If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you. John 15:7
Urgent pressing cries of help from all facets of life have gone out this past year, the past several weeks, and the past few days. In light of all this, as we begin 2021, let us consider Don Carson’s question in the introduction of his book, “A Spiritual Reformation.” “All these perceived needs clamor for attention. Should they not be addressed at least as urgently as the reformation of our habits of prayer, both personal and corporate?”
Carson states that “these urgent needs are symptomatic of a far more serious lack. The one thing we most urgently need is a deeper knowledge of God, to know God better.” He further states, “One of the foundational steps in knowing God, and one of the basic demonstrations that we do know God, is prayer – spiritual, persistent, biblically minded prayer.”
Jesus instructed His disciples how to stay in vital union with Him once He was physically no longer with them. “If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you” John 15:7 Allowing God’s Word to abide in us will radically transform our lives. His thoughts, insights, opinions, and directives from His Word will become ours. As this unity of Spirit occurs, we will see answers to our prayers just as He promised – “you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you.”
Allowing God’s Word to abide in us will radically transform our lives.
At the beginning of each year for the last 6 years, my husband and I have chosen a word with a related bible verse and song that we want to grow in. The idea is a very simple one. I want to emphasize the simplicity of this, because I want to encourage you that you can do this also, whether you choose your own word, verse, and song or choose to adopt what we have chosen for this year.
The whole purpose of this is for long-lasting transformation to occur in our hearts and in our lives. Why? So, we get to know God, discovering Who He is and wants to be for us. And, so we become all that He has created us to be. In the process what happens? The old habits and ways of the flesh become crucified and the new ways of God, according to His Word and will, begin to take dominion.
This year we chose the phrase “abide in Christ.” And, instead of choosing just one bible verse for “abide in Christ,” we decided to embrace John 15:1-10, challenging ourselves a little more. Today, I just touched on some thoughts from John 15:7. If you embrace this theme of “abide in Christ,” you may want to choose one of the verses in this passage.
Our song for this year is “Abide in Me” by Wes Michael Gorospe. His lyrics give fresh insight and revelation to what happens as you abide in Him.
If you will come to Me and dwell in Me,
- you’ll find all that you need
- your soul will be set free
- My love in you will grow
- your joy will overflow
(Click here for the full lyrics and his blog on “Abide in Me”.)
How do we practically implement this into our lives? We begin our prayer time together on Sundays by pray-reading our chosen scripture followed by singing our chosen song. Throughout the week, individually, we will spend some of our personal quiet time studying the word or bible verse more in depth along with meditating, declaring, praying, and singing it. I post the Bible verse or passage in a visible place in our home, so we can be reminded to talk with God and interact with Him regarding it throughout the week. Ken adds our song for the year to “our playlist,” so that we can readily listen to it. As we go on longer drives together, I have found “our playlist” comprised of the songs we have chosen over the years to become is a rich point of connection with God and with one another.