It’s blog day!!! Happy Monday, everyone, and again welcome BACK to your favorite day of the week! As I write these every week, I feel like I’m writing them as if I were actually talking to y'all, which I think is fun. So let’s get into the Word! 

At the beginning of every year, I ask God to give me a “word of the year” that I always keep in the back of my mind that points me back to a characteristic or attribute of God to remind me of who He is or what He has called me to do. Last year my word was abide. I think it's so cool to be able to do this because after God showed me that word, I saw it come up all the time in songs and Scripture I read and sermons and messages I heard. But, the place in Scripture this word comes up so often is John 15. John 15: 5-7 says, “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you abide in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. If you do not abide in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. If you abide in me and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.” A more common word for abide that we use today is remain, which I think is such an amazing thing the Lord calls us to do. He doesn’t say to go to Him or to read Scripture when life gets hard or when we need something, but to REMAIN in Him always. Now God also doesn't just say to abide in Him because He wants you to, but because through abiding in Him we find rest. When we abide in God and His word, we receive inner peace that only He gives. So often we try to chase peace that we think will come from the world. This could be being super successful in your job or school, being a great parent, or having a ton of money; but all of these are temporary and will never give you true and lasting peace. I do this a lot in my own life and think if I have it all together and I’m in a good routine, then I’ll finally be able to rest. So often I fail to recognize that it doesn’t matter what I do, and even if life is seemingly perfect, if I don't seek out God and have Him in the front of my mind always, I will never find true rest. 

A little while ago I was reading a devotional about how to abide in Christ and how it changes how we live. It said that the "starting point” of our day affects how we live the rest of it. If you wake up and your first thoughts are of worry, or fear, or doubt, or with a set intention on things you need to do that day, that becomes your priority. But when we set our heart and mind for Jesus to become the starting point of our day, resting in Him also becomes our priority. 

When we abide in Christ, we not only find true peace, but also become more like Him! John 15:5 says this so clearly by showing how when we remain in Him we bear much fruit (of the Holy Spirit). Honestly, when you hear those two things that abiding in Jesus gives us rest, AND we become more like Christ why wouldn't you do everything to remain in Him? Jesus even tells us that when we are apart from Him and without Scripture at the front of our minds, we can do nothing. Which completely makes sense. How would it ever be possible for us to imitate someone we are never around or never hear from? If you don't spend intentional time with Jesus and read His word, then not only is the Spirit not in you, but you won’t even know what it looks like for you to be a reflection of Christ. 

So, my encouragement today is for you to make Jesus the center of your heart and mind. Spend good, intentional time in prayer and in Scripture and ABIDE in Him. It is only Christ who can give you true rest, so look to Him for it and not the world. And know that we only reflect Christ when we know Him, and He has filled our hearts so we can overflow with His love! God is so good and wants to give you His inner peace, so run to Him and rest in His love!