2025
Abiding Through Lent 4 15 25
 

Tuesday, April 15, 2025

Abiding Through Lent

Scripture: John 15:4-5 (VOICE) – Abide in Me, and I will abide in you. A branch cannot bear fruit if it is disconnected from the vine, and neither will you if you are not connected to Me. I am the vine, and you are the branches. If you abide in Me and I in you, you will bear great fruit. Without Me, you will accomplish nothing.

 Message: The night Jesus was arrested, He gave one more talk to His disciples.  He gave the command to His disciples to abide in Him.  This means we remain in Him, stay with Him, and dwell in His presence.  Being held and kept in the very presence of Christ is enriching, inspiring, and enlivening.

How do we abide?  First, we repent from any sin.  When we repent, we make an about-face away from sin.  Repentance allows us to be forgiven and removes the chasm between us and our perfect and Holy God.  Then abiding in Jesus Christ comes through prayer, Bible reading, and relinquishing everything to God.  Leaving behind anything that breaks fellowship with a Holy God, we are free to remain in His presence.

Fasting allows us to draw near to Him.  When we fast from food, we exchange our time devoted to that food for time dwelling in God’s presence.  In this Lenten season, as I skip desserts, I am choosing the sweet presence of the Lord.  As I fast from television, I am exchanging entertainment for faith-based reading, leading to enlightenment.

When we have repented of sin, fasted, and prayed, we are prepared to rejoice in the sacrifice Jesus made.  We grow closer to Christ, renewing and refreshing our souls.

God doesn’t want more sacrifices, more work, or more rules.  God wants more of us.  He created us for fellowship with Him.  We are most fruitful, most joyful, and most at peace when we abide in His presence.

Prayer: Most High God, thank You for loving me so much that You want me to abide in You.  I repent of my sins and give You those things I valued too much.  Grant me faithfulness in reading Scripture, praying, and listening for Your voice.  You are my hope and my joy.  Enable me to cherish my moments with You and carry them throughout every day.  Prepare my heart to worship You this season and to abide in Christ with joy.  Amen.

Mary Schilling
 Grace Bible Church, Sebring, Florida

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