Good Morning Abiding Encouragers! AMEN! May that be so of me and us Lord! And always abiding 24/7 and Your vessels of love, healing, joy, and encouragement! throughout each day! Amen!
during my time of Abiding in His presence and Word, God encouraged me and spoke to my heart through His Word and some of our devos for . Did you notice the thread through the devos? (Check them out below) Abide, reload and go love and encourage! We are given spiritual gifts to spur on, encourage, and build up His church. Turn off the noise and chaos and focus on to what really matters, God's still small voice speaking love and acceptance into your heart and preparing you to pray and follow each day. He knows you, loves you and is calling you by name to come abide and to follow out the doors . PTL!
God had me thinking about the Become Me in '23 Challenge. Remember that from two years ago? Many of us chose words to work on to help to move toward becoming who we are created to be in Christ. I have a list of your names and words that I pray through many days a week. Are you seeing progress with that? Has God led you to another word to focus on? Has God led you from who you are created to be and led you to the Become More in '24 Challenge where we were working on operating from our true created identity toward applying ourselves to our created purposes. Because of our faith in Christ the door has opened and we have been activated. And as we think of the Come Alive in '25 Challenge that is all about seeking, abiding, discovering and stepping into our purposes and the purposes for our gathered Body. Meditate on that some. Pray into it. Release God's will in and through us and partner with some others to go live and love more like Jesus. Who are you in Christ? He says to come as you are but that does not mean we get to stay as we are. He has custom made plans and purposes for you and our Body that come alive because they have been activated by our faith and led by our focus on what Jesus is doing and putting on Hs easy yoke as we walk with Him to His best and our fuller potential.
We are who we are and doing what we can with what we've been given and as we do we are coming alive in '25! PTL! We all have a part p play that is custom fitted to who we are and God's plans for us. As we discover and step into those we find great joy and peace and even rest for our weary souls! Amen! That all begins and is led as we purposefully abide in the Vine daily and watch for where He wants to produce fruit from us and allowing it. Thank God for these thing! Talk to Him about it , Then find some teammates to walk with towards it and for you to encourage and pray for as well. God really does have some great plans for you and us. let's continue to follow an enjoy this life in Christ and together! Amen!
Shalom shalom (perfect peace)
Abide in the Vine some as you meditate on these devos and listen with open hearts and follow with willing feet!
They were three adrenaline-fueled teenage boys, unleashed in the immense underground system connecting to Mammoth Cave. With them was their Uncle Frank, a veteran caver familiar with these parts. He knew the drop-offs and danger spots and continually called to the three, “Guys, this way!” Still, they ventured ever farther from him.
Dimming his headlamp, Uncle Frank decided to remain silent. Soon, the boys realized they’d lost their guide. Panic-stricken, they yelled his name. No response. Finally, they saw his headlamp flicker to life in the distance. Instant relief and peace! Now they were ready to follow their guide.
This true story makes an apt parable for how we can treat the gift of the Holy Spirit. Detours lure us away from the voice that calls us to follow the one who said, “Follow me” (Matthew 16:24). That voice is the Holy Spirit, who dwells inside each child of God (Acts 2:38-39).
God’s Spirit will never abandon us, but we can ignore Him. The apostle Paul warns, “Do not quench the Spirit” (1 Thessalonians 5:19). Instead, “Rejoice always, pray continually,” and “give thanks in all circumstances” (vv. 16-18). By doing so, we stay close to our guide, “the God of peace,” who can keep us “blameless” (v. 23). It’s not our work that does it. It’s His. As Paul reminds us, “The one who calls you is faithful, and he will do it” (v. 24).
By Tim Gustafson
REFLECT & PRAY
In what ways have you ignored the voice of the Holy Spirit? How might you follow Him more closely?
Father, please keep me close and attentive to You .
SCRIPTURE INSIGHT
In this series of exhortations, Paul first urges us to “rejoice always” (1 Thessalonians 5:16). How are we to rejoice when our situation is dire? Paul wasn’t naive; he faced constant difficulties with more challenges than most of us will ever experience. He knew that continual prayer was key (v. 17). This doesn’t mean that we pray literally every moment, but rather that we pray through all our circumstances, for the Spirit will never abandon us. Prayer becomes as natural as breathing. Connected closely to these vital concepts is gratitude (v. 18). When our hearts are inclined toward thankfulness, joy naturally follows. This pattern foreshadows a similar theme the apostle emphasizes in his letter to the Philippians, written several years later: “Rejoice in the Lord always. . . . In every situation, by prayer and petition, with , present your requests to God” (Philippians 4:4-6). The inevitable result is the peace of God ruling in our hearts.
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