Abiding in God’s Love


“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” ~John 3:16 NIVUK

What does God’s love mean to you? Do you understand it as head or heart knowledge?

This is a question that I’ve been contemplating a lot recently. In my head, I can just about grasp the amount of love it must take to sacrifice a child you love unconditionally but that’s where my understanding is jolted and I sense something is missing.  

During my quiet time I was reflecting on the Parable of the Unforgiving Servant (Matthew 18:21-31)  Our ever faithful God started to reveal to me what I was missing… In the parable, the master forgives the servant for an unpayable debt and then the servant responds by mercilessly harassing someone who OWES him money. He wasn’t able to pass on the gift of forgiveness because he did not receive the gift in his own heart.  God showed me that the same is true of sacrificial love.

Head and heart knowledge are not the same. Heart knowledge transfers into our everyday lives and actions when we abide in God’s love fully. 

“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.”~‭‭John‬ ‭15:5‬ ‭ESV‬‬

Sister, what does it mean to abide?

Abiding is being in unity with Jesus by knowing Him, loving Him, remembering Him, and imitating Him.  Sisters, in order to do this we need to be making time to be with Him, reading His Word, and submitting our will for His. This union builds our faith and cultivates the fruits of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23) that bring glory to God. It also empowered us to live in obedience to the greatest commandments Jesus gave us.  ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ (Matthew 22:37-39 NIV). 

I know as busy moms that finding time in our sometimes hectic schedules to read our Bibles and sit with the Lord can seem impossible.  There is no set way in which quiet time with the Lord should look like. However, if you have time for an hour a day that’s great but if you only have 10 minutes a day that’s great too!  Your time with Jesus can look different every day. For example, my quiet time is often in the morning before I start my day but can also be multiple 10 minutes throughout the day when the boys are occupied, in the evenings when the boys are asleep, or during the day when the boys are playing around me while I read Scripture out loud. It doesn’t matter how or when you spend time with God, just that you are spending time with Him.

What next?

Ask God what your unique quiet (or not so quiet) time looks like and remember that it does not need to be perfect, it just needs to be! 

Love and Blessings,

Nikki Evans and the Help Club for Moms Team

Nikki Evans
Latest posts by Nikki Evans (see all)

2 Comments on “Abiding in God’s Love”

  1. I thank God for his mercy,I have been looking for this opportunity to be with Christ and to also my family to him, thank you
    How can I read God’s word and understand it

    1. Hello Naachi, I am so proud of your commitment to God. He will help you understand the Bible. As a Christ-follower, you have the Holy Spirit inside of you, and part of His work in your life is to guide you into all truth. The best advice we can give you is to simply ask the Holy Spirit to speak to you as you read the Bible. Also, praying with a friend will help too.

      We have a great plan on the YouVersion Bible app all about Hearing God’s Voice: https://www.bible.com/reading-plans/30806-you-can-hear-gods-voice

      Lastly, I wanted to let you know that we cover many topics on the Help Club for Moms Podcast that will help. You may find it here. Be sure to subscribe too. https://www.buzzsprout.com/1330507

      Praying for you!
      Deb

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