8 Ways To Abide in Christ and Fight Spiritual Dryness

Do you truly know how to abide in Christ?

How long have you been saved?  It’s been 30+ years for me.  There are seasons when I feel dry and far from God.  I used to think that Spiritually dry seasons were a normal part of Christianity.  Inevitable.  You just ride it out and wait for the joy to come back.  But today we will see that you don’t have to accept Spiritual dryness. 

Learning to Abide in Christ

There are 8 ways you can abide in Christ that will help you better learn to be still every day and avoid or Spiritual dryness!

We are 31 days into a 40-day fast.  How has it been going for you? 

Honestly, most of it has gone to plan but there were a few days I missed my time with God.  Busyness slipped in and before I knew it the day was gone.

But for grace, right?

God’s grace covers those kinds of days (whew)! Be careful though, because if busy days have become a habit rather than an exception it becomes easier for the enemy to slide in. He could then get a foothold into your life and cause problems you didn’t bargain for (like spiritual dryness).

That is why we must learn to abide in Christ every day.  When we are abiding in the Lord, it feels like floods of grace in our life to give us the strength to get back up when we fall down and keep moving forward!

What Does It Mean to Abide in Christ?

Today we are learning what it means to abide in Christ or abide in Me (God) as He says in John 15. This chapter is what people are searching for when they want the, “Abide in me Scripture,” or the “Abide in Me verse.”

“If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.
Just as the Father has loved Me, I have also 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.” (John 15:1-11 NASB) 

What does abide mean in the bible? The Greek/Hebrew word menō is used in our text. According to blueletterbible.org the original abide definition is:

• To remain, dwell, continue, tarry, endure.

Define Meno

That definition doesn’t help me as much as I’d like, so let’s look deeper.  What is the Biblical definition of abide?  To break the definition of menō down better we will look at the Outline of Biblical Usage from BlueLetterBible.org.

Think of each of these phrases or words as they apply to someone you love.

1. To remain in a place
2. Sojourn
   • Tarry, not to depart, to continue to be present, to be held, kept, continually
3. To continue
   • in reference to time, to continue to be, endure, to survive
4. To wait for, await one.

What Does Abide in Christ Mean Today?

If we connect the usages of “abide” and apply them to the definition of abide in Christ from John 15 we see a picture begin to form.  To abide in Christ we:

• Remain with Him, where He places us.
• Sojourn (stay or live life together) with Him while we remain (not just in eternal life).
• Continue to be present with God while we live where He places us.
• Wait for Him to say so before we move or change anything He has set in place.

What is the Biblical Meaning of Abide from John 15

How do you abide in Jesus Christ? How do you remain in Jesus Christ?  Well, to understand this abide in Christ definition – to know what Jesus meant – we must look at the specific situation He spoke into in John 15.  The context will help us apply the concept.

Jesus and the disciples had just finished the feast of the Passover (we often call it the Last Supper). Some things to know before we begin:

• In John 13 we watch with bated breath as Jesus the Servant washes the disciples’ feet.
• We listen as Jesus tells them how to remember Him in holy communion.
• Judas sneaks out to betray his friend.
• We watch as Jesus comforts His confused disciples about what is coming.
• Jesus speaks to unity in the Body of Christ in a beautiful way.
• Jesus promised to send the Holy Spirit to comfort and help His believers.

This is the context in which Jesus says to abide in Him. 

You don't have to accept Spiritual dryness. There are 8 Ways You can Abide in Christ to Be Still Every Day that will be like floods of grace in your life. Share on X

Did you find this mid-series?  We are in a 40-day Fast to learn how to be still and know God. Keep up with the series here.

Abiding Feels Backward and Hard

“These things I have spoken to you while abiding with you.” (John 14:25 NASB)

Jesus admonishes the disciples to not be fearful of what was to come.  Can you imagine how the disciples felt?  Fear came as they watched Jesus hauled off, falsely accused, tortured, and hung to die on the cross.

For three years, Jesus had been abiding with them.  They walked with Jesus, talked with Jesus, asked questions, and looked to Jesus for direction and wisdom.

How would they abide in Him now that He was gone?

That would have been deeper grief than I can imagine.  Alone, hopeless, confused.  Abiding in Christ would have felt backward and hard for the disciples.  Shoot!  It is a hard concept for us today and we have the whole counsel of God’s Word to explain it! 

Honestly, today, every abide in Christ verse or abide in Christ Scripture can be found easily, read, and meditated on.  If we are ever in doubt or fear we can look them up and be reminded of God’s promises. 

