Abide In Him
Speaker: Dawn Everett
The Gift That Changes Everything
For the mothers—but I feel like it’s a gift for all of us, for everyone who’s in the room—it’s a gift, and it won’t ever fade away. It doesn’t wither. It doesn’t last only an hour or two. It doesn’t go out of style. You never grow out of it. But the gift the Lord wants to give this morning is the gift of prayer.
I believe it’s a gift that has sat on the shelf for a really long time. But if you’ll receive it today—if you’ll open it and begin to use it—you will see your life change. There’s no doubt about it. Abiding in Jesus through prayer is the key to unlocking that change.
Biblical Gifts: Rest, Peace, Direction, and Wisdom
The Bible is full of gifts that we can access. Matthew 11:28 says, “Come to me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” That word “laden” means carrying a heavy burden. Who’s been carrying something heavy?
John 14:27 promises us peace: “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.”
Psalm 119:105 speaks of direction: “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” It lights the way.
Proverbs 2:6 tells us where wisdom comes from: “For the Lord gives wisdom; from His mouth come knowledge and understanding.” Everything we need is right here in His Word. All of it becomes real as we learn to walk in abiding in Jesus through prayer.
Prayer Is for Everyone – Not Just the ‘Super Spiritual’
Prayer isn’t just for the super spiritual. I really felt led to say that. It’s not just for “those people who pray.”
When we stop, get quiet, and focus on Him—when we talk to Him—He hears us. He’s not far off. He lives inside of us. If we will access Him, it changes everything. Abiding in Jesus through prayer makes that connection tangible.
Jesus Is the Vine—Stay Connected
Let’s go to John 15:4–5:
“Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.”
Without Him, we can do nothing. We may think we’re doing fine, but unless He’s dwelling in us—and we in Him—we’re withering.
What It Means to Abide in Him
The word “abide” means to remain, continue, dwell, or endure in relationship with God. It’s not just popping in and out. It’s a deep connection.
Think about when your kids bring you flowers they picked—beautiful, but they start to wilt quickly. The moment they’re disconnected from the source, they begin to die.
That’s us, without Him. Abiding in Jesus through prayer is how we stay connected to our source.
Abiding Is a Relationship, Not a Ritual
Abiding in Him isn’t about occasional acts of devotion. It’s about a continuous relationship with Him.
Let me say it again: Abiding in Him is not about occasional acts of devotion—but a continuous and ongoing relationship.
We talk to Him through prayer. We use His Word. We develop awareness of our need for Him. We trust Him instead of figuring everything out ourselves. That’s what abiding in Jesus through prayer looks like in real life.
Hearing God’s Voice Requires Priority
God wants to talk to us—but we often don’t make time. “I’m too busy.” That was me for years.
But when we begin to give God priority, He begins to speak. Sometimes what He says brings peace, comfort, or direction. Other times, He says something we don’t want to hear. That’s why some of us avoid prayer—it requires change.
“Sometimes we don’t want to know what He has to say because it might require us to change.”
Four Practical Steps to Grow in Prayer
These are four things you can start today to grow your prayer life:
- Remove outer distractions like noise and screens
- Get physically and mentally present (not too comfy!)
- Write down the clutter in your mind to settle your spirit
- Journal what God speaks so you don’t miss it
These are the steps that help create a rhythm of abiding in Jesus through prayer.
How Prayer Changed My Life
From Religion to Relationship
I was raised in church. I’ve been in church my whole life—except maybe a couple of years in college when I wasn’t at home and didn’t go unless I was home. Not recommended. Just gonna say.
It wasn’t until just a couple of years ago that something really shifted. The Lord began to do a deep work in me. Some of you might remember the last time I shared—it was a message called “Excuse Me, You’re in My Way.” It was about making the Lord the most important thing. And I meant that. I truly wanted to make Him first in my life, but that required yielding everything. If we want to know what He wants us to do—what to say, where to go—it has to come through prayer and the Word.
Breaking the Busy Excuse
Before then, I would say I had a “good” relationship with the Lord. But I was busy. That was my excuse. Too busy to pray. Too busy to stop. Too busy to listen.
But here’s the truth: if there’s something we really want to do, we make time for it. Even with a full schedule, we figure it out. Prayer has to become that same kind of priority.
Making Room for Prayer
As I began saying, “Lord, You are the most important thing,” He began to respond. I started feeling nudged to come up to the church for prayer on Monday nights and Saturday nights. Before that, everyone else would be up here praying, and I’d still be at home. But I felt the Lord inviting me in.
So I came. And when I first started, I’ll be honest—I thought, I can do about 15 minutes, maybe. But it was a whole hour! I walked in, sat down, and I had a few things on my heart to pray, so I said them. I listened to the music. I sang a little. I wrote down a few words or thoughts that stood out.
When Prayer Becomes Personal
And little by little, that 15 minutes started turning into more. Now when I come, I look at the clock and I’m like, It’s already been an hour?! Because now, I’ve settled in. I’ve gotten quiet enough for Him to actually speak.
And when He starts speaking—wow. You can’t believe how personal it is. How right it is. It fits exactly what I’m walking through. It’s like, God just said that to me! It’s better than any word someone else could ever give you, because it’s your word, from Him, for your life.
And then it draws you back again and again. You find yourself thinking, Man, I wish I had two hours. Or, Can I stay just 30 minutes more? Don’t lock the doors yet!
Saying Yes to More of Him
That’s what happened to me. And I started saying, “Lord, I will do anything You ask me to do. I will say anything You ask me to say.” And guess what? He’s been taking me up on that.
All of this—it’s not because I joined a program. I’m not on staff at the church. I just started showing up. I started coming to staff meetings, not knowing what I’d do. I just said, “I’m here.” I began coming a day or two each week—just to be here.
It was all born out of prayer. And prayer has changed my life.
And it can change yours too—through abiding in Jesus through prayer.
Final Challenge & Closing Encouragement
Psalm 32:8 says, “I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will guide you with My eye.”
We must determine to prioritize prayer daily—not sporadically.
God wants to speak—but we have to make space and stay connected. Make the choice to live your life abiding in Jesus through prayer.
Key Challenge:
“Decide today: I will not go another day without seeking Him.”