Current epiphany: Scripture is not a sprint, it is a marathon. We need to sit in it, soak it all up – maybe it is more like sunshine or a sugary, big, beautiful cup of coffee on a long Saturday morning.

I chose John 15 to spend the whole month of March in. Because there is no prize for reading the most verses – the prize is knowing Christ. And I’m getting to know Him well on this page, learning about His character, His truth, His desires for us. I want to live slow, soak up every moment – every word of my sweet Savior.

If you don’t know off the top of your head what is in John 15, join me in this little experiment. This chapter is about abiding. What a beautiful word. Jesus is addressing His disciples, describing the best way of living and explaining the way that He works in our lives.

At If:Gathering this year, Rebecca Lyons talked about how this picture of abiding is like a leaf that is fully wrapped in the vine. It is supported and held, never swayed by the wind or storms that come. The storms still come, let’s remember, but abiding ensures that we are not sent flying when they do.

In my desires to practice simplicity, abiding has played a big part. To abide is to be fully present. It requires our full presence and attention. Wherever we abide is where we fully are.

How often throughout your day are you fully present to what is in front of you?

Whether it is a conversation, an email, or prayer, it is hard to be all there. We always have a million others things to think about.

Abiding means we aren’t worried or consumed with anything else, other than where we are. So to abide in His Love? Means to be fully immersed in it. Fully aware, fully accepting, fully at peace.

At the Bethel concert last month, I fell in love with the song “Spirit Move.”

One part of it says this:

“We are fixed on this one thing, to know Your goodness and see Your glory

We’re transformed by this one thing, to know Your presence and see Your beauty.”

This gave words to the desire of my heart: to be fully present to the Lord and His work in my life. To live in the current of the Spirit, I need to be abiding in this one thing – His Love.

There are a lot of other things in this life in which we can choose to “abide.” In John 15:1 Jesus says He is the “true vine.” Our fruit comes from abiding, and it shows what we are abiding in. Is there fruit in your life? Does that fruit point to God or does it point to something else?

This is my prayer this month:

Lord, make me a fruitful branch – a branch thick and unbreakable. A branch that is clearly connected to You – may the world know my Source. No matter the storm or wind or danger – may I be strongly attached to the Vine.

I’ll be out of the country this week, and I’m so excited to spend time on the beach soaking up the sunshine and the presence of my Savior. Sometimes life makes it a little easier to abide. (: Join me in reading John 15 and leaning back against the heart of our Jesus, it is the best place we can find ourselves in.

XO,

Kal.