There is a word that stands out here– R E M A I N 💭

***Continue to exist, especially after other similar or related people or things have ceased to exist.***

Synonyms: continue to exist, endure, last, abide, carry on, persist, stay, stay around, prevail, survive, live on more; stay in the place that one has been occupying.

Synonyms: stay, stay behind, stay put, wait, wait around, be left, hang on; informal hang around; continue to possess a particular quality or fulfill a particular role.

Synonyms: continue to be, stay, keep, persist in being, carry on being!

I remember a few years back when I wanted to leave New York so bad, I went on the most extreme 21 day fastings that I had never embarked on before. I literally ate nothing but a one-time liquid to hold me through the work day but prevailed in a consistent pace of consecration and separation every single day.

I wanted God to speak to me and loudly at that! I waited for His voice. I expected His voice. I searched for His voice.

The days were passing and I heard NOTHING! As I approached the last day of the fast I think I felt to myself a little disheartened.

On that day, my previous puppy Biscuit had a procedure. In pain he cried through the night. My husband woke to tell me, go take care of him. I yielded and went to the living room, put Biscuit on the couch with me and prayed for him and continued until I drifted off.

I went in a trance praying until I could hear myself talking to God as if I was standing in front of Him. I said, “God I want to move to Florida. Can you just let me know about this.” I was in some agony really pestering about this. I heard a SHOUT. Almost like scolding me saying, “STAYYYYYYYYYY!”

I was shaking on the couch and couldn’t leave this trance. Still eyes shut, I kept moving and walked downstairs to discuss with my pastor. I shared about my petition again and then the pastor stood in an upright position and said, “There will be 13 people leaving but you I said STAYYYYYYYYY!”

The voice was so loud it really shook me from the trance. I cried. The next day I shared it with my husband and told him about the vision. I told him that the Lord spoke to me twice and said to stay.

My husband responded, “Yeah I knew that and so my prayer was that God would speak to you!” That day we both cried. That day we learned even more that our walk with God was never about what we wanted or about our feelings.

Most importantly, it was to stay where God placed us. As much as we wanted to book it truly was not what God wanted for us.

And so I reflect on the word remain. And the first definition that follows that word…

“Continue to exist, especially after other similar or related people or things have ceased to exist.”

I want to exist in a way that I can be bountiful, fruitful and faithful. I want to be in the very presence of God and in the purpose that He assigned for me.

I want to remain. I will stay. I will sit. Even if I am kicking and screaming. As long as I continue to remain in Him I know I’m going to bear much fruit. Apart from Him I can do nothing. So as much as it seemed like a wonderful idea to leave when everyone else left to Florida and other places of residence, it was the purpose of God for us to learn how to remain.

Each time you conquer a step there will always be another challenge waiting for you.

It’s along road. Let us travel on the one where He shouted out the uncompromised Word that shook our own personal world so that we will shake the world around us.

Remain in Him.