Power filled Positive Living—Chapter 18C—5 Steps to Abide in Love no matter what
In Christ we have everything that we need. Resting (Abiding) in Christ, we have the power of the Holy Spirit within us. We have the very presence of God’s Love for Christ and Christ’s love for the Father flowing through our being with all the power and might that Perfect Love can bring. That is the transforming power within us to lift us up—cause us to continue in Joy. Look, what Christ told the Apostles, “9As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love. …11These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full” (John 15) He is telling the very men who are about to have their whole world turned upside down by the death and crucifixion of Christ. At first, they will scatter confused until He appears to them in His resurrected body. Christ is telling the very followers who will be facing persecution, hunger, loss, beatings and even death to further the gospel that by abiding in His Love they might have His joy remain in them and their joy might be full. How?
The picture is used with permission of Good Salt, the writings I have added.
How do I have joy or hope when everything I had dreamed of or hoped for has fallen apart? How does one trust when their job is gone and they don’t know how they will provide for their family? What about when your children are sick, how can you have joy? Or when that dreaded diagnosis of cancer comes like a thief in the middle of your night to steal your joy—How? What about when your heart is broken? How do you abide in love and joy when all you want to do is cry?
1. Trust in His Revealed Glimpses of Glory. We see the Glimpses of His Glory all around us—as we recognize that, we begin to realize He is there all around us. Perhaps we see it in a sunset, the streams of lights through the skies, a delicate butterfly, or many little glimpses of beauty which remind us of His presence. Then gradually we come to realize that His beauty, His Glory is greater to be desired than anything we have ever imagined. We begin to seek Him; searching for those awe inspiring, breathe taking moments. We begin to savor those moments and cling so tightly to those moments of joy; cherishing them. We may be broken heartedly clinging tight to that joy and battling for it; but we become determined not to let go of it—because we have tasted it and seen a glimpse of Glory.
2. Trust in God’s Love. Sometimes that is hard; particularly when trials come. Satan loves to fill my mind with guilt, shame and despair. Satan knows that the thing which will paralyze my ministry is guilt and shame. When I am caught up in my own inadequacies, I can no longer see the power of Christ in me. I cannot feel the indwelling love of God—the Holy Spirit when I am caught in my own trap of guilt. I think for all of us, this is hard. I do not want sin in my life; because, it brings sorrow to my loving Father. Still, when I fail Him; I must lay that sin at His feet and leave it there. To wallow in the guilt of my sins, gives the sins power over me. Christ died and rose again to have victory over the power of sin and death for me. I must trust that He is completing the work He began in me—He will finish it. He will accomplish all that He has planned in me and one day I will look like Christ. “18But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord” (2 Corinthians 3). Dimly, through a glass, I see the Glory of the Lord; while the Holy Spirit transforms me into that image from glory to glory—step by step-little glories to add to more little glories until one day I will mirror Him and reflect His Glory back to Him.
3. Trust in God’s Omnipotence. Abiding is trusting my heavenly Father is omnipotent and that He will not allow anything into my life that is not for my edification and for my ultimate joy. He only removes those things which get in the way of my seeing Him. Abiding is trusting my heavenly Father is omniscient and that He sees me as the Glorified, Justified, Perfect final product that He is molding. Like the artist envisions the final portrait as he steadily adds, erases, covers and transforms the canvas into his final completed work; God also sees the completion of His work in me. Abiding is trusting that He is able to speak and stop whatever storm may have arisen; yet, in love has chosen not to—so that I might be blessed and He might be glorified.
4. Trust in God’s Gift of Salvation. Abiding is knowing that God gave His greatest treasure (His Son) that He might suffer, die and be risen so that a regenerate, guilty heart might be declared righteous and thus be able to share in the Beauty, Love, and Joy that is found in the Triune God. Abiding is knowing that “6 God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. 7But we have this treasure (the gospel) in earthen vessels that the Excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us” (2 Corinthians 4).
5. Trust in God’s Future Grace. Not only are we given the gift of grace for our salvation; but God has promised Grace for this moment and for each moment that lies before us. “Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need” (Hebrews 4). We may come boldly before Him—no matter what, no matter how dark the circumstances, no matter how deeply we have failed Him—we may come boldly before the throne of grace and obtain mercy and grace for each and every situation.
Let us abide in Christ and abide in His love for us. Listen to this beautiful hymn, Before the throne of God Above.
The artist that drew the picture “A Broken and Contrite Heart” featured on my header is Ronald Barba. Please go to his website ( http://www.barba-art.com) for information regarding obtaining copies or to commission him to create a masterpiece for you. Feel free to email him at Ron@Barba-Art.com to discuss any art projects and to discuss pricing.
©2015 Effie Darlene Barba
Disclosure of Material Connection: I have not received any compensation for writing this post. I have no material connection to the brands, products, or services that I have mentioned. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.