I know many people who have used popular online dating sites. It’s a pretty simple process, really. You make a profile and look for potential matches.
However, reading a profile only helps to know about the person, but it won’t enable you to actually know him/her. If you want to get to know someone, you have to spend time with that person. In order to trust a person, you must spend time with them as well.
The same holds true with God.
I have a confession to make. I spent many years as a Christian learning about God. I treated the bible like a textbook and prayer like a wish list. It was effective—for awhile. Something was missing in my spiritual life. I met people who seemed to have a real relationship with God. They seemed to “tap into” a power that I wanted. In my last blog, we covered Revelation 3:20. “Look! I stand at the door and knock. If you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in, and we will share a meal together as friends.”  
After “fitting God in” my life whenever I decided to, I came to the conclusion that I wanted more. I needed more. I wanted to have the kind of relationship where He comes in and we share a meal together like the passage in Revelation.
One morning during my prayer/jog time, I told God how I was feeling. As I was praying, He brought to mind a familiar scripture where Jesus is talking to his disciples.
In John 15:5, Jesus says, “Yes, I am the vine, you are the branches. Those who remain (abide) in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing.”
I discovered that the definition for abide is ‘to live’–think of abode, as in dwelling or home. Our homes are where we spend most of our time. Home is where we eat, sleep, and relax, Home is where we can be our true selves.
When Jesus says to, “abide,” I think he’s saying, “make yourself at home with me.” Let your hair down, so-to-speak. Some translations use the word remain rather than abide. Remain means to stay in the same place with same person or group, or to continue. In order to “produce much fruit,” we are to continue to make ourselves at home with Jesus.
Ephesians 3:17 “Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him…” S
So the first step toward “producing much fruit”, or ”tapping into God’s power,” is getting personal. Meaning, He makes His home in us and we make ourselves at home in Him.
God knows your personal profile. Do you know His?
Stay tuned for my next blog for more on Getting Personal with God and tapping into Power….