In John 15:7, Jesus says:
“If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask for whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.”
What does this mean?
I do not think it means:
God will give us every desire or material request.
I think the deeper idea is this:
As we remain deeply connected to Christ, our desires gradually become more aligned with God’s heart.
Prayer becomes less about:
Forcing outcomes.
Controlling life.
Getting everything we want.
And more about:
Participating in God’s life.
Wanting what reflects God’s goodness and truth.
Cooperating with God’s work within us.
As Christ’s words abide in us, something begins to change.
Our thinking changes.
Our desires deepen.
Our prayers become more aligned with love, wisdom, and truth.
This is what a practice such as centering prayer does.
Our will and God’s will become more in sync.
We let go.
We open ourselves to God’s presence and action within us.
I think of it this way:
I sit with God.
Then I get up and walk with God.
God and I partner on my daily tasks.
I listen.
I notice.
I take the next faithful step.
I am learning to walk from my true self.
This is the person God wants me to be.
These are the actions God wants me to take.
What does it mean for you to abide in God?
I would love to hear your thoughts in the comments.
Grateful you are here,
Rich
Would you like to become more aware of God’s presence in your daily life?
Centering Prayer is a simple practice that helps us slow down, let go, and open ourselves to God’s presence and action within us.
If you are curious about Centering Prayer or want to begin a daily practice, I created a free ebook to help you get started.