Flourishing in the Word | 15-Minute Bible Studies by Just Between Us

Flourishing in the Word

15-Minute Bible Studies to Nourish Your Soul

Friend,

how are you and Jesus doing today? Is your faith

flourishing

The Master Gardener wants your faith to flourish! A flourishing faith grows, thrives, and spreads just like flowers in a beautiful garden. When you spend time in God’s presence absorbing His light and being fed by His Word, your faith can become more vibrant and alive. But, sometimes the clouds of an unexpected work project or the weeds of bitterness and impatience pop up and threaten to wilt what God is doing in our lives. The concerns of life can distract us, and before long, a day of missed appointments with Jesus turns into two, then a week; the guilt sets in, and just like that, your faith starts to wilt. You need some Living Water—fast! But how do you get back to flourishing? Just Between Us is here to help you flourish in your relationship again! We’ve put together four of our Flourishing in the Word Bible studies to help you spend quality time with Jesus without feeling overwhelmed. Meet God in your favorite spot and chat with Him about “growing roots” like rest, joy, and peace. How to Use the Study You can use the studies in so many ways. Do a study with someone—grab a girlfriend and discuss a few questions over coffee, or use the studies in a small group that prefers less homework. Each study gives you short passages of Scripture to read, questions to help you dig deeper into God’s Word, and a journaling prompt to write how the Spirit has spoken to you. Use our Journal Your Heart page that follows the studies. These studies are designed to be manageable —even on your busiest days. The studies only take 15 minutes. Grab a few minutes in the morning or read the Scripture and meditate on it throughout your day, or answer some of the questions in the study and ask the Lord for insight at lunchtime. Take a few quiet moments to journal in the evening about how the Spirit spoke to you through His Word, and pray about how you can apply what He’s been teaching you. Let God use these simple studies to help you flourish in your relationship with Him again! Enjoy!

OUTSIDE YOUR FRONT DOOR

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Won’t You Be My Neighbor?

WORD A Season to By Dorie Etrheim

by Ashley N. Thomas

ove your neighbor, they say. Love them as you love yourself. What if you haven’t figured out how to love yourself? Who is your neighbor? How far do you have to go to love them? The list of questions is often long when it comes after a phrase like love your neighbor—the solution while simple, is more complex and gray, than black or white. This isn’t another “love your neighbor speech.” There’s no magical formula for how to win “Christian neighbor of the year.” Life isn’t so much about doing as it is about being.It took me a while to figure that out, which might seem ridiculous coming from someone who has lived just over three decades of life. My name is Ashley, Ash for short. I am a blackish, 31 year old, who has learned best through trial and error. I am a doer, some may say achiever, who is focused on doing the right thing, as best as it can be done and as efficiently as possible. Most of my life, I have lived into the narrative that I had to earn my status. So it’s natural that being a neighbor would be one more thing I would attempt to master.

“So what’s outside your front door? Who do you need to see?”

My unexpected moment came almost a decade ago. I found myself on the northside of Milwaukee, at a place called Hope Street. It is conveniently nestled

In the beginning it was awkward. While my introverted self is completely okay standing off in the corner observing, I found myself longing to be a part of what was happening. I found myself immersed in a community that was completely comfortable with being unashamedly themselves—mess and all—beautiful reflections of our Father and yet tormented by the brokenness of our world. Each face was an invitation for me to consider vulnerability over the mask I had grown to know (and loathe). Each interaction was an opportunity for me to see just how similar we were, even though in many cases there were years between us, and hard things like drug use, promiscuity, or any other broken choices human beings face. In spite of it all, was a deep desire to explore the gift of being known and loved still. Here’s what I can promise you: it will be difficult to love yourself and then others. In many cases, excruciating. Any real life change is. However, I can also promise you a peace beyond any understanding and a deeper connection with yourself and other human beings that is beyond anything you can imagine. I think it is a window into what God wants for each of us.

pring is the season of flourishing. Fresh green buds appear on bare trees and flowers bloom. Even in the desert, wildflowers blossom and create a radiant display of color. Spring breaks forth from winter. Winter can be a cold, hard season where I live. I often want to just “get through” it. Have you had a season in life that you wanted to just “get through”—a hard season when you felt discouraged, overwhelmed, or lonely? How do we flourish like wildflowers no matter the season or circumstance?

