THRIVE! With GodSample

## Day 3: Abide One of the best times of the year (in my humble opinion) is when it's not too hot, certainly not cold, and the sun is shining bright. The sun rays warm our bodies, we can relax outside without melting, and we may even find ourselves saying, "This weather is so perfect." It is pure bliss! When we think of abiding in God, it is a similar experience. Every moment feels like that perfect, blissful day. He fills our souls, He gives us rest, and He provides a gentle, soothing comfort that words cannot do justice to describe. But what exactly does abiding in God actually mean ? Abiding in God means that we are living, remaining, or continually dwelling in His presence. It means that after we have eagerly sought His face, our heart posture stays towards Him. It means that each and every day we make an intentional effort to acknowledge our God. Lastly, it means being filled to the brim with comfort, joy, peace, love, and so much more because we are connected to the true vine. The one thing about abiding is that it requires something our society typically does not like to do - slow down. It may sound contradictory to us; we seek God with eagerness and urgency just to immediately slow down. However, we seek God with so much urgency because we are getting back in right standing with Him. The urgency is needed because when we are apart from Him our lives are frankly not quite the same. Once we are back in His presence, we can slow down because when we are with Him we have everything that we need. Abiding is not something we strive to do every once in a while, but it is a lifestyle that we aim to live every day of our lives. Pray it Out: Lord, I admit there were times that I allowed life to get the best of me, and I strayed from dwelling with You. As a result, I bore fruit that did not look like You - the fruit of jealousy, sexual immorality, doubt, anger, fear, and so much more. I turn back to abiding in You, remembering that Your yoke is easy and burden is light. Thank You for the ability to abide in You! In Jesus' Name, Amen Write it Out: What does your life schedule look like these days? Are you able to spend time abiding in God? If not, how can you make room for Him in your life?