Pause, Remain, & Breathe
RISE UP WARRIOR, It’s time to pause…to breathe…to remain in Jesus.
These three words, “pause, remain, and breathe” washed over my soul yesterday. With coffee in one hand and laundry basket in the other, I walked over to my windows and opened them as I began packing the big, brown boxes in my house. With a sweet, cool breeze dancing into my room, I began thinking about John 15:5.
“I am the vine; you are the branches. The one who remains in me and I in him produces much fruit, because you can do nothing without me.” -John 15:5
Over the past three years, my soul has remained in a steadfast posture of praise as my hands have worked diligently for the Lord. I’m not sure if my words could ever truly express the journey God has taken me on the past three years. The only words I can express would be a special melody of love and intimacy with Jesus through completing my studies at Liberty University and writing devotionals, children’s books, and resources to help equip men, women, and children all over the world to RISE UP with kingdom purpose! This process has been intentionally slow, sweet, and full of surrendered praise with diligent preparation. These past three years have awakened my spiritual eyes and ears to the presence and voice of God in new ways, setting my life on mission with kingdom purpose and praise! As the sun rises with ease and sets with the warmest glow, I’ve felt my soul drawn closer to my King in pockets of simple moments, where God speaks to my soul with three words, “pause, remain, and breathe.”
I love how life has different physical and spiritual seasons…oh how my soul knows these well. Preparing to release each devotional, book, and resource, along with packing an entire house, and working, I’ve found my soul needing a minute to do the very thing God spoke to my soul, “pause, remain, and breathe.” Do you ever find yourself needing these three words? You see, we spend our lives growing, self-developing, climbing new heights, achieving new goals, and desiring “more.” We’re wired from the time we’re born to “hustle, hustle, hustle.” While working diligently for the Lord is a beautiful thing, the most important thing we can do is pause, remain in Jesus, and breathe, just like John 15:5 instructs us. Warrior, we aren’t enough on our own, and that’s a good thing! As we walk in our spiritual gifts and callings, we get to sit before the Lord with God-given peace thats falls afresh over our souls like a warm breeze on a spring day. It’s time to RISE UP WARRIOR and remain in Jesus, to sit before Him as we work, and to breathe. As we remain in Him, we will taste and see that He is good!
“I am the vine; you are the branches. The one who remains in me and I in him produces much fruit, because you can do nothing without me.” -John 15:5
We’re not created to conquer the world, fill our to-do lists with a million items, or live in a constant state of survival. We’re created to remain in the goodness of God, to be carriers of His truth, and abide in the fulness of who He is! God is our provider, our healer, our protector, and our way-maker! Being God’s sons and daughters IS enough. It’s not the opportunities we need to seek, its Jesus we need to abide and remain in! As we remain in Jesus, our lives will reflect His goodness, His truth, His provision, and His peace! John 15:5 shows us that we aren’t called to produce anything! We are called to press into Jesus, to be made new in Him, to RISE UP as the hands and feet of Jesus! We are called to tune our ears to hear God, eyes to see Jesus, and spirit to follow the Holy Spirit! When God is the center of everything in our lives, everything we will strive to do in life changes!
Having goals, God-sized dreams, and kingdom vision is a beautiful thing but it’s not everything. Let’s RISE UP WARRIORS and seek simple lives, focused on praising our King, Rising Up in every day life, loving those around us, serving our neighbors, and Raising Up God’s sons and daughters in the way they should go. The fruit God produces in our spirits and hearts will reflect in our lives, conversations, and “branches” as we press into God’s Word, presence, and voice… the one, true “Vine.”
So, in the hustle and bustle of your day, take a moment to pause, to breathe, and to ask the Holy Spirit to fall afresh over your mind, soul, and day as you remain in Him.
-Jessica-Andrea Brown