Ashley N. Thomas is the Executive Director of Hope Street

ministry in Milwaukee, Wis. She enjoys speaking, writing, and being present with broken people as each discovers the grace that allows us all to be known and loved still.

fromsmashtoash.com

Planted in the Lord’s house, we will grow strong like a tree planted by the river with our roots deep in the living water, with no fear and no worries, always fresh and flourishing. Read Ephesians 3:14-21 and Colossians 2: 6-7 in the NLT. What does Paul say about our roots?

Psalm 92:13 says, “Planted in the house of the LORD, they will flourish in the courts of our God.” Read Psalm 1:1-3; Psalm 92:12-15; and Jeremiah 17:5-8. List how the blessed and righteous are described. Notice what “they will” do.

What stands out to you in these passages?

How do you grow deep roots to flourish? It begins with trust. Trust the Lord with all your heart! Trust His faithful love. Trust His promises. Rely on His love for your strength and security. Pursue Him above all else. What is one thing you can trust Him with today? Be nourished by meditating on the Word of God! “Meditate” means a continuous practice of speaking the living Word of God out loud, to ponder, and apply it to our lives. Speak the Word to yourself, with a friend, or with the Lord in prayer. What are you pondering day and night? Fear or faith? Peace or problems? Every day, receive His love! Take a pause and lay your heart concerns at the feet of Jesus. Draw near to Him, rest in His loving arms, and embrace His unfailing love for you. Where is your place with Jesus?

Our hearts can break for what breaks His and that well is vast. In the end, walking out my front door was more about me finding my life than helping anyone else find theirs. I learned that outside my door was where Jesus was asking me to meet Him. To push the boundaries and dare to go where I had not been, to step out in faith instead of resting where I was comfortable, to see that where I end and He begins is freedom, love, and grace. So what’s outside your front door? Who do you need to see? Is it you through His eyes? Take the step, it’s never too late to explore how He sees you and who knows you just might meet a new neighbor in the process.

Digging Deeper

Compare the one who trusts in man to the one who trusts in the Lord in Jeremiah 17:5-8.

Have you ever felt like the scrubby bush in the wasteland? I know I have. Looking back at my hard season, I trusted in myself and my surroundings. I let my roots grow into the parched soil of fear, worry, anxiety, and self-sufficiency—a soil that never nourished. I felt spiritually weak and withered. Where are your roots growing?

What is one way you can “fasten upon” the Lord?

For Your Journal Take time today to get away with Jesus. Handwrite Ephesians 3:14-21 and make it personal: “He will empower me.” Meditate on this Scripture day and night. This is your season to flourish!

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So much of our Christian faith is about the unexpected moments. Jesus continually shows up in unexpected places, with unexpected people, and with an unexpected agenda. Which often meant there was none. He was so good at being present and meeting people right where they were. He owned being inconvenienced. In fact, it wasn’t inconvenient at all. He took great joy in meeting people’s brokenness with His deliverance, His hope, and His purpose for their future, not for any personal gain, but so that His people would have life.

in “the hood” or in the part of town that many people avoid. Truth be told, I was scared to go my first time. I didn’t know what it would be like.

flourish!

LIVING WELL

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Did Jesus Encourage Self-Care?

WORD

In the 1970s and 80s, publicized focus on self-care was connected to racial pride and the women’s liberation movement. Groups that felt the marginalization of politics and culture promoted the need to take care of yourself—physically, emotionally, spiritually, and mentally. The trend continues today with the rise of websites, blogs, and online information available for everyone. Self-care is commonplace, but as Christians, what is our view of this practice? Do we see any evidence of self-care modeled by Christ in Scripture?

Components of Self-Care

At each session, we brainstorm needed changes and possible improvements and then set specific goals for each target. We review the progress at the next session and make adjustments to continue moving toward the desired outcome. We celebrate achievements together, small and big.

