Flashback Friday Devotion #32 [Abiding]

Hi, Everyone.
Thank you for your prayers for a safe trip to and from Oklahoma yesterday. My husband, grandson, and I had a good day away. I was disappointed to see that I was up a few pounds, when I weighed in at my 9-month post-op appointment, but I went away with a plan of attack. As far as my labs, my thyroid is acting up and my Vit. D level is on the low side, so I'm taking 2 new pills. As I take them, I will thank the Lord that He is my Healer! :)
Today's devotion is from my personal journal dated May 10, 2007. As always, I love to hear from each of you. Let me know how God speaks to you today, and please pray for those having surgery today.

Flashback Friday Devotion #32 [Abiding]

     I awoke this morning singing the old hymn Abide With Me, only I always change it to Abide With Thee, and I adjust some of the words. The reason is that I know God is willing to abide with me. It is I who must decide to abide with Him. "Abide with Thee, fast falls the eventide/ The darkness deepens, Lord, with Thee I abide/ When other helpers fail and comforts flee/ Help of the Helpless, Lord, I abide with Thee."  I knew the topic for today was "abiding."
     When I read or hear the word "abide," I immediately think of John chapter fifteen. I especially like verses 4-11, "Abide in Me...; he who abides in Me and I in him/her, he/she bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing... If you abide in Me and My words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit...; abide in My love. If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love;... These things I have spoken to you so that My joy may be in you, and that your joy may be made full."
     Truly stopping sinful habits (such as overeating) requires ongoing intimacy with God. Enjoying Jesus Christ Himself must replace the habit of overeating.
     If I remain in Jesus, my soul is nourished, I am fed, I grow, and I have true life. The Fruit of the Spirit, including the quality of self-control, proceeds from that. Any other attempt to bear fruit will be from my self and the flesh.
     Abiding in the love of Jesus makes my joy complete. If my joy in Jesus is complete, I will not have to look for it anywhere else, and my slavery to food addiction is broken.
     Abiding in Christ means to treasure Him as my greatest joy, throughout my day. It means beginning my day in prayer and in His Word, and then communing with Him as I go about my day.
     Any time I begin distancing myself from Christ, I will fall and that fall will manifest itself in overeating. I know that now. I must remain intimate with Him, enjoying fellowship with my Savior, moment by moment. The key to ongoing victory and fruitfulness is abiding.

Today, read the 15th chapter of John, the whole chapter. Prayerfully consider how well you are abiding in Christ. Without self-condemnation, take stock of how much fruit you are bearing for Christ, in your body and in your dealings with others. If anything is lacking, spend more time in prayer and in God's Word. Watch and listen to this video of a man playing "Abide With Me" on a pipe organ he made. I invite you to use the words written above, and sing as he plays. 
http://www.godtube.com/view_video.php?viewkey=aeae89de1a031b 1d2d7c

Blessings,
Mary