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Abide part 4: Connection

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“Abide in me, and I in you.  As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me” (John 15:4). 

The greatest battle ever fought by man is the battle against self.  It first showed its ugly face thousands of years ago in the most beautiful place you could imagine.  The highest official under the King in this majestic land, covered in beauty and excellent in skill, began turning his eyes towards his own charm and strength.  He turned his eyes away from his King, and rapidly began to desire to the King’s status and homage.  Whispering seeds of doubt into the minds of his associates, he caused them to waver in trust, and one out of three in that beautiful place chose to listen to him. 

Unfortunately, Lucifer had created a war in heaven against the Creator who loved all of the angels very deeply.  Christ came to Lucifer and begged that he would change and repent of his dangerous path, but he hardened his heart and did not pay attention.  Ultimately, he and those who refrained from closing their ears to his wiles had to be cast out of heaven. 

Fast forward to the present, and you find a world struggling endlessly in that war, and the grand majority of the time missing the mark.  We look into our own lives and see our mistakes and sins spelling failure and ruin across our little hands and weak hearts.  We want to be free.  We’ve tried--tried harder to succeed than we’d reveal to anyone else.  Failure.  Our hearts drop down in agony of our dreaded mistakes that we can’t escape.   The cycle is never ending:  Desire, try, failure, desire, try, failure.  Tried and proven, tried and proven, we absolutely can’t do anything outside of selfish desires in our own strength.  We become so overwhelmed feeling so dirty and mucky inside for so long until we believe for certain that the inevitable end is failure, and we give up. 

There’s a serious problem in the above paragraph.  In that paragraph, where are our eyes?  Our eyes are on ourselves, our problems, our weaknesses.  None will by looking to themselves experience victory--it just doesn’t work.  So where do you find victory? 

Christ said, “Abide in me, and I in you.  As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.”  Stay in Christ.  This does not mean surrendering yourself to Him once a year, once a month, or even once a week.  This means surrendering yourself to Him every day, and moment by moment.  Fill your thoughts will Bible verses, spiritual songs, and things that God has done for you.  Keep your heart open to what the Lord has to say to you throughout the day.  And talk to Him!  Tell him your trials and your troubles, ask Him for strength to resist temptation, and thank Him for His blessings. 

It is through being connected to Christ that we gain the victory.  “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me” (Philippians 4:13).  His power is infinite, and His desire to give is infinite.  All we have to do is ask Him, and abide in His presence through our days, weeks, and years.  Will you abide in Him and ask Him for the victory? 

It works--I have personal experience. 

-Lilienne Stafford

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