Gail Goolsby,

Jesus Was Human, Too We are not afforded detailed accounts of Jesus’ eating habits beyond meals with His friends. Enough evidence shows that Jesus likely lived with Peter in Capernaum and enjoyed the hospitality of friends like Mary, Martha, and Lazarus. He rested, spent time with close connections, and fulfilled public ministry. The ancient times called for walking, so exercise occurred daily. Often, Jesus practiced and encouraged His disciples to draw away to “lonely places” for quiet times in prayer and communication with His Father apart from the noisy, needy crowds (Luke 5:15-16). In addition, He taught His followers to be grateful, practice forgiveness, demonstrate grace and kindness, and meditate on the truth that heals our souls and gives us hope. These principles give us the prescription for our own self-care.

y bags were packed and I was full of excitement. After weeks of meticulous planning, I was off to my favorite place for my getaway with the Lord. This was a first for me to take a four-day retreat with just me and God. I anticipated a fun, easy time. Honestly, it was harder than I ever imagined. To stop doing and be still was very difficult. The day after I arrived, I wanted to go home! After a couple days of extreme restlessness, I realized how much my life normally overflows with noise and distractions.

Jesus’s life was full of distractions and noise. Read Mark 6:30-46. Write out what Jesus said to the disciples in verse 31.

holds master’s degrees in professional counseling and educational leadership. She has over 25 years of experience in education, and is a counselor and ICF certified life coach. Her book, Unveiled Truth: Lessons I Learned Leading the International School of Kabul, has challenging applications for all readers. Gail and her husband live in Wichita, Kan., and have three grown children and four granddaughters.

gailgoolsby.com

% gail.goolsby@gmail.com F Gail Wettstone Goolsby T Gail Goolsby

Digging Deeper Jesus often withdrew alone to pray, to rest, to talk and align with the Father. He invites us to do the same. “Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest” (Mark 6:31).

Self-Care is Not Selfish or Anti-Christian

The Westminster Shorter Catechism states that “the chief end of man is to glorify God and enjoy him forever.” Our best hope in fulfilling this calling is to care for ourselves in all areas so that we can live well and bring glory to God.

What words describe your time with Jesus?

Can you relate? How can we flourish and grow amid the distractions?

When we strive to take care of ourselves, we are also looking to the benefit of others. We build resiliency to handle the day-to-day stress and challenges that come into our worlds. Being the best version of ourselves enables us to respond with patience, gentleness, understanding, joy, and energy to meet our obligations to love well. Jesus would encourage us to care for ourselves by: • Developing our intimacy with God • Controlling our diets • Monitoring our home/work balance • Staying active • Enjoying nature • Investing in important relationships • Engaging in our communities • Growing our talents, skills, and personal interests

Let’s take a peek into the rhythm of Jesus’ life. Read Mark 1:35, Matt. 14:23, Luke 5:16; 6:12, and 22:39. What words describe Jesus’ time with His Father?

Rest in the original language is a command meaning “to cause or permit one to cease from labor in order to recover and collect his strength.” This indicates not only physical strength, but also spiritual refreshment.

List the events that happened in this passage. How did the disciples respond? How did Jesus respond?

Did you note that this is a command from Jesus? It’s not optional or only for a select few. Rest also carries the meaning “to give one’s self rest.” In other words, you and I must take personal responsibility to stop, get away from the noise and distractions, and go to a quiet place with Jesus. He is the One Who loves us with an everlasting love, Who is all powerful, all knowing— the One Who gives us strength to recover and refresh physically and spiritually. Time with Jesus is essential to flourish!

How would you respond in this situation, especially being weary and hungry? Did Jesus skip His getaway or reschedule it? How did Jesus stay focused and purposeful?

For Your Journal Today, schedule a time and a place to withdraw from the noise and distractions and rest with Jesus. Interruptions will come, and it may not be easy, but stay with it and don’t give up! Create space to spend time alone with Jesus. Listen to what He may be saying to you. Journal your experience.

