Abide

In John 15, Y says that He is the Vine and we are the branches. We are to remain in Him and He is us, and whoever remains in Him bears much fruit. As we seek to live C-centered lives (ones that bear fruit) in our new surroundings, we are reminded again that the only way is to simply abide.

My understanding of the word abide is that it means to "be near" or "dwell" with God. Since being here, I have been learning a lot about what it means to dwell with the Lord. We are called to dwell in His house, not just drop by for a visit once in a while. We are adopted into His Kingdom, and that makes us residents of His home! This is something He has been showing me about living overseas- wherever I am, I can rest assured I am with Him because my physical location does not determine my nearness to Him. 

Psalm 84

 ¹How lovely is your dwelling place,
   O LORD of hosts!
² My soul longs, yes, faints
   for the courts of the LORD;
my heart and flesh sing for joy
   to the living God.

 ³Even the sparrow finds a home,
   and the swallow a nest for herself,
   where she may lay her young,
at your altars, O LORD of hosts,
    my King and my God.
⁴ Blessed are those who dwell in your house,
   ever singing your praise!      

 ⁵Blessed are those whose strength is in you,
    in whose heart are the highways to Zion.
⁶ As they go through the Valley of Baca
   they make it a place of springs;
    the early rain also covers it with pools.
⁷ They go from strength to strength;
   each one appears before God in Zion.

 ⁸O LORD God of hosts, hear my prayer;
   give ear, O God of Jacob!
⁹ Behold our shield, O God;
   look on the face of your anointed!

 ¹⁰For a day in your courts is better
   than a thousand elsewhere.
I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God
   than dwell in the tents of wickedness.
¹¹ For the LORD God is a sun and shield;
   the LORD bestows favor and honor.
No good thing does he withhold
   from those who walk uprightly.
¹² O LORD of hosts,
    blessed is the one who trusts in you!