I know I’ve mentioned to you before that I’m a routine person. In other words, I like a schedule. But I’m not necessarily referring to what time we have meals, or what day of the week we clean house. I’m talking about my God time.
I’m assuming most of you are out of routine like me, which means we have to do things differently or end up feeling off. So I want to remind you, that even when we miss opportunity to abide in God’s Word, His Word abides in us.
Jesus said, “I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away, and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit. You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you. Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me” (John 15:1-4).
My husband loves to have a pretty yard. He tends it every week and has a few potted plants that need to be checked daily for water. But on occasion, we miss a day. Thankfully, the time and effort of previous days keeps the plants nourished for us until we tend to them again.
This is how God’s Word can be in our lives. We need it daily. But we can have the assurance that when we’ve taken the time to put God’s Word in our heart (by abiding in it), then on those occasions when our schedule is off, we shouldn’t wither up. God’s Word can be in us even when we can’t be in His Word.
But don’t be deceived.
Just like my plants wouldn’t last many days without attention, neither would we. You and I may not die from lack of water or heat exposure like my plants would, but our spirits would become weak and far less ready to respond correctly in situations if we continually neglect time with God.
So if you find yourself in a strange routine and unable to spend time in God’s Word like you’d prefer, don’t get under condemnation. Draw upon what’s already been planted while making special effort to make God’s Word your daily bread.
