12/31/2025. CBB.
Report of a text conversation with a friend with whom I have journeyed over a number of years….
This is what discipling the “self” in others looks like out of one’s own experience of being discipled in Christ by His Holy Spirit.
Sister-Friend;
Happy new year Cathy, I am wondering if you can help me. I am looking for a word that means that you are totally connected to God and in his will. Is there a word that encompasses all that? I have been searching for it and can’t find it.
Me:
I think the word that describes the state of being you’re reaching for is what some call “Abiding.”
The fullness of the word “Abide”represents an invitation, extended and received, to union with God as one wholly receives all that God desires to give and makes space within her spirit, soul, and body for all of the fullness of Himself that God desires to occupy within us by means of His Holy Spirit- with intentionality, consistency, and joy on one’s part. It is the feeling of being fully entrusted to and consecrated by God for His delight and purpose.
Sister-Friend:
Perfect. Thank you. I am going to a get together tonight and we were asked to bring our word for the year. I had come up with transformed, joy, aligned, but abiding seems like the word I have been searching for, but couldn’t come up with.
Me:
“Living transcendently” is another way of describing that union…… in the world, but no longer of the world…. aware of having been received into the Kingdom of God in the here and now. It is a state of great peace, contentment, confident hope…. Not longing for Heaven, but knowing Heaven has already come to you.
May your New Year be blessed by the fullness of God’s Presence in you…. What the little phrase in the Bible calls “in Christ,” as He is in us!
I commend Martin Lloyd Jones’ devotional book, “In Christ” to you!
Be “hidden in Him,” my Sister-Friend.
This is the unity with God in Christ for which Jesus prayed in John 17, called the Great High Priestly Prayer of Jesus….. unity in the love of the Father, knowing we are loved just as He loves His Son, our LORD, Jesus Christ.
Sister-Friend:
Thank you. I appreciate how you have this knowledge and can easily share it. I pray the Lord gives me more insight and discernment through the years and I’m able to help others as you do with me.
Me:
I pray that for you, as well!
To know and share all that God reveals of Himself with as many people as you can!
I hope you have a wonderful time of worship and sharing tonight!
Sister Friend:
She replied, “ ❤️”