Trading My Agenda for Abiding in Jesus - iBelieve Truth: A Devotional for Women - June 2, 2025
“He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty.” Psalm 91:1 (ESV)
I’m a doer by nature. I love setting goals, scheduling, and keeping life tied up in a tidy little bow. But recently, my goal-setting took on a life of its own. With all the good things I wanted to do, I gave myself a pep talk and convinced myself I could do it all, with a little help from my trusty goal-planner, of course. Soon, my morning prayer and Bible reading were pushed aside to make room for more steps toward reaching those goals.
I had become so accustomed to consulting the pages of my agenda at the start of each day that I didn’t realize how it affected my relationship with the Lord. Instead of waking up looking forward to spending a few minutes in God’s presence, I was reaching straight for my planner to see what needed to be done. My choice to start each day with my own strength began affecting every part of my life. I needed to be willing to set aside my agenda and learn to abide in Jesus.
Jesus emphasized the essence of abiding when he described himself as the vine and his followers as the branches. In John chapter 15, we see the word “abide” used several times. A deep look at the meaning behind Jesus’ message reveals this life-changing truth.
There’s no better place to be than abiding in him. Psalm 91:1 illustrates this truth well, “He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty.”
Jesus also knew our tendency toward striving, so in his message to his people, he added, “I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.” John 15:5
We can do nothing of value apart from Christ. Only average, tasteless fruit comes from a branch separated from the richness of his love.
I believe Jesus knew how hard it would be for us go-getter types to “abide.” We want to do good things and share the love of Jesus through serving others. But goals can become idols, stealing the focus of our hearts. The amazing truth I’ve discovered is that learning to abide in the Lord draws us into a deeper awareness of the Holy Spirit working in our lives. It helps us stay aligned with his will. God enjoys our fellowship with him, and in those precious times of awareness, our connection to him will grow in miraculous and unexpected ways.
One way we can learn to abide is by setting the planner down and sitting with God for a while. No prayer requests, no specific agenda, just spending time being present with the Creator of the universe. Sitting in God’s presence isn’t easy at first. It takes a continual return to total dependence. It means opening our hearts to what God wants to do in us, again and again and again. It involves picturing ourselves resting amidst the strong arms of a loving Father, as his shadow offers protection and respite.
The more we learn to abide, the more we will long to abide. So before we return to our to-do lists for the day, let’s commit to spending time simply abiding. Even five minutes will cultivate a deeper connection. As we lean into God’s transforming presence, may we trade our agenda for all the Father has for us.
Let's pray:
Dear Heavenly Father, forgive me for the times I’ve gotten so busy with my own goals that I’ve forgotten to spend time in your presence. You are a good and faithful God, but in my rush to get things done, I forget to abide in you. Help me lay down my own agenda and simply enjoy being connected to you. Thank you for reminding me to spend time with you as I learn how to abide. In Jesus’ name, I pray, Amen.
Photo Credit: ©Unsplash/Radu Florin
Related Resource: Instead of Doing More This Summer, Maybe You Need to Do Less
If you've been feeling tired, overwhelmed, depleted, or just quietly wondering where God is in the middle of a very full life — this episode is for you. And honestly? It might be for me too, because I'm recording this in one of those seasons myself.
Today we're doing something a little different. Instead of going deep in a passage, we're talking about what to do when deep feels like too much — when you need less, not more. Specifically, I'm walking you through one of my favorite practices for weary seasons: handwriting scripture.
Not typing it. Not scrolling past it. Actually writing it out, slowly, in your own hand — because something happens in your brain when you do that. The words land differently. They go deeper. And over time, they become part of that personal library of God's voice that the Holy Spirit can pull from when you need it most. That's what Psalm 119:11 means when it says I have hidden your word in my heart — it's scripture moving into your long-term memory, where it lives and stays even when you haven't opened your Bible in weeks.
I'm sharing the five verses I wrote out for myself today — and why each one hit me fresh even though I've known some of them for years. This episode is part of our How to Study the Bible Podcast, a show that brings life back to reading the Bible and helps you understand even the hardest parts of Scripture. If this episode helps you know and love God more, be sure to follow the How to Study the Bible Podcast on Apple or Spotify so you never miss an episode!
