#150: Eight Benefits of Abiding You Can't Get From Striving


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Feb 12 2025 38 mins   1
If you've been going to church for a very long time, you probably think "abiding" is something you do - and you don't have time for one more thing! Join us in this conversation to be reminded that abiding is NOT what you may think:
  • It doesn't need to happen at a specific time.
  • There is no need for a "secret place" - at least not in your house.
  • It's not about checking "read my Bible" off your to-do list.
  • It's not about praying because you think you're supposed to.
  • It's not your bid to connect with Jesus.
Good news! Abiding is a gift you receive, not a task you complete. It means being with Jesus in your mind and body instead of alone in your thoughts. It's a way of being with yourself that feels secure instead of insecure because you are not alone—and you're not powerless.

The eight benefits you'll hear us discuss in this episode cannot be bought on Amazon, and you can't DIY these blessings either. The best part is that these benefits will change your life in the way of transformation instead of conformity.

Transformation is a miracle we can't stop when we're with someone who loves us and gives us the gift of deep peace. Jesus is always available to be that Someone. In this episode, Doug and Janet walk you through a meaningful meditation that offers an abiding experience and shows you how simple it is.

If this episode gives you permission to risk an abiding life, check out Janet's blog at john15academy.com. Find the post How To Abide - It's Not What You Think to discover a free PDF of Scripture references and a few journaling prompts.

Listen now to discover eight benefits of abiding and the power of these takeaways:
1️⃣ Striving keeps us stuck in survival mode, but abiding brings peace, security, and real connection—first with Jesus, then in our families. We don’t have to earn what God freely gives.
2️⃣ Abiding isn’t just another thing to add to your to-do list. It’s a way of being—living from a secure connection with Jesus, where love, wisdom, and peace flow naturally.
3️⃣ The benefits of abiding—like deep love, wisdom beyond our own, and true rest—can’t be bought, earned, or manufactured. They’re gifts we receive when we stop striving and trust that Jesus is enough.

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