ and ourselves." {Oswald Chambers} My relationship with Christ is the most important relationship. I want my relationship with Him to grow abundantly this year. I am a branch for my Father (the True Vine) to produce fruit, I need only abide in Him and His love each day. 

"As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in Him: rooted and built up in Him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving." 

{Colossians 2:6+7}

"He that saith he abideth in Him ought himself also so to walk, even as He walked."

{1 John 2:6}

Below are some ways I've thought of to help me abide in Him more throughout each day:

•Choose a new fruit of the Spirit to really focus and work on for a little over a month each this year. "Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples." 

{John 15:8} To bear fruit means to become more like Jesus and to reflect the fruits of the Spirit.

The fruits of the Spirit are:

l o v e

j o y

p e a c e

l o n g - s u f f e r i n g

g e n t l e n e s s 

g o o d n e s s

f a i t h

m e e k n e s s

t e m p e r a n c e

{Galatians 5:22+23}

•Have my quiet time with the Lord before checking my phone at all each morning.

•Set a verse as my lock screen so that I can see it and meditate on it throughout the day.

•Memorize scripture and recite it in my head as I work//memorize scripture through songs so that I have Godly melodies running through my mind.

•Instead of listening to music, use the time on my drive to work and back home to pray.

•Encourage and build up those in the faith around me//ask people how I can pray for them.

•Praise Him for His work in my life no matter how the day is going//remember I always have so much to be thankful for.

I am excited for the Lord to use this word to work in my life this year...I would love to hear if any of you have a word you chose for this year? To read more about this idea check out this post!

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Abide in Him and He will abide in you; He who has began a good work in you will complete it!