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I love those seasons where God is trying to impress on my heart one particular idea.
What I mean by this is when God keeps bringing up and emphasizing a topic or thought for me to think or "chew" on. What God has been teaching me on is the lifestyle of abiding in His presence, guidance, and love.
ABIDING (definition) = continuing without change; enduring; steadfast: an abiding faith.
This means continuing to be in tune to, connected to, following, and doing as my LORD leads me.
I was encouraged to live the lifestyle of living in God's love, soaking it up and basking in it. Living this way helps me grow closer to my Father. When He sees something in me that needs to change, He will work with me on that sin or issue and show me how He wants me to live. This lifestyle is sort of like abiding in (living closely with) our Father.
As I read the above definition of abiding, my idea of what it is, changed slightly.
I guess I thought that abiding meant just to live in God's presence all day, sharing every moment with my Creator. All of this is true, but it also means to live this way continually-not just all day, but every day as well. Abiding is a lifestyle. I want this lifestyle for myself, and I want it for you, too! I did have the right idea of abiding, but what I did not realize is that for abiding to be my lifestyle, I need to make it a habit. I am not abiding if I sometimes abide. I only live an abiding lifestyle when I habitually abide in Him.
Let's dive in to the practical side of what abiding with Christ looks like.
What does it take for me to remind myself to abide in Christ daily, everyday? Well, I am still growing in this, but here are a few ideas I have:
- I like to put verses on index cards everywhere in my room. After a while, they blend in, but if a make an effort to read them, they can change my way of thinking from self-focused to God-centered praises. I choose verses that make me go, "WOW" to God. Those kind of verses help me to keep thinking about His power and majesty.
- Singing worship songs helps me think about Him. In personal experience, listening to non-Christian music often, makes me
feel down and grumpy. I probably feel this way when I listen to country music because almost all the songs are about the singers'
boyfriend or girlfriend (which I don't have right now). But, when I sing and listen to worship music while I work, I just sense the love of God washing over me, and I feel so happy and joyful.
I think abiding in Christ is connected to worship.
Thinking about God will help you praise Him, and praising God will make you think about Him. I have found this true in my life. Recently, I have ben singing worship songs that I learned at a conference. I love those songs, and when I sing them during the day, they bring me so much JOY. My church might be starting a Youth Band, so I will be singing lead sometimes, and I'm trying to strengthen my voice. So, I have been singing more at home as practice for the band, but it does turn into singing for my Savior and Creator.
Here are some verses and passages that help me live in the Abiding and Worshipping Lifestyle:
-John 15
-Psalm 139
-1 Chronicles 28:9-10,20
-1 Chronicles 29: 9-20
-Isiah 53
-Isiah 55:6-9
These songs help me to keep my eyes on God:
-King of My Heart (Bethel Music)
-Reckless Love (Cory Asbury)
-Thy Will (Hillary Scott)
-Good Father (Chris Tomlin)
-What a Beautiful Name (Hillsong)
-I Surrender (Hillsong)
-Oceans (Hillsong)
-Revelation Song (Phillips, Craig, and Dean)
-Closer (Bethel Music)
-Broken Vessels (Hillsong)
-Awake my Love (I Am They)
-Here's My Heart (Lauren Daigle)
-Lord, I Need You (Matt Maher)
-O Come to the Altar (Elevation Worship)
-This is Amazing Grace (Phil Wickham
-Once and For All (Lauren Daigle)
-Your Love is Mine (I Am They)
-Where You Are (Hillsong Y&F)
-Furious (Bethel Music)
-Love Goes On (Hillsong Y&F)
I pray that you will be a Woman of Worship.