What a journey this week has been! It started off with me having some pretty crappy days, however, even in those I see how God was using them to bring me about to His assignment for me…the birth of Morning Manna!
We started on Monday focusing on why we need Morning Manna. Tuesday we looked at four ways to Restore the Joy One Day at a Time from Exodus 16. Today we are going to look at how to remain in the joy from John 15:4-11.
Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned. If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you. By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples.“As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you; abide in My love. If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love. “These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full.
There you have it! If we want His joy to remain in us we need to abide in Him and keep His commandments. If we want to bear the fruits of the spirit (joy, etc.) we need to abide in the Vine (Jesus).
Okay, so HOW do we abide in Jesus? We need to pray without ceasing. I finished doing several days of prayer with my mentor and friend Lady Dana Austin in which we prayed every hour on the hour. We did a “prayer text chain” where we wrote out our prayers and texted it to each other. I set a reminder on my phone to ring every hour so I did not forget. Talk about praying without ceasing! I must say though, that in those days I really experience HOW to abide in Jesus. It is to remain in communication with Him through prayer. Give it a try!
Has people been threatening to steal your joy? Has your child(ren) gotten you very last nerve? STOP, BREATHE, PRAY that His joy may remain in you. This is my prayer for all of us today. May His joy remain in you and may your joy be full.