The disciples would have struggled to understand it.  It probably wasn’t until they received the Holy Spirit that they would have understood Jesus’ Words, the abide in me meaning.  

What Does Abiding in Jesus Mean?

“I am the vine, you are the branches; the one who remains in Me, and I in him bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing.” (John 15:5 NASB)

“Abide in Me,” Jesus implored. 

We could re-word this with the Biblical definition of abide to learn the John 15:5 meaning in a clearer way. This is a way to apply it to our Christian lives better.

“Remain with Me, hear My words, think of Me, talk to Me, do life together with Me.”

How can we abide in Christ today or how do you remain in Christ?

Just like you would abide, remain, or live with anyone else.  Spend time with them. 

What Are the Benefits of Abiding in the Lord?

“These things I have spoken to you so that My joy may be in you, and that your joy may be made full.” :11 

Abiding in the Lord teaches us how to experience the joy of the Lord to the fullest measure.  When we make abiding in Christ and being still with God a way of life we know and experience His Joy in any circumstance!

Related Post: How to Have Joy in Every Trial and Please God

8 Ways You Can Abide in Christ to Be Still Every Day

What does it look like for a Christian to abide in Jesus? Spend time with Him, doing the things He loves. If we had to make a list it would not surprise you!

1. Be in the Word.
   • Listening to Him talk to you.
2. Pray.
   • Talking to Him.
3. Spend time in solitude alone with God.
   • Alone time always strengthens a relationship!
4. Fasting.
   • Setting aside things you seek for satisfaction, to be satisfied in HIM.
5. Give freely of what God gave to you.
   • Showing trust and surrender.
6. Gathering
   • Being together with other believers to talk about Him.
7. Serving.
   • To serve others, meeting their needs as the early believers did, is to live like Jesus.
8. Tell others about Christ.
   • Just like you would talk about a dear friend.

John 15 lays those 8 ways to abide in Him. We will spend the remainder of our 40-day fast dissecting them.  Today we will just get an overview.  

Related Post: 5 Ways to Be Sure You Are Not Like Jezebel

1. Abide in God’s Word

“If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you” :7a 

How do you abide in God’s Word?

Read it, listen to it, talk about it, think about it, learn it, apply it, and pray it. 

Abiding in God’s word leads to abiding faith, abiding life, walking in the will of God, and producing much Spiritual fruit. 

When you spend time in God’s Word, reading the Old Testament or New Testament (The Bread of Life) your Christian faith grows!  

This is a win-win!

Related Post: Bible Reading Plan To Grow Your Prayer Life

What does abiding faith mean?  Abiding faith is a faith that is more than words, more than just going to church at Easter and Christmas.  To live out an abiding faith you walk with God every day.

Learn How to Abide in God’s Word here ~> How to Abide in the Word of God to Be Still

More verses we will look at on how to abide in God’s word: Romans 10:17; 2 Timothy 3:16-17; Psalm 119:11; Hebrews 4:12; John 1:8

2 & 3.  Abide in Prayer and Solitude

“ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.” :7b 

Ok, I can almost hear you click away with that last word but hear a girl out.  Abiding is about a real relationship.  Most of my prayer time is a one-sided conversation.  If I expect a real relationship I have to have time (quiet and alone) where I am listening to His side of the conversation.

Solitude is a spiritual discipline we have lost but desperately need! Solitude builds the quality of the relationship.

Learn How to abide in Prayer and Solitude here ~> Abide in the Power of Prayer to Be Still with God

More verses about how to abide in prayer and solitude: Matthew 6:5-6; James 1:19;  1 John 5:14; 2 Chronicles 7:14; Matthew 5:44; Psalm 17:6; Romans 12:12; Philippians 4:6

4.  Abide in Christ By Giving

“If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love” :10a

Jesus lived a life without strings. In the book of Acts, we see that the early Church didn’t hold tightly to their possessions, their time, or their lives.

The early church gave to support each other.  Daily they spent time together (abiding) and helped build, teach, serve, cook, etc. They gave.

Giving is a beautiful way to abide in Christ.  Giving is like saying to God, “All that I have is Yours.  Well to be fair, it was Yours when You gave it to me.  Now I am just giving back a portion of it to love You and serve others for You.”

Learn How to Abide in Giving here ~> Give Your Life Away to Be Still and Abide in God

More verses about how to abide in Christ with giving: 2 Corinthians 9:7; Proverbs 18:16; Proverbs 11:25; Luke 6:38; Proverbs 3:9; 2 Corinthians 9:8-11; Proverbs 3:27; Matthew 6:2; Matthew 10:8

5.  Abide in Christ through Fasting

“My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit, and so prove to be My disciples.” :8 

Earlier in the gospels, Jesus said His disciples would fast. They would seek God fervently when He was no longer with them.  So we know that fasting and prayer are an expectation.  When we fast, we bear much fruit (imagine the fruit of the Spirit from Galatians 5:22-23), proving to be God’s disciples.

When we live the way Christ Jesus commanded in John’s gospel our daily life will begin bearing fruit and shine the glory of God!

Learn How to Abide in Christ Through Fasting here ~> What is the Benefit of a Fast to Be Still?

More verses about how to abide in Christ through fasting: Matthew 6:16-18; Exodus 34:28; Matthew 4:2; Esther 4:16; Joel 2:12; Ezra 8:21-23; Jonah 3:5-6; Daniel 1:12; Daniel 10:3; 1 Corinthians 7:5

6.  Abide in Christ by Gathering With Other Believers

“As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself unless it abides in the vine” :4b 

There is rarely an isolated healthy vine branch.  Branches of a vine gather together for strength and support.  God knew we would need each other to get through this Christian life. He told us to gather together as the True Vine for just this reason.

Learn How to Abide in Community here. 

More verses about how to abide in Christ by gathering: Colossians 3:16; Hebrews 10:24-25; Matthew 18:20

7.  Abide in Serving Others

“This is My commandment, that you love one another, just as I have loved you.” :12 

How did Jesus love the disciples?  He served them, taught them, and met their needs.  Jesus tells us to serve others as He served us.  Living life by Jesus’ example is another way we abide in Christ.

Learn How to Abide in Serving here ~> When You Abide in God a Servant’s Heart Grows

More verses about how to abide in Christ by serving others: Galatians 5:13; John 12:26; Hebrews 6:10; Joshua 22:5; Matthew 23:11; Mark 10:45; 1 Peter 4:10

8.  Abide in Christ by Witnessing

“If anyone does not abide in Me, he is thrown away as a branch and dries up; and they gather them, and cast them into the fire and they are burned.” :6 

When we love others the way Jesus instructs us (with Christ’s love) we will want everyone to know about Him… the source of life.  Why? 

1. There is a very real place called Hell, where people (unfruitful branches) will spend eternity apart from God.
   • How many people in your life will be there? 
   • Will it be because you never told them about God’s love for them?
2. There is a very real place called Heaven, where eternity with God will be a paradise for those with new life. 
3. There is a very real helper for this life – the Holy Spirit- and He brings abundant life.
   • We want our loved ones to walk in abundance!

Learn How to Abide in Witnessing here ~> When You Abide in the Love of God It Spills Over

More verses about how to abide in Christ by witnessing: Matthew 28:18-20; 2 Timothy 1:8-11; Mark 16:15; 1 Peter 3:15-16; 2 Corinthians 5:20; Isaiah 55:11; Romans 10;15; Matthew 9:37-38; Matthew 5:16; Ephesians 5:15-17

A Prayer to Abide in Christ

Holy Spirit,

Thank You for coming gown, indwelling us, making it possible to abide in Christ every day.  You bring comfort and hope when life is hard.  As we walk toward abiding more with God every day, open our eyes to the practical side of this discipline.

Help us not to become overwhelmed with this or think of it as a to-do list.  Abiding in Christ is not a religious practice, it is a relationship practice that brings joy and blessings.  We will give You all the glory as you strengthen us and enable us to learn, apply and practice all eight ways to abide and be still.

Amen

Will You Abide in Christ Today?

Jesus says, “Abide in Me.”  He longs for us to remain with Him, walk with Him daily, and build a strong relationship that shines His light all around.  Will you choose to abide in Christ today?  

Abiding in Christ is not about rules, even the “how-to” is not legalistic.  These are ways to connect with the Son of God and to walk in His presence.  We want to be in God’s presence daily, don’t we?

What does it mean to abide in God’s presence?  Christ’s Word in John 15 is about hearing from Him and speaking to Him daily.  These eight ways to abide can help.  

1. Be in the Word.
2. Pray.
3. Spend time in solitude alone with God.
4. Fasting.
5. Give freely of what God gave to you.
6. Gather together with other believers to talk about Him.
7. Serve others, meeting the needs as the early believers did.
8. Tell others about Christ.

Which will you focus on today?

in HIM,

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