John 15:7 English Standard Version – If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.

Definition of abide, borrowed from living31.blogspot.com, via Bing search: Abide is a verb that means to remain, continue, stay, dwell, or reside¹²³. 

I wrote a song a long time ago about abiding in Christ. “Abide in me, Lord, for my heart abides in you.” That’s all I remember of the song, except I thought it was one of my best, so, in a misguided attempt to be righteous and deny pride, I destroyed it along with all the songs I’d written. It was a choice I made. Looking back, I can see it had no secure Biblical foundation, but it was not a choice I dwell on. As a relatively new Christian, it was what I thought I needed to do.

Walking with Christ, abiding in Him, is a journey of valleys and mountains, and as long as we keep on the path He sets before us, we’ll get through all the missteps and be with Him someday.

Unfortunately, sometimes, there is misinterpretation of the words of scripture that are there to guide us. Sometimes, the first part of a verse is skipped over to relish the second part. Ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you, is the promise in the verse. The first part, If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, are the conditions for receiving the promise with a very major word attached – IF.

The definitions I shared earlier in this post are the words I have to ask myself, the words you have to ask yourself, before rejoicing in the promise. Am I remaining in Jesus, continuing steadfast in what He has taught, staying true to my beliefs, dwelling with Him and other believers, residing in this world as sojourners, ambassadors for Him, missionaries preparing others, preparing ourselves for Home?

Our walk was never promised to be an easy one. There will be conditions sometimes that come before the promises are fulfilled. But the cost is worth it when we reflect on Jesus’s sacrifice to create a pathway to Him, to Heaven. He loved us that much.

There is a reason that a small part of my song remains in my memory. My prayer for each of us today is, “Abide in me, Lord, for my heart abides in You.”

God bless you!