Abide to Thrive

Abide to thrive. A simple principle, a difficult thing to execute. The thought of abiding in the Lord sounds easy, but when we actually go to live it out, we end up pulling back. To abide requires more diligence and obedience than we expect. The outcome of it is so rewarding and a place we all want to be, but the process to get there is difficult.

Abiding requires us to realize that we cannot thrive or live on our own. It forces less of us, more of Him. Theoretically, that sounds great. Realistically, the process of that requires sacrificing several things.

"Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me."

-John 15:4-

God didn't create us to be self sufficient. But, we live in a culture that contradicts the idea of abiding, relying on someone or something other than ourselves. Everywhere we go, we are told to be independent is to truly live. Being independent is the push of society right now. From the very beginning, it is evident that we weren't meant to be independent. God didn't leave Adam alone in the garden, ever. It was Adam and God, then animals, and then Eve. Adam was never independent. God's heart was for us to depend on Him for all things. We do not need to do it all. The biggest thing we need to sacrifice to abide in the Lord well is our desires and our pride. We need to come to the realization that our way is not the "end all, be all." His way is, He is the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. What He says, where He leads, goes. Just as a branch cannot bear fruit without the vine, we cannot bear fruit, we cannot thrive, without abiding in our Vine. Our Source. Our Root. Our Living Water. The idea of abiding sounds sweet, but I think we often overlook the sacrifice and hiddenness it requires. I think of a tree, it has many branches, but one trunk. That trunk of a tree, holds all the branches and carries the nutrients to them, and is also covered with roots to anchor the entire tree. The Lord does the same, anchors and provides. Many times, we try to prune ourselves (a branch) off of the trunk and become our own tree, in doing so, the only thing we do is cut off our Source. We choose death in those moments. It's no wonder that culture's push is being independent. The prince of the world would love nothing more than to plague every Christian with the idea of self sufficiency. That was the devil's fall, that was what caused The Fall. The idea that we could be self sufficient and that God wasn't giving us His all. While abiding does take sacrifice, the more we give up to get more of Christ, the greater the gain. The world will criticize. The world will call you crazy. But gosh, even if all we get is more of Christ, that is worth more than anything we will ever give up. I've been just abiding lately. Let me tell you, it is far from easy. It requires choosing humility. Choosing hiddenness. Choosing to just sit at His feet and listen. It requires choosing the uncomfortability that comes with growth and resting in being rooted in the comfort and hope of Christ and His power. His grace. His sacrifice. His Presence. His love. His steadfastness. His faithfulness. Oh man, it is beyond worth it.

I cannot emphasize it enough. Abide. You cannot do it alone, you will wear out. You will fade away. But when we abide, we do indeed, thrive. Stop striving for all the things of the world and for more, just sit and abide in Him. Go to "the Secret Place." Meet with the Lord every morning. Look around and see His hand, even in the "small" things. He's there and when you realize that, goodness, the world becomes a whole lot more beautiful. He's everywhere. He's in everything. And when we abide in that, the fruit we bear is so sweet. When our branch touches the Vine, the power He holds just overflows as we grow. You want to thrive? Abide. Over and over again, abide. But don't expect it to be easy. Expect sacrifice. Expect humility. Expect walking in the uncomfortableness that comes with obedience. Expect growing pains. But also expect the sweetest fruit and the most precious time with the Lord. Nothing sweeter than abiding in the only thing that can bring True Life and turn our striving and surviving to thriving.