December 18, 2021

Scarlett Kiowski
As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love. These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full. “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.
John 15:9-13

This passage is dear to my heart. In fact, I have it posted in my home, and I wear a necklace that says Abide. I need all the reminders that I can get!

Recently, God has shown me some growth areas in my life, areas that feel buried deep within my heart. It would take a shovel and a lot of digging to uproot these old habits. They feel too big, too hard to overcome. But then God reminded me of 2 Corinthians 12:9, “But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” When I am weak, he is strong.

Christmas is meant to be special and fun, but sometimes it’s hard. Remember that when we surrender our circumstance, our deeply rooted sin, our hurts to Jesus, He intervenes and becomes everything we need. In John 15, he says, “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.”

Oh, how he loves us. He knew that we would need to depend on Him for our every need.