Believe.

One day Zechariah was doing his work as a priest in the Temple, taking his turn in the daily service. According to the custom followed by the priests, he was chose by lot to burn incense on the altar. So he went to the Temple of the Lord, while the crowd of people outside prayed during the hour when the incense was being burned. An angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing at the right side of the altar where the incense was burned. When Zechariah saw him, he was alarmed and felt afraid. But the angel said to him, " Do not be afraid, Zechariah! God has heard your prayer, and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son. You are to name him John. How glad and happy you will be, and how happy many others will be when he is born! John will be in the Lord's sight. He must not drink any wine or strong drink. From his very birth he will be filled with the Holy Spirit, and he will bring back many of the people of Israel to the Lord their God. He will go ahead of the Lord, strong and mighty like the prophet Elijah. He will bring fathers and children together again; he will turn disobedient people back to the way of thinking of the righteous; he will get the Lord's people ready for him."

Zechariah said to the angel, "How shall i know if this is so? I am an old man, and my wife is old also."

"I am Gabriel," the angel answered. "I stand in the presence of God, who sent me to speak to you and tell you this good news. But you have not believed my message, which will come true at the right time. Because you have not believed, you will be unable to speak you will remain silent until the day my promise to you comes true."

Remain.

This image is my iphone wallpaper at the moment.

I think this has really stuck with me the past few days, especially on Sunday when Pastor Ming was talking about it. I remember writing in Jacky's bookmark to forever remain in Him. Ha just going to side track. Im so happy and proud of him. He's shared his story with me and im honestly amazed at how much he's grown and how much he's changed, he's a true inspiration to me and hope i can experience some kind of change like that someday, or at least somehow find the willpower to make such a change. But writing that in his bookmark, and hearing Pastor Ming speak about