Tripping Over Typeset

In our sweet days of dating, my hubby and I had more months apart from each other than we had together. He was globe-trotting 10 months out of our 17 months dating and when he returned for our final year of college some people remarked, “YOU’RE MARRIED! We didn’t even know you were dating!”

It was in those days apart from each other that I would cling to any word I received from him. I remember walking home from class and seeing a large manila envelope stuck in the screen door. I read that first letter from Belgium over and over again. That letter was a connection piece to him. The words he wrote remained with me as I went to work, as I studied and even while conversing with others. His words would ruminate in my heart. Everywhere I went his words remained in my thoughts.

That is what Jesus meant when He said in John 15:4, “Remain in me, as I also remain in You. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.”

God’s Word is a connecting piece for us. His Words ruminating in us strengthen our connection to Him.

Our vitality depends on our connection to Him.

I have days when my vitality, energy, and joy are on the down-low and all those living with me can sense I am on the edge of losing it. Many times, I can mentally track my actions back to my connection or lack of connection with Him.

• Have I lost my salvation? No.
• Have I fallen from grace? No.

But my vital connection with Him has grown weak and the subsistence I need is running out on my end because I have not remained connected with Him. My effectiveness in life is directly connected to receiving a constant flow of life from Christ.

How can I stay connected?

• Take time to take it in– This sounds so simple but in the rush of life it’s easy to skip over it. I must discipline my life in such a way that this vital time of taking in His Word for myself is guarded and the commitment kept.
• Take it with me – James 1:22-25 says, “Do not merely listen to the word and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Those who listen to the word but do not do what it says are like people who look at their faces in a mirror and, after looking at themselves, go away and immediately forget what they look like. But those who look intently into the perfect law that gives freedom and continue in it—not forgetting what they have heard but doing it— they will be blessed in what they do.”
• Tack it up – I am slow in learning, yet God is patient with this poor soul. When He is walking with me through a lesson like patience, I tack up encouraging words and promises to my mirror…computer screen… or fridge. Tacking up encouragement helps me remain and stay connected to His promises.

Just as hubby and I’s dating relationship grew through connection, our relationship with God grows as we remain connected to Him.

I am in no way perfect when it comes to this remaining. I seem to be learning again how to simply remain. I would love to hear from you.

• How do you stay connected?
• What lessons have you learned about remaining in Him?

Please share a comment and we can encourage and learn together.