Author: Elton Streyle, Contributor: Noah, Photography and Editing: Ali

Heavenly Father, I come to You through the Name of Jesus Christ to thank You for the comfort of knowing that Your presence is ever with me, and for allowing me to constantly abide in You. This concept is very well illustrated in John 15:5. Jesus said, “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.” I acknowledge that without this close vine and branch relationship with You, I can do nothing good, right, or pure. I ask that You forgive me when I forget this truth and try to trust in myself rather than in Your perfect love.

Make clear in my mind and heart that not abiding in You is very detrimental to living a righteous life. John 15:6 “If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned.” Thank you for sharing in Your Word (the Bible) that if I, as a believer in Jesus Christ, follow Your commandments, I can abide in Your love. John 15:10 “If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love.“

I ask You to direct and give me wisdom and strength to practice Your commandments on a daily basis with love, joy, and thankfulness. Thank you for my relationship with You, which began with You taking the first step of love that I never could, by sending Your Son to die on the cross for my sin. Develop Your great love in me in such a way that I can reflect that love back to You and to those around me. John 15:12 “This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.“

In summary, I express to You the words in Psalm 119:73. “Your hands have made me and fashioned me; give me understanding, that I may learn Your commandments.” In Jesus’ Name, Amen.