Have you struggled with the concept of surrendering to Jesus?
There is a part of me that always wants to keep control. To make decisions on my own. To make my own plans. But I realise that doesn’t work.
As Believers, we are part of God’s family. We have the Godhead living inside ourselves. Trying to live on our own terms and experience the abiding life doesn’t work – it creates more turmoil!
It’s having two masters and two minds. James in chapter 1 says, a double minded man or woman is unstable in all their ways, they shouldn’t expect to receive anything from God.
What works is to live a single focused life.
We were made for it!
Living a Connected Life.
Jesus explains this in detail in John 15 using the imagery of a vine. As branches we connect to the vine (Jesus) where we receive everything we need to exist, grow and fruit.
That’s it. It sounds like the Simple Life right there doesn’t it?
I am all for the simple. Simple Prayer. Simple Faith. Simple Worship.
One little set of words in John 15 plagued my thoughts this week – “apart from Me (Jesus) you can do nothing.” John 15:5
Selah.
Take time this week to think about that. Is that a description of your life?
We can do nothing worthwhile without staying connected with the vine – Jesus.
Apart from Jesus, I can not write.
Apart from Jesus, I can not parent well.
Apart from Jesus, I can’t lose weight.
Apart from Jesus, I can’t work.
Apart from Jesus, I can’t fully enjoy anything.
Apart from Jesus, I can’t…. enter any daily activity or goal
Pastor John Piper gives a great description of what is means to abide in Christ (see resources list below for link). He makes the comment that this abiding, this set of words – apart from Me you can do nothing, is not marginal…it’s vital!
So, what is the first step to experiencing an abiding life? I am all for getting down to practical steps.
I think we first have to renew our minds away from having our own agendas and plans.
- Read John 15. Soak it in. Listen to messages on it. Allow your mind to be renewed with surrender thinking. Here is an interesting visual take on the vine.
- Wake up each morning with the thought -“today I can do nothing without being connected to Jesus”.
- List all your daily activities then write out – “Apart from Jesus, I can’t…….”. Writing out our new thoughts is powerful in renewing our minds.
- I have 2 words up on my bathroom wall – LEAN IN. They remind me to live a life of leaning in to Jesus. His plans. His ways. His thoughts.
- To seek God first rather than plan first then seek Him. This takes retraining our thoughts to think of God and His ideas first.
So how are you going to live the abiding fruitful life? I am always interested in your feedback – please feel free to reply to this email
Apart of Jesus we can’t fully enjoy anything!
Rachel Larkin
Think of friend who you could share this with ….use the forward this email option at the end of this email. Thanks!
Nigerian Christians Suffering Right Now
If you are a follower on my Facebook Page you probably saw a news story that I posted on Tuesday about the trouble in Central and Northern Nigeria. Here is the link to listen to the interview. I have readers in Nigeria so I was very interested in news stories coming from there on the intense persecution that is occuring by the Fulani herdsmen.
Reporters and Christian aid organisations (like Open Doors and Barnabas Fund) are calling it a genocide and Nigeria is one of the most dangerous places in the world to be a Christian right now. Christian Nigerian leaders say that over “6,000 persons – mostly children, women and the aged – have been maimed and killed in night raids by armed Fulani herdsmen.” They have even attacked during a Sunday Church Service in April, killing two priests and seventeen church goers.
As the body of Christ, we are called to love one another and bear one another’s burdens, by this the world will know that we are the believers. So what can we do?
- Keep aware of what is going on with our brothers and sisters around the world. Join the mailing list of reputable Christian organisations that help fellow Christians like Barnabarbas Fund or Open Doors.
- Pray, pray and pray for our brothers and sisters. Add them to your own prayer list and your church’s mission prayer list. Pray for their protection and safety. Pray for the ones who have lost their homes and loved ones – that they will receive comfort and restoration. Pray for those living in refugee camps that they will have food, clothing and shelter. Pray for the ones who are missing right now, hiding from what has happened – ask God to lead them to safety. Pray for the government to stand for truth and justice. Pray that our fellow brothers and sisters in Christ will be strong in their faith, courageous and full of hope.
- Ask God whether part of your finances are to go and help support our brothers and sisters who are being persecuted because of their faith.
I am so thankful that I live in a free country where we are free to attend church without the fear of men entering with machine guns. Free to sleep at night without the stress of worrying about the possibility of a night raid. Free for my children to walk the streets without violence because they are Christians. Free to use my land without men taking it over and destroying my home and livelihood.
Let’s support our brothers and sisters in Christ.
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