Abide

To abide means to put up with; tolerate, to wait patiently for, to withstand, to remain in a place, to continue to be sure or firm to endure, and to dwell or sojourn.   As times get tougher and we draw closer to the coming of the Lord we will have to learn how to abide in the Lord.  Sometimes, it may not be easy to tolerate things around us and to understand why things are happening but we must remain steadfast to the Lord.   In Psalm 91 the word states, “That when we dwell in the secret place of the most High we shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.”  How can we enter into the secret place of the Most High?  We must learn not to fulfill the desires of the flesh for the flesh desires the things of the flesh but we must walk in the Spirit for then we seek the things of the Spirit.  In James 1 the word states, “Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.  When we are in the midst of temptations how can we count them as joy?  We know that in John 15 the word states, “Abide in me and I in you, as the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine, neither can you except you abide in me.  I am the vine, you are the branches, he that abides in me and I in him, the same brings forth much fruit for without me you can do nothing.”  If you abide in me and my words abide in you, you shall ask what you will and it shall be done unto you.”  We must stand upon the Word of the Lord and dwell under His shadow for that is where we will find strength and our shield of protection.  We must not become weary in well doing but continue to abide in the Presence of the Lord.  For in His Presence there is peace that surpasses all understanding, comfort, love and the strength to overcome every temptation.  Our reward is in knowing that we are only passing through that one day soon we will be abiding with the Father for eternity.