Abide in Me
My four varying-sized orchid plants sit on my kitchen window sills, giving me so much joy. They are easy to maintain once you find the right amount of sun. Depending on the plant size, I add one to three ice cubes once a week. I heard talking to your plants helps them grow. So every morning, I greet them with a hello and tell them how great they look, even if all their flowers are gone. I nearly gave up on a couple as they seemed dead. I bought two other plants but couldn’t bring myself to lose the other two I received as gifts. Was I ever surprised that both had buds again after five weeks. This reminded me of my word of the Year, “Abide.”
Abide means:
Be able to tolerate someone or something
Continue without fading or being lost of a feeling or memory
Live, dwell, remain, stay
Accept or act by a rule or decision
In the Bible, “abide” means to continue or remain. It can also signify endurance, steadfastness, and a deep, ongoing connection.
I abided by my two flowerless orchids and waited, watered, talked, and encouraged them. I didn’t give up. And isn’t this what God does for us? Even when we are empty with nothing to offer, when we are dealing with grief, discouragement, losses, or Christmas/New Year’s Eve blues, God waits, waters, talks, and encourages us with his words. He gives us gifts all the time, through a gorgeous sunset, a remark from a child that makes us laugh, or a friend who calls.
The vital aspect of abiding is mindfulness, being present. Are there times when you’ve experienced feeling close to God? When deep joy, calmness, and a sense of being whole surround you? When I set aside time to read a devotion, write in my journal, and gaze out at God’s creation, not wondering what is on my to-do list, I have this cherished feeling that I want to keep all the time.
This past was a whirlwind, and I realized more than ever that I need more to stay, remain, and dwell in conversation with God.
Could you use some more peace and more wholeness?
Here are some quotes and Bible verses for you to contemplate.
I pray for all of you to be present in a year of abiding in God’s love, protection, and care.
“God works in, we work out. As we surrender, God works in; as we obey, God works out. Abiding involves keeping in fellowship with the Vine so that God can work in us.” Warren W. Wiersbe
“Faith is the capacity of the soul to perceive the abiding, the invisible in the visible.” ~ Leo Baeck
“Love is the fruit of prayer … Patiently abiding in prayer signifies a man’s renunciation of himself. Therefore, the self-denial of the soul turns into love for God.” ~ Isaac of Nineveh