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As a life and behavioral coach, I work with clients to help them establish a healthy balance of work, home life, relationships, and personal goals. Invariably, this encompasses a review of patterns regarding: • Nutrition • Exercise • Sleep • Social participation/relationships • Stress response/resiliency • Creative outlets • Career/work/education

flourish! By Dorie Etrheim

by Gail Goolsby uch talk has entered health and wellness circles about self-care in the past few years, but truthfully the concept is not new. Back in the 1950s, medical professionals directed institutionalized patients struggling to care adequately for themselves to follow prescribed eating and hygiene regimens. In the 1960s, workers in highly stressful careers were encouraged to implement personal care time to avoid burnout. This could involve vacations, relaxing activities, physical health directives, or spiritual exercises.

Come Away with Jesus—and

encouraging WORDS

HAPPY HOME

“Lord Jesus, I want to flourish in Your garden. Father, would You use my life as a demonstration of how wonderful a life can be that is cultivated by You? I pray that others would come to me, eat the fruit of the Holy Spirit, and be satisfied and filled in Jesus’ faithful name. Amen.”

The Allure of Screen Time

Arlene Pellicane

ave you ever seen a child who just couldn’t put the Bible down? Imagine your surprise if you called your child to dinner and they replied, “Mom, just give me a few more minutes in the Gospel of John!” Unfortunately, kids aren’t glued to the Word of God. They are glued to screens. Now, it’s possible for technology to be used to read the Bible or even memorize Scripture, but that isn’t what kids are doing on phones and tablets. Why is screen time so alluring to kids anyway? Here are three reasons: Screen time is interesting. There are no dull moments in the world of screens because your child can always navigate away from something if it is not interesting. Drop-down menus offer more exciting choices. Everything is centered around what pleases the child—even how they listen to music caters to their interests. They don’t just have a CD of music they like; they have a playlist that has exactly what they want to listen to. When you can create a screen world that is based on your preferences, you have little desire in the real world to pay attention to anything you deem boring, irrelevant, or unpleasant.

Screen time gives immediate rewards. When you click on something on a screen, you immediately get a response. A character moves, a ball is released, or a page changes to reveal something new. A child is constantly rewarded for their engagement. Children who play video games learn quickly that if they keep pressing the buttons, they will advance to the next

“YOU WILL FLOURISH IN DIRECT PROPORTION TO YOUR CONNECTION WITH GOD.” level. Computer programmers understand that kids will play and engage indefinitely if the rewards keep coming. Since instruction in school isn’t always instantly gratifying or rewarding, screen-driven kids enter the classroom at a disadvantage. Boys and girls need self-control and strong reading skills to succeed in school. They also need these skills to listen to biblical messages and read the Bible for themselves. When a screen-saturated child faces a task that is uncertain, they often disengage and quit. It’s just too hard. In the screen world, children are trained daily to get what they want, when they want it, and how they want it. That doesn’t sound much like the real world we are preparing our children to live in. In this digital age, so many things vie for your attention and the attention of your child—a notification, the next episode which plays automatically, or someone liking your social media post. Modern technology platforms are programmed to grab your child’s attention and never let it go. Help your child to use technology wisely by modeling healthy use yourself and by setting consistent boundaries. You may want to delay when your child receives personal devices. Proverbs 25:28 says, “Whoever has no rule over his own spirit is like a city broken down, without walls” (NKJV).

h s i r u flo — Carol McLeod

“THEY ARE PLANTED IN THE HOUSE OF THE LORD; THEY FLOURISH IN THE COURTS OF OUR GOD.” — Psalm 92:13, ESV

“You will flourish when you nourish the gift of God in you.” — Unknown

“WE FLOURISH IN MEANING AND PURPOSE WHEN WE SERVE OTHERS WITH OUR UNIQUE GIFTS.” — Catherine Hart Weber, Ph.D.

Help your child win the war against the screens!

