“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.” John 15:4
Yesterday, we explored the rich rewards of knowing God—peace, freedom, strength, joy, wisdom, love, and purpose—all flowing from intimacy with Him. But how do we walk in that intimacy?
Jesus used a simple word to describe it: Abide.
To abide means to remain, dwell, and stay connected. It’s not a feeling—it’s a deliberate, daily practice of keeping our life rooted in Christ. Jesus didn’t say, “Visit Me on Sundays.” He said, “Abide in Me.”
So, what does that look like practically? Well, the Bible doesn’t keep us in the dark! What follows are a few of the ways to build intimacy with God.
1. Make space for God first.
“O God, You are my God; early will I seek You; my soul thirsts for You…” Psalm 63:1
Abiding requires that we center our life on God. Set aside time each day to meet with Him. It must be real to be effective! Start the day with the Word and prayer—not as a box to check, but as a relationship to cultivate. Open the Bible and ask God to speak. He will.
2. Communicate with God continually.
“Pray without ceasing.” 1 Thessalonians 5:17
Prayer isn’t just for emergencies. It’s the lifeline of abiding.
Throughout your day, talk with Him. Listen. Invite Him into conversations, decisions, and thoughts. Praise Him in the car. Cry out in weakness. Thank Him for every blessing…as they occur. Make a list of blessings He has bestowed upon you, and periodically go back and thank Him.
The more you talk with Him, the more you’ll recognize His presence, moment by moment.
3. Obey the instructions from God’s Word.
“If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love…” John 15:10
Abiding is not just about feeling close—it’s about aligning your will with His. When He convicts you, obey. When He nudges you to forgive, to speak, or to surrender—do it. Every act of obedience draws you closer and deepens the connection.
God doesn’t bless knowledge—He blesses obedience.
4. Stay connected to His Body.
“Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some…” Hebrews 10:25
You were never meant to do life alone. The Church is Christ’s body. As we gather with other believers, share our struggles, worship together, and serve one another, our relationship with God strengthens.
Community encourages consistency, and consistent abiding leads to fruitfulness.
5. Cut off what chokes your connection to the Vine.
“…every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit.” John 15:2
Every choice we make is either FOR God (and thus, for us, if we are born again) or AGAINST God. We need to evaluate what edifies our soul and what does not. What information, thoughts, friendships, words, or actions are suffocating our relationship with God.
Too much screen time, toxic friendships, overpacked schedules, or secret sin—God will lovingly prune anything that keeps you from Him. Will you let Him? Abiding requires pruning. It’s painful—but always for your good.
My friend, life is hard—whether you abide in Christ or whether you don’t. But if you are born again, you have a choice. You can abide in Him and allow Him to be your guide, your strength, and your source of love, joy, peace, and wisdom. Or—you can go it alone. Which will it be?
Reflection Thought:
Jesus didn’t die so we could visit Him. He died so we could live in Him. Abiding is the key to a life of power, joy, peace, wisdom, and strength. What step will you take today to stay connected to the Vine?
Prayer:
Father, teach me to abide. Not just to believe, but to remain, to dwell, and to live my life completely connected to You. Show me what’s choking the Vine, and give me the courage to surrender it. Let Your Word take root in me. Let Your Spirit guide me. Let my life reflect that I have been with Jesus. In His name, I pray, Amen.
