My husband has a list of random words he uses for various occasions, including: shenanigans, delicious, and most bueno, just to name a few. After hearing these words every day, they gradually come to mind in my vocabulary too. I find that being in his presence has inherently changed me.

Ironically, this is why God desires for us to dwell close with Him.

 I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing.

John 15:5

When we’re spending time dwelling with our Savior, it produces fruit in our lives. As Christians, God never leaves us. If we abide in Him, we’re guaranteed peace, joy, patience (Galatians 5:22). So I guess, we’re left to ask, how are we abiding with Christ on a daily basis? What aspects of our life reflect Him? And maybe even, what aspects of our life don’t reflect Christ?

In every facet of life, we choose to indulge in things honoring to God or things dishonoring to Him. We don’t register that day-to-day, but we should. See, to abide in Christ means to live in Him. It means we step back and make decisions based on His presence. We inherently have changed. There’s an imprint of Him on our being, and it drastically transforms us.

Scripture says we should be able to identify fellow believers. Is your life in such contrast with the world around you that a stranger would say you follow Christ? Galatians 6:17 says:

From now on let no one cause trouble for me, for I bear on my body the brand-marks of Jesus.

Ask yourself today, how am I brand-marked by my Savior? Probe into your heart, your actions, and cease striving (Psalm 46:10). Exult God with your life and find rest in the promises of abiding in Him.