Abiding in JesusWithout God’s Word abiding in a person, they will respond in the flesh. What does it mean to have God’s Word “abiding” in them? Does it mean that they have read a chapter or two that day? No, it does not.The word “abide” means to “dwell” or to “live.” What does it take to have God’s Word dwelling, or living, in a person? Where is God’s Word to dwell, or abide?
He said in John 15:7 that if we abide in Him and His Word abides in us, we can ask what we want and it will be give. That’s powerful. But, what’s it mean – to abide in Him and to have His Word abide in us? How do we do this? As we meditate on a verse, over and over, it drops from our heads into our hearts – if our hearts are open to receive it.
God’s Word can become choked out by 3 things:
The cares of the world, the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things. See Mark 4:19. The NIV says “the worries of this life, the deceitfulness of wealth and the desires for other things.”
We have to watch and pray that these thing don’t overcome us and choke out God’s Word from abiding in us. If we have allowed this to happen, we need to return to the closeness we once had with the Lord, who is the Word. See John 1:1.
The words we have once meditated on are still in there. They just need to be activated again by repentance (from having thought our own thoughts instead of His). As we begin again to think on the things that are of good report, the Word of God, peace and comfort will return to us. There is comfort in the scriptures. See Romans 15:4.
If you’ve never done this before (meditated on His Word throughout the day), a good place to start is with memorizing and quoting (and believing) Philippians 4:13. Speak it out loud, over and over, until you understand what it means. Ask the Father for understanding. Ask Him to open your mind thoroughly so that you can understand the scriptures, like Jesus did for the early disciples after He was raised from the dead. See Luke 24:45 (Amplified version).
Jesus said, “Whatever you ask from the Father, He will give you.” He said, “In that day, ask Me for nothing. Ask the Father.” John 16:23 (paraphrased).
If we ask anything according to His will (His Word) rightly divided through study (2 Timothy 2:15), He hears us. See John 5:14. We will have confidence (In other words, we’ll know and be sure of the fact) that He hears us when we have asked according to His will, and we will then have what we’ve requested.
Does it take work to do this? Yes, a lot of it. It’s like learning a new language – only harder. The devil, the enemy of our soul, won’t just “lie down and play dead.” No. He’ll fight us with everything he’s got to keep us from doing this.
You’ll have to make a decision, and then follow your decision, to do it. You’ll need to find the verses that will help you in the fight. It will be not only the fight of your life to do this, but it will also be a fight for your life.
Jesus promised us life and that life more abundantly, but He also warned us that there’s a thief whose “job” it is to steal, to kill and to destroy us. See John 10:10. This enemy of our soul doesn’t play fair. He means business. So, we too need to mean business – with God, that is.
Knowing this, what should we do? Abide in Him (His Word), and let His Word abide in you. It is then (and only then) that you can be assured that whatever you ask will be given to you.
