The Faith Place

Today is a wonderful day, because I am off of work for an inclement weather day. The snow hasn’t started yet, but I’m excited to have the time off to be able to do a few more things before the storm gets here.

One great thing about a day off is it gives me a little extra time to create a blog post. I often have ideas for my blog, but sometimes I just don’t have time to sit down and write.

This is my first post of 2025 and I just wanted to share some of my thoughts! A few weeks ago I heard a message from my wonderful father in law about Thrive in 2025. We are not just going to survive, but we are going to thrive! Then a couple days ago I read another blog talking about Abiding and Remaining in 2025 referencing the parable of the vine and the branches from John 15.

I pondered that for awhile and it was like the Holy Spirit spoke to me that

you can’t thrive if you don’t abide.

I was like yes Lord, that is truth. To be honest, I have been in a place before where I wasn’t abiding like I should be. So therefore, I was not thriving.

But maybe we can break this down even further for understanding. Let’s look at what the scripture says.

⁴ Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.
⁵ I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.

John 15:4-5

Now, one of the definitions of Thrive is to flourish or grow vigorously. I think of this word flourish as a floral word anyways, like flowers or fruit growing.

Something that is thriving is full of life and growth.

If you read this passage in your Bible, these words are in red letters, meaning Jesus spoke them himself. He said to abide in Him and he made an analogy of how He is the vine and we are the branches. If you continue reading this passage of scripture He talks about how not abiding means you will not produce fruit and then the branches begin to be cut off (pruning).

Abiding isn’t a passive action that you can just do when the church doors are open, but it is a call to a deeper relationship with Christ. That may seem overwhelming, but we aren’t asked to do this on our own. When we even start to make the effort of abiding in Christ, the Holy Spirit ministers to you in marvelous ways. It’s something that only you can experience for yourself. I can try to explain to you how great it is all day, but it won’t be real to you until you try it for yourself.

Abiding is a call to action

That relationship with God has to go beyond the church doors. In other words, you can’t be one person on Sunday and a different person on Monday.

In practice, it means getting in the word of God on your own time. Trying to learn and study what the word means to you and not always expecting somebody else to feed you. It means having a prayer life beyond your blessing for your meal, but giving thanks to God for what He’s done, and making your requests known to Him. It also means obedience to the things He has asked us to do and commanded in His word. Along with all of that to also worship Him in Spirit and in truth.

These are meant to be daily habits that I fall short of sometimes. When we fall short though, there is grace when we repent and turn back to Him.

Thriving is about growth.

Thriving is about growth, but sometimes growth can be painful. We have all heard that cliche’ “going through growing pains.” What that looks like if we keep with the analogy and parable of the fruit, vine, and branches is called pruning.

Growing pains

Sometimes, on this journey with Christ there will come a time of pruning. It is very hard to explain, but when you experience it you will know it. It is almost like a time of enlightening. There are parts of you even after you give your life to Christ that don’t look like Him. See, God doesn’t expect you to get saved and all of a sudden know exactly what to do and all of a sudden just be this perfect person. We call it conviction. As you continue on your journey certain things in your heart and life will start to feel uncomfortable for you to do anymore. As Christ begins the pruning process in your life you may notice that certain things do not appeal to you like they used to anymore.

Without going into too much detail, because I have an idea for this too, but for me, God has had to prune me of doubt. Some of the things we will be pruned of are things that we have known since our childhood. Maybe we saw the adults in our lives handle things a certain way and we associated that with just how it is supposed to be. But God wants to show you another way. While it may be painful to have old habits, mindsets, and even desires pruned away, I can promise you that it is always done with love and you always come out on the other side stronger.

So, for 2025 I do believe we will THRIVE!! Because in 2025 we are going to ABIDE in Him!!

But I want you to know that it doesn’t have to end in 2025, I pray that abiding and thriving will become a lifestyle for us all!

Let’s Pray!

Dear heavenly Father, we are so thankful and grateful for this new year that you have given us. Although it may be just another day to you, it is a time of reflection for so many. Help us to use this time wisely to allow you to do the supernatural work in us to make us look more like you everyday! God we are setting our hearts on you and we want to abide in you not only for this year, but from here on out. We know that we will THRIVE when we ABIDE in you! Give us the grace and strength for the times of pruning we must go through. We know that it is always done in love and mercy and help us to know that even though pruning is painful that we will come out more fruitful in the end. We love you and we thank you Jesus for all that you have done! Amen!