Remain in My Love

Written By Justin Camp

Open a window — or go to a window and take a look outside. Better yet, go out the door and take a walk. Take a deep breath, inhaling for a count of four, then exhaling for a count of four. Notice plants, trees and flowers nearby. 

Stay in this posture of observation for a few moments, looking closely at a particular plant or piece of nature, something that draws you to it and captures your attention.

Notice its leaves, its colors, its flowers, its smell and its texture. Take a deep breath. In….out… And then another….In….out. And then read this scripture from John 15:4,5:

“Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.”

Read the verses once more, letting the words soak in. Linger a moment more, if you’d like.

Then find a comfortable place to sit or lay down for a while. It can be outside, on a chair or on a bench. You can also be inside — and find a chair, bed or floor to get comfortable on. Either inside or outside, find a place where you can relax for a while.

Once you have found your place, set anything down that you’ve been holding, making sure there is nothing in your hands. You also might want to block out any distracting noises around you. To do that, consider playing instrumental music in the background or putting on headphones. Click here for a Loop Encounters Spotify playlist. Or, let yourself be aware of the sounds around you, listening to any traffic rushing, or gravel crunching, or leaves rustling, or birds singing. 

Then read this prayer, silently or aloud.

Shine your face upon me, God. Wrap me up in your arms, Father. Let me stay here, with you, rooted in your love. Let my roots grow deep in your love, that I may be strong in my inner spirit, with your spirit in me. Make a way for me to you. Kiss me, Father, like the bees kiss the flowers and make them beautiful. Let me be beautiful for you.

As you rest comfortably, contemplate Ephesians 3:15-19. Read it a few times. Slowly. No rush. Let the words, as you read them to yourself, cover you, a prayer for your heart.

“I fall to my knees and pray to the Father, the Creator of everything in heaven and on earth. I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources, he will empower you with inner strength through his Spirit. Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong. And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is. May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God” (Ephesians 3: 15-19, NLV).

Surrender your mind, your imagination, to God. Let him hold you now. Tuck deep away with him. Receive the scripture deep into your heart. Here are some questions to consider as you contemplate the verses:

  1. What does God look like when you “fall to your knees and pray”? Or Jesus? Or Holy Spirit? How tall is he? What is he doing? What is the gaze of his eyes as he looks at you?

  2. Imagine yourself strong, empowered with “inner strength” because of God’s love. What do you look like with this strength? How do you feel?

  3. Picture God’s love. Ask him to open your imagination and give you a picture in your mind of his love — how wide, how long, how high and how deep.

Stay here now. Let him love you. Let yourself absorb the words as you stay here in this space. 

Hear him say these words to you: 

“Open your hands. Relax. Let me hold you now. Tuck deep away with me. You are my own. Not forgotten but cherished. Restored and redeemed.”

Close your eyes if you want, relaxing in this open space with God. Stay here — or walk around, if you’d like — but without speaking, for at least 45 minutes, or whatever feels right to you.

Amen.

 

Additional resources

“One Space, Two Places” by Jennifer Camp

“The Beauty Chasers, Recapturing the Wonder of the Divine” by Timothy Willard

 

Worship Music

Justin Camp
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