So many times, we forget what it means to remain.
This is especially true when it comes to remaining in God and His secret place. Yet the act of remaining is critical. Think about a plant, what happens if it does not remain in the soil? Then what about a fish, if it does not remain in the water? In the same way if we do not remain in an atmosphere that has oxygen we cannot survive. Yet when it comes to our relationship with God we need to think about the effects or even the cost of not remaining in Him and His presence.
It says in:
John 15:5 English Standard Version (ESV)
5 I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.
If we remain in Him and His presence, it is no different than the branch remaining in the vine. We will flourish and grow. Yet if we become detached then we dry up and die. At that stage we are good for nothing but fuel for the fire.
In the same way when we remain in the safety and security of God, we release the potential for Him to act on our behalf.
Now before I continue, why did I say we release the potential? God gives us a choice to choose what way we are going to go. God expects that we are going to mature and grow during our time down here on earth. So why would he just control us like puppets or remote-control drones? There would be no purpose. For us to grow and mature we must make choices. Right or wrong we still learn a lesson and can grow from that experience.
Yet just like in life, when we make good choices we get the reward or benefit from that good decision.
When we remain in God we get the benefit of sitting under Him and His protection. David wrote about this as he experienced it over and over as he ran from his enemy’s.
Psalm 91 New American Standard Bible (NASB)
1He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High
Will abide in the shadow of the Almighty.
Psalm 91 Amplified Bible (AMP)
1He who [a]dwells in the shelter of the Most High
Will remain secure and rest in the shadow of the Almighty [whose power no enemy can withstand].
We must learn the high value of remaining in the presence of God. In this is the time we have the advantage of the one that wants the best for us. He is sure to guide and direct us but when we are close, remaining in Him, in close proximity, we have positioned ourselves in such a way that he can whisper direction, encouragement, even insight regarding a situation.
When we have an intimate connection with Him it is so much easier for Him to guide us and make us stronger than if we try and stand alone.