Arlene Pellicane is a speaker, podcaster, and author of several books including Screen Kids, Grandparenting Screen Kids, and 31 Days to a Happy Husband. Arlene has appeared on the Today Show, Fox & Friends, Focus on the Family, and FamilyLife Today, and is the host of the Happy Home Podcast. She lives in San Diego, Calif., with her husband James and their three children. Visit her websites: screenkidsbooks.com and arlenepellicane.com ArlenePellicaneAuthor ArlenePellicane ArlenePellicane

F T

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Screen time is instant. If you want to know the answer to “Who was Abraham Lincoln?” you don’t have to take out an encyclopedia or ask a teacher—you can search for the answer on your computer or phone and have the answer instantly. It’s so easy to get information in this digital age. That’s a great benefit, but it can also be a curse. Children learn that answers come easily and instantly on screens. If information requires effort to obtain, many screen savvy kids give up. They become accustomed to instant gratification, and unfortunately, that expectation spills into other areas of life where things don’t come instantly.

— Carol McLeod

INTENTIONAL FAITH

JOURNAL YOUR HEART

“

Journal Your Heart is designed with you and

your relationship with God in mind. Take a few moments and let God speak to your heart.

Instant Jesus

WHAT BIBLE VERSE OR QUOTE STOOD OUT TO YOU AND WHY?

by Jen Allee

hen was the last time you called into a radio station to win something? I’m betting, like me, you were a kid—hopeful, optimistic, and naïve. I have a 15-yearold and he recently heard a DJ announce $1,000 to caller number 12. Determined to win, he whipped out his phone.

HOW DID GOD SPEAK TO YOUR HEART TODAY AND WHAT DID HE SAY?

After quickly dialing, his brow furrowed in confusion. “Mom, what’s this sound?” He put the phone to my ear, and I heard what you always hear when you try to be the lucky caller in a radio contest: the busy signal.

FOR TODAY

He is a product of our instant culture. The culture where any movie can be found, any information can be Googled, and any message can be emailed or texted—in an instant. Technology has transformed how we communicate, learn, work, and play. The effects of speed have impacted our relationships, our workplaces, and our free time—and often for the better. There is one area, though, where speed doesn’t help us—our faith. The concept that faster is always better has translated into our spiritual lives. We assume if we pray for something in the morning, it should be answered by noon. Five minutes of Bible reading on Monday should provide enough wisdom to last all week. If we face a difficult situation, Jesus better have it resolved quickly. We refuse to wait, persevere, or suffer. We want instant results, instant change, and instant happiness.

Jen Allee

We are not puppets that He manipulates. We are humans that are deeply loved, that He has proudly created with high expectations. Expectations to live for a greater purpose. Entertainment, communication, and hot food are available at the push of a button; healing a hurt, changing an attitude, or ceasing a bad habit are not. They require walking closely with our heavenly Father: asking questions, listening, obeying, surrendering, and believing, just to name a few. Allowing Jesus to transform our lives takes effort. But it is so worth it! Nothing compares to knowing at the core of our being that we have let go of bitterness, walked away from a destructive habit, or been healed from a wrenching disappointment. For that to be our experience, we must come to Him. Sit with Him. Listen to Him. And follow His lead. We can’t settle for a push-of-the-button experience with Him and expect our lives to be different. Faith is not instant, but it is also not overwhelming or unreachable. It’s intentional. Are you ready for more in your life? Don’t settle for an instant Jesus. He doesn’t exist. Instead, join me in the coming issues to live intentionally. In fact, let’s start right now!

Be Intentional

Put a daily reminder on your phone to pray. Ask God, every day, to help you in that one area you need it most, even if it seems impossible!

is an author and a speaker who believes a strong faith is built one intentional step at a time. For encouragement in taking your next step, visit her at Living Intentionally at jenallee.com.

jenallee.com

fall 2021

PRAYER

Then it hit me. He has never called someone and not gotten through! My blessed firstborn knows nothing of being told “not now, you have to wait, or try again later.” Those concepts are not in his vocabulary.

But Jesus is not a vending machine. We don’t tell Him what needs to happen, and then tap our foot until He does it. We don’t bark orders or make demands. And you know what? Neither does He.

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REFLECTION

MY TAKEAWAYS

Me: “That’s the busy signal.” Son: “What’s a busy signal?” Me: “What’s a busy signal? You have never heard this before?”

If we don’t get it, we arrive at these conclusions: Jesus doesn’t affect our daily life, prayer doesn’t work, the Bible isn’t relevant, Jesus doesn’t care, or He isn’t strong enough to alleviate our pain.

LIVING WELL

The Golden Key of Forgiveness

You Flourish When You By Dorie Etrheim

by Gail Goolsby

y lovely client gazed out the windows and said wistfully, “I just want the relationship with my brother-in-law to change. I need to get over the past four decades of offenses. I feel stuck.”

you. But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.”

Another client on the phone reported, “My mother is driving me crazy with her constant demands. I have two young teens to supervise with online schooling, a husband working from home, and chronic health issues of my own. Every day I hold back anger and wish she lived somewhere else.”

All the situations described above require forgiveness to move forward, not just once, but perhaps repeatedly as in the “seventy times seven” answer Jesus gave in Matt. 18:22. Forgiveness is not a feeling; it is a heroic act of the will.

I opened an envelope and looked at three pages of uninvited words. After a ten-year silence, a former boss—who fired me, humiliated me, and shattered my confidence as a leader—wanted to reconnect. I thought I was done with that chapter of my life. What power, what action, what key will release these locked up situations?

Forgiveness is a Powerful Key

When a hero is acknowledged by a certain community, it is tradition to give them the key to the city. This is illustrated in Jesus’ life and sacrifice. Because we could not live sinless lives, Jesus paved the way to God, paid the required debt, and unlocked the door for all of us. Revelation 1:18 tells us this heroic achievement afforded Christ the “keys to death and hell,” authority over human life and our eternity. Wise people recognize and seek the key Christ offers, gaining access to God’s kingdom on earth and ultimately in heaven forever. This is freedom from the slavery of sin’s power and the fear of death and eternal judgment.

Our response is clearly dictated by the Key-Giver in Matt. 6:14-15: “For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive

Gail Goolsby,

The steps to forgive start with the heart’s earnest plea to want to forgive the offender. The next action includes acknowledgement of disappointments, offenses, broken promises, abuse, neglect, abandonment, whatever has locked up our hearts. A detailed list shared with a trusted friend or counseling professional can be exhausting, but is needed to fully release the pent-up feelings. Forgiveness brings in God’s holy light to dissipate the grip of bitterness. Our enemy loves to heap additional paranoia and vain imaginations upon the original pain. In our confession, we can find a way out of the darkness. Sometimes the person we need to forgive is ourselves. The same steps apply to acknowledge our shortcomings, sin, offenses against another and going to that person or if not possible, straight to God, asking humbly for forgiveness. Turning the powerful key of forgiveness by choice, begins to change us. We may need to repeat the process again. Forgiveness unlocks the door to possible reconciliation, although this is not a given or requirement by God. We are mandated to find peace with others as we are able (Rom. 12:18), but not necessarily restore a prior, perhaps unhealthy relationship. Grab the keys of the kingdom Christ offers. Gain power to forgive, live in peace with others, and look forward to heaven. It is truly a golden opportunity.

MA, MEd, ACC is an author, speaker, and career educator, including serving overseas as detailed in her recent book, Unveiled Truth: Lessons I Learned Leading the International School of Kabul. As a life coach, Gail believes there is support and encouragement in God’s Word to help us all learn to live well. She is a mom, grandma, and lives in south central Kansas, with her husband of 43 years.

gailgoolsby.com

% gail.goolsby@gmail.com F Gail Wettstone Goolsby T Gail Goolsby

minutes in the

WORD

Ponder this union—this intimate fellowship, security, and oneness of life we have in Christ, in the Father, sealed with the Holy Spirit. This is where we remain! What areas do you need to remain in Christ?

Jesus says in John 15:5, “I am the vine, you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.” Have you ever tried working hard to produce fruit for Jesus? Or tried to earn your relationship with Him? Jesus reminds us that in our strength, apart from Him, we accomplish nothing. Circle “remain/abide,” in John 15:4-11. List what Jesus says about abiding. How many times is this word repeated?

We are to remain in Jesus and remain in His love. Notice the result in verse 11. What does Jesus say about Himself, the Father, and the Holy Spirit in John 14:15-23. Who initiates this relationship?

Digging Deeper Remain/abide in the original language means “to remain in the same place, to be one’s lifestyle, to make this place your permanent home.” In other words, stay where you already are. He will keep us, grow us, bear fruit through us, and give us everything we need to flourish! While nothing can separate us from Jesus, we can disconnect from Him and stop growing. Too often fears, insecurities, and busyness distract me and disconnect me from Jesus. I forget Who is in me and I begin striving in my own strength. There is no striving in abiding. Abiding is a place of restful trust and dependence upon Jesus to do all He has said. Our role is to live in His presence, making Him the first person we turn to for direction and help. For me, abiding starts in the morning, snuggled on the couch, wrapped in my blanket, picturing myself in the strong arms of Jesus. I sit there with Him, resting in His presence, soaking in His love. Quieting your heart with Jesus and learning to just be with Him is a key to abiding.

For Your Journal Read John 15:4-11 in the Amplified version. What does abiding in Jesus look like for you? Jesus says, “I am in my Father, and you are in Me, and I am in you” (John 14:20).

remain

“ I Ifamyouthe vine, you are the branches. in me

Name one practical way you can abide in Jesus and allow Him to love you today. Journal how not adiding in Him keeps you from a flourishing life.

and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. JOHN 15:5

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Forgiveness is the Relational Key

We must forgive others or be in trouble with God. Sigh. This is often hard work.

rowing up, my family planted a pumpkin patch. I tiptoed every day through the vines watching the pumpkins grow. In the fall and when we gathered the pumpkins, it was obvious which ones I had bumped and disconnected from the vine; they completely stopped growing.

Abide

flourishing

minutes in the

in Your Prayer Life

WORD

By Dorie Etrheim

y thoughts were racing, thinking about all I had to accomplish. Would I get it all done? I sat down with the Lord to read the Scriptures, and my mind wandered to the stacks of laundry. My multitasking was spilling over into my quiet time. As I finished praying, it was as if I left Jesus in the chair and said to Him, “I’ll see you later.” What happens to your prayer life during a busy season when life feels overwhelming? Read Philippians 4:4-7. (Re-read it again in the Amplified translation, if available.) What stands out to you?

There is no place for “anxiety” in the presence of Jesus. What are we to do? What is the result?

Jesus is our Prince of Peace. He sees us, knows us, hears us, loves us, and He lives to intercede for us (Heb. 7:25). To flourish in prayer, we not only take all our cares to Jesus, but we must also sit at His feet and listen to Him. We need both. Martha and Mary are preparing to celebrate Jesus. Read Luke 10:38-42. Note where Mary is and what she is doing.

How is Martha described?

What is Jesus’ response?

Martha loved the Lord and she wanted to serve Him well. She thought she had no time to sit and listen to the Lord if she were to complete all her preparations. But Mary stopped her work to sit and listen to Jesus. Can you feel the tension? You and I have the same choice. Will you choose to sit at the Lord's feet, still your heart, focus on His presence, and listen for His whispers of love and truth?

Digging Deeper “Martha, Martha,” indicates a loving, tender, emotionfilled reply to Martha: an invitation to step away from all the preparations and sit and listen to Jesus. “Listen to” means not just to hear, but also to pay close attention to and listen with a heart to obey. Prayer is our invitation to a deeper trust and dependence on Jesus. We are in Christ, who is allsufficient for all our needs (Phil. 4:19). We are sealed with the Holy Spirit who accompanies us in our prayers (Rom. 8:26-27). Jesus understands our weakness (Heb. 4:1416). He invites us to stay in close communion with Him through prayer. We have front row seats to talk and listen to the allpowerful, all-knowing, almighty God who spoke the world into existence. Jesus shares a great model for prayer with us in Matt. 6:9-13, the Lord’s Prayer. What is He inviting you to? What would you say to Him if you and He were sitting in the chair across from you now? What would He say to you?

For Your Journal Write out Phil. 4:4-7 in your journal. Notice what words stand out to you. Journal what you sense Jesus is saying to you and write a prayer of thanks to Him. Enjoy His presence.

Rejoice!

“Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again:

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