Abide

Recently I have been feeling that I am not bearing fruit as a disciple of Jesus. I felt like I had lost the vision that I had a few months ago of God's purposes, I was lacking faith for what He was doing in and through and around me.  I was on a plane yesterday thinking about this and the Spirit of God spoke to me with the words of Jesus from John 15:  "Abide in me... and you will bear much fruit."

Abide.

That single word kept coming back.  He did not say "work harder" or "try harder", but abide.  Dwell in Jesus, spend time with Him. Listen to Him, live in Him. 

I had a lot of time sitting at the airport waiting for flights yesterday and this song was constantly coming to my mind... the first verse and chorus were all I could remember, but I just kept hearing it in my head, so today I looked up the rest of the lyrics.  (side note:  whenever I think of this song I hear Joe Jackson's voice singing it)

I am Thine, O Lord, I have heard Thy voice,

And it told Thy love to me;
But I long to rise in the arms of faith
And be closer drawn to Thee.

Draw me nearer, nearer blessed Lord,
To the cross where Thou hast died;
Draw me nearer, nearer, nearer blessed Lord,
To Thy precious, bleeding side.

Consecrate me now to Thy service, Lord,
By the pow’r of grace divine;
Let my soul look up with a steadfast hope,
And my will be lost in Thine.

Oh, the pure delight of a single hour
That before Thy throne I spend,
When I kneel in prayer, and with Thee, my God
I commune as friend with friend!

There are depths of love that I cannot know
Till I cross the narrow sea;
There are heights of joy that I may not reach
Till I rest in peace with Thee.

There is no friend like Jesus.