ABIDE and TRUST (2025)

As I begin with my 3471st post, I was not sure if I had disclosed my 2025 One Word(s) officially: so I have decided at least to mention these as I continue into 2025, even though I have not yet pinpointed which one is THE One Word, I have decided that they co-exist and relate to one another.

[image credit: dayspring (in)courage] after quiz

ABIDE was the One Word that was given to me when I took the quiz that (in)Courage offered & I'm not sure how that actually works (like "are there only certain One Words encompassed in this quiz?") but I took the quiz, then prayed about this One Word as I started 2025 and leaned into listening. I also focused on one verse (or at least the chapter in John, which contains much on ABIDING) John, chapter 15 in different versions and then I tucked ABIDE away in my heart & mind & waited to see or hear. I read and reread the couple of emails that I received from (in)courage about One Word at the end of 2024 and the beginning of 2025 when I took the quiz. Not knowing for sure, I kept that One Word, as I quietly continued into 2025 and began to hear my other One Word: TRUST. I'm strongly considering re-doing the Quiz just to see. Yeah, definitely need more TRUST, from the smallest to the biggest parts of my life!

Now TRUST, kept showing up everywhere and to me that spells "confirmation"; so I asked God over & over again, if TRUST is the One Word or is it ABIDE? Or maybe, just maybe, God - are TRUST and ABIDE related? and do I need to understand how they relate? Clearly, God reinforced that I should TRUST Him and so I continued with thinking that TRUST was the 2025 One Word that God & I could agree on. I, for one, know that I need lots of work when it comes to TRUST, however, I thought it was only an issue with people in my life, surely not in my relationship with Jesus/God/Holy Spirit. As this year presses on, I began certain resource books & prayers on TRUST, but have yet to finish any. I focused on Proverbs 3:5-6 and Isaiah 26:3 as my TRUST verses and then waited, watching for TRUST verses to show up here & there & storing them. Also, I have a 365 day devotional book, not even on TRUST, but related to another consideration for my One Word, and it keeps showing up there in the prayers & devotions.

Is it possible that God intends for me to have these two One Words in 2025? and notice the connection between ABIDING and TRUSTING or TRUSTING as I ABIDE. I have begun to consider this as God leads me for 2025, so I have left my other considerations behind and holding on to both of these One Words together, knowing God is not limited by our One Words as HE will use any WORD in HIS WORD to draw us closer. I am rereading the articles from (in)courage: "How One Word Can Help You Receive God's Best?" by Becky Kiefe (Dec, 2024) and "One Word to Help You Hear the Good Shepherd in 2025" by Dorina Lazo Gilmore-Young (Jan, 2025) I do know that the Good Shepherd hears me, cares about me as I care for another, and He leads me as I TRUST & ABIDE, so I am confident that He is leading me into 2025 with both One Words, emphasizing that He is with me, as I am with Him & stay close every.single.day! Starting & ending my day with God, have not always been enough this year as I am finding that I definitely need Him every moment so I take time to pause & spend time in between or whenever I can get a chance throughout the day & night. After all, HE'S my God 24/7! 

[image credit: Knowing-Jesus]

Based on this (similar to my other books begun but not finished yet), I am starting a Study Guide (streaming course) called "The ABIDE Bible Course" by Phil Collins (no, not the one that comes to your mind & mine) and Randy Frazee (yes, the pastor). There are 6 sessions (or videos) and starting now will allow me extra months, in case I start but don't finish to return and hopefully complete. Since I do consider myself a follower of Jesus throughout 7 decades, as I read the description of *Abide Bible Course, I am quite familiar with this:

"Followers of Christ abide with Him the way a branch dwells on a vine—in a life-sustaining connection. The Abide Bible Course features Phil Collins, the director of the Taylor University Center for Scripture Engagement, and Randy Frazee, the architect of The Story and Believe Bible engagement programs. They introduce us to their favorite methods of interacting with God, including contemplation, journaling, imagination, praying Scripture, and works of art. Discover your own preferred method and make it a part of your daily practice of engaging with God and abiding in His Word." Study Gateway

Session One

Since there are 5 methods mentioned of interacting with God (in italics), I am sure this is an Introduction or Overall view for this course. It begins with the verses in Chapter 15 in the Book (Gospel) of John (NIV is used in the course, but under that, I've included The Voice as well)

"5 “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. 6 If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. 7 If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. 8 This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples." NIV The Voice 5 I am the vine, and you are the branches. If you abide in Me and I in you, you will bear great fruit. Without Me, you will accomplish nothing. 6 If anyone does not abide in Me, he is like a branch that is tossed out and shrivels up and is later gathered to be tossed into the fire to burn. 7 If you abide in Me and My voice abides in you, anything you ask will come to pass for you. 8 Your abundant growth and your faithfulness as My followers will bring glory to the Father.

Instead of "Bible reading" or "Bible Study"this course uses the phrase"Scripture engagement"(where we engage with the text rather than just read it)
ABIDE[translated by scholars as - ]
to remain
to dwell
{to stay}
or
to make your home in

"... Just as you would get to know someone relationally by listening, interacting, and sharing experiences to-gether, the same is true of Scripture Engagement. As Jesus told His disciples, "Abide in Me"(John 15:4 ESV) ... This is the essence of Scripture Engagement."

There are 6 basic ingredients in the process of Scripture Engagement "1: Prepare your heart to be open to the Holy Spirit.  2: Read the Bible.  3: Meditate on the Bible.  4: Talk to God about His Word.  5: Talk about Scriptures with others.  6: Commit to obey what the Word says. "

After watching the Session 1 video, it mentioned these 5 practices forSCRIPTURE ENGAGEMENT:(which are the content of the remaining Sessions 2-6)1. Praying Scripture2. Engage through Art3. Journaling4. Picture it5. Contemplate

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Now to begin to understand this and apply, right?
{I think I do most of this already, but I guess it's the degree that I do it}
yet I'm open to learn again and more as I continue in this course.
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I don't know why this happens but often now when I think I'm closing a blog post (because I've certainly shared enough to pique your interest & be accountable for mine), shortly after closing I end up discovering another book, or resource (and hope it's available on author's blog somehow, so I don't purchase yet another - but too late, I got me a used copy, coming in June). I receive emails from Jodie Berndt so for some reason, she interested me before (perhaps back when she featured this on her blog as a prayer challenge or when it was published). Anyways, she has a wonderful book (not yet read but ordered) "Praying the Scriptures for Your Life: 31 Days of Abiding in the Presence, Provision, and Power of God" (now this definitely is more my style) so when I read this blog post (besides wondering where I was in 2021 & 2022, because I don't usually miss extra special opportunities with authors I know & follow; AND FaithGateway events like this - maybe it's when I started receiving her emails). Anyways, my cousin loves Italy & after reading Jodie's blog post, I can see why. {Then add my new interest with the new Pope (lol)}, I needed to check this out better. I know that I have one of her other books on "Praying the Scriptures for Your Adult Children..." {Excellent!} but I just noticed the subtitle, or the part that follows that in her title, which jumped off the cover at me "... TRUSTing God with the Ones You Love" {oh my (sigh)} that's such a BIG ONE, Lord! I better pay better attention to my FaithGateway's Devotionals Daily. Already preparing myself to do those 31 days this July 2025, a few years later (I love her calendar linked to 31 days) and I couldn't believe what I read was her plan for August (back in 2022) and the book on Abiding was released in 2021. I think she did much of the Prayer Challenge on Facebook or Instagram (which I don't do) thus, the reason I fell into my temptations yet again of buying it.

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*Because this ABIDE Bible Course is 3 years old, I found this You Tube available to give you a taste & saw some others, like Session 2  (which is a little longer than the 1st link) and is on "Praying Scripture".This is a valuable lesson and one that I put into practice more & more for years.