Today’s thoughts are by Deborah Ard.

Read John 15:1-17 NIV.

One way to abide with Christ is to be in prayer throughout your day. Many times we are intimidated by the thought of prayer because we think our prayers should be filled with big, fancy words. Simply put, prayer is talking with God. God wants us to talk with Him like we talk with one another. Talk with Him about your day. Talk with Him about the things that excite you. Talk with Him about the situations that concern you. Ask Him for help. Ask Him for direction. Thank Him for His presence. We can be in conversation with God by praying all through our day. It only takes a moment to call out the name of Jesus for help, comfort or peace. His Holy Spirit is always with us to guide and direct us. God wants us to be intentional about praying and talking with Him throughout our day. He wants us to walk closely with Him.

Yesterday and today our featured scripture was John 15:1-7. We read the King James Version and the New International Version. The words “abide” and “remain” were interchangeable. Today, ponder ways you can remain in and with Christ.

Let’s pray. Dear God, thank You for the simple ways I can abide with You. As I go throughout my day, remind me how easy it is to abide in You by talking through prayer. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.

@biblegateway @youversion

Today’s thoughts are by Deborah Ard.

Please read John 15:1-17 KJV.

I have always been intrigued with the word “abide.” In my studies I researched and found the definition of abide is to continue in a place; sojourn. Then I looked up sojourn which means to stay at a temporary residence; stop.

Spend some time thinking about what abide means to you. How does it look, sound, feel to abide? Where are you in your relationship with Christ when it comes to abiding? Have you discovered the perfect balance of how to abide throughout your day or is there room for improvement? Take a few moments to abide with Christ and stay a while. Take some notes as you brainstorm with Him about what it means to abide and ways to abide with Him daily.

Let’s pray. Dear God, open my eyes, ears, heart, and mind to Your presence today. Show me what it means to abide and ways to abide in You daily. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.

@biblegateway @youversion

Today’s thoughts are by Deborah Ard.

Spend some time reading and meditating on this week’s featured scriptures. Make notes about the similarities and differences in the various versions of the same scriptures.

John 15:1-17 KJV

John 15:1-17 NIV

Psalm 91 KJV

Psalms 91 NIV

Psalm 91 MSG

@biblegateway @youversion

Today’s thoughts are by Deborah Ard.

Start your week by listening to the following song.

Abide With Me by Matt Redman

@biblegateway @youversion

Today’s thoughts are by Julie Wicker

‭‭Galatians‬ ‭5‬:‭22‬-‭23‬ ‭NIV‬‬ — But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.

Do you desire to embody the fruit of the Spirit? Paul also talks about works and deeds. It is natural as humans to strive for the fruit but get caught up in worldly adoration, traditions, and rules. In our striving, sometimes we might lose sight of God and how His Spirit provides daily fruit for us to embody. I recently listened to Jordan Howerton, worship leader and songwriter, speak on the Holy Bible App. He shared on ‭‭Galatians‬ ‭5‬:‭25‬ ‭NIV‬‬ — Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.

He talked about how it’s not just what the Spirit can do through us, but also within us. He also shared on their song Bloom by CCV Music. He used the words of the song to pray. I would like for us to do the same. Let’s be the fruit of God.

Dear God, where You walk the flowers bloom. You turn deserts into gardens when You move. God, this barren land can give good fruit so come tread the ground inside my heart and make it new. God, let it bloom. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen

@biblegateway @youversion

@ccvmusic 

Today’s thoughts are by Julie Wicker

‭‭Joshua‬ ‭1‬:‭9‬ ‭NIV‬‬ — Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.

How can we be strong and courageous for God in a dry and weary land? In the song Psalm 63 by Jeremy Riddle, he encourages us to seek and worship God. We are humans who have a tendency to create unrealistic expectations and easily get discouraged by the people, places, and things of this world. If we seek God wherever we go and choose to see God in all our people, places, and things, then we can gain his strength and courage. 

In the devotion on How To Pray in Five Dimensions by Rick Warren, he shares how there are dimensions to prayer. I encourage you to take some additional time today to read it. In one of the dimensions he encourages us when praying to look inward at Jesus in us. We read in Ephesians 3:20 NIV – Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us.

Did you catch that? God’s power is at work within us. We have all the courage and strength we need. We also read in Romans 8:11 NIV – And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies because of his spirit who lives in you. 

Do you take for granted that the same God that raised Jesus from the dead lives in you? Let’s pray.

Dear God, thank You for Your power that lives in me. Help me not to look to this world for unrealistic expectations. I seek Your strength so that I can be courageous for Your glory. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen. 

@biblegateway @youversion

@jeremymriddle 

@pastorrickwarren