Published by I’ll never forget that night – waking up sporadically throughout the night to the sweet whisper “Abide in me”. It must have happened a half dozen times. Even though I didn’t sleep soundly, I awoke feeling refreshed and secure.
The first thing I did was reach for my Bible as I got out of bed. Since I am not a Bible scholar, I had to do some research. It led me to John 15. Ah, there it is. Verse five. “I am the vine, you are the branches”.
Suddenly, there was the most beautiful image of a lush green vine with its healthy branches all intertwined around the vine itself. Then I had a picture of myself all intertwined with Jesus – and a peace flooded my soul unlike no other.
Let’s read on: “He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered;”
The vine is the source of all sustenance and growth and life itself for the branches. As long as the branch stays connected to the vine, it bears fruit and thrives. The very moment that the connection is broken, that branch begins to wither – to die. The branch is unable to live on its own. Likewise, if we stay connected with Him, we will receive all our sustenance, all our strength, all our power through that connection. This verse speaks of our very personal, intimate relationship with Jesus. We stay connected through reading, studying, and meditating on the Word, and through prayer. The moment we cease to commune with him, place our total dependence in Him, that’s the moment that the relationship begins to wither and die – just like the severed branch.
That night was about 4 years ago. Since that time I have very often reflected on this word from God. It probably wasn’t one week after this experience that I underwent a very intense period of testing. What a privilege to know that the Vine was sustaining me, giving me my very life, enveloping my being! As times grew difficult, I often heard the voice of The Lord saying “Abide in Me”. I still do.
There is rest there.
We’re very proud to say Vicki Clark is our daughter. She has always been very special to us and to the glory of God.
Beautifully written reminder of our constant source of comfort.
Vicki is my wife and she dearly loves The Lord. We were married in a true christain ceremony and she has become my right hand for the Glory of The Lord
#4 by Charles Mitchell, Feb. 29, 2008
I can understanding having a vision in the middle of the night because this has happened to me many times. When you are still you have time to listen. We have to recognize the Holy Spirit talking to us and I believe this is what happened to Vicki. When you listen to the Holy Spirit great things happen. Even though I don’t see Vicki very often I love her very much and am proud to be her Uncle.