Among all the New Years Resolutions I’ve kept over the years, the most helpful has been to memorize and carry with me, in mind and soul, a specific passage of Scripture for a full year, reflecting more deeply and thoroughly on this passage through twelve months of reflection.
My Banner Verses for 2015:
“Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. I am 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.” ~John 15:4-5.
These words of Jesus will be my guiding Scripture for 2015, what I’ve been calling my “banner verses” for this new year. I hope to learn to remain more and more in the presence of Jesus this year. The Greek verb for “remain”, which is μείνατε, meinate, is a command to stay, to abide in relationship with, to dwell together, to be attached to as a branch to the vine, to be in committed relationship with. This year will also be “A Year in the Vineyard” as I enter into a Sabbatical year, featuring the study of grape growing, viticulture, Bible passages on vines and vineyards, and learning about fruitful spiritual growth and church growth as seen through the image of a vineyard.
Photo by Thomas Robinson, used by permission. See www.zoomdak.com