Guest blog by Rachael Adams. Excerpt taken from her book, Everyday Prayers for Love.
"As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love." John 15:9 NIV
Not long ago, I purchased a Bible for a friend doubting God’s love and highlighted all the times Scripture mentioned the term. When I began this task, I did not realize that according to your chosen translation, the word appears 686 times! God wasn’t just wanting my friend to realize His love for her, but desiring my comprehension of His love for me, too! The repetition alone clearly demonstrates the importance of this message. No wonder the Bible is regularly referred to as “God’s Love Letter.”
However, we can easily miss the realization of His love for us if we don’t spend time with Him. A friend of mine equates this to going on a date with a man who knows your potential mate to get to know your future husband. We would never do that! We must spend quality time with our significant others to feel close to them. This concept applies to any relationship in our lives, and the same is true with God. While books (like the one you are reading), and many others from well-intentioned authors are great resources to help us grasp concepts and broaden our thinking, we must also go straight to the source. If we want to feel connected to God, it's essential we abide with Him through Scripture reading, prayer, and worship.
In keeping with this dating analogy, how strong would your relationship be with your significant other (or friend) if you only spent five minutes each day talking with them? We wouldn’t feel very connected, would we? Likewise, if we spend only five minutes a day with God, we probably will not feel a deep bond with Him either. While I know we are all busy, what would transpire if you spent thirty minutes, an hour, or more with God every day? Imagine the impact on your relationship with Him and how that might transform your life.
I want to be clear - I don’t always get this right. I’m guilty of working for God and considering that time spent with God. Recently, I was getting up early to write devotions. I’d heard your most productive writing occurs early in the morning because your mind is clear and more creative. However, I found I lacked inspiration after several weeks of practicing this new routine. I was putting in the work, but wasn’t bearing much fruit.
At this realization, the verse from John 15 popped into my head, “If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing (v5).” With a sting of conviction, I changed my morning routine back to being with Him first. When I began my day communing with God, I noticed a change in my heart and mind, affecting my actions and behaviors. My family could tell the difference, too! This doesn’t mean we need to get legalistic about our spiritual disciplines. There is grace in this process, but there is also a blessing. Time spent with God is never time wasted.
"If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing." John 15:5 NIV
The Love Offering
We don’t have to stop our communion with God after time spent reading His Word. We can continue to dwell with Him by playing worship music in the car, while exercising, or doing chores. We can also talk to Him all day. In an interview with Rachel Wojo on The Love Offering podcast she shared that she doesn’t say amen at the end of her morning prayers because she wants to keep the conversation going. Before bed, she finally says amen. Don’t you just love that? We can abide with Christ throughout the day.
To abide means to remain or stay. Jesus illustrates an abiding relationship with Him through the Parable of the Vine and the Branches. In this parable, Christ is the vine, and God is the gardener who cares for the branches (us) to make them fruitful. Apart from Christ, our efforts will be in vain.
Fruit is not limited to soul-winning. The fruit of the Spirit, as you’ve learned through these Every Day Prayer resources, is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23). The Holy Spirit produces these character traits, but if we desire the fruit of the Spirit to grow in us, we must join our lives to His.
"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law." Galatians 5:22-23 ESV
Many of us want the abundance God offers, but we are unwilling to put forth the effort to improve our intimacy with Him. Experiencing God, doing His will, developing perseverance, and loving others does not come automatically; they require hard work. God empowers and enables us, but He gives us the task to learn and grow. Unfathomably, He has chosen and appointed us to go and bear fruit–fruit that will last (John 15:16). What a privilege and responsibility it is to abide in communion with Him.
Father, I am grateful I get to commune with You. Thank you for allowing me to abide in You. Remind me that apart from You I can do nothing, but with You nothing is impossible. Help me to stay connected with You so I may bear much fruit. I want my life to bring forth abundance for Your Kingdom and Your glory. In Jesus’s name, amen.
Author of A Little Goes a Long Way and Everyday Prayers for Love, Rachael Adams, hopes to help women realize God’s love and purpose for their lives. She and her husband, Bryan, live in Kentucky with their two children, Will and Kate. Her work has been featured on Good Morning America, Crosswalk, Proverbs 31, Today Parenting, and YouVersion. Connect with her by visiting rachaelkadams.com, searching @rachaeladamsauthor on Instagram and Facebook, and tuning in to The Love Offeringpodcast every Tuesday on your favorite listening platform.
From Guilt to Grace: Hope and Healing for Christian Moms of Addicted Children by Dawn R. Ward, published on September 17, 2024 is available on Amazon and Barnes and Noble.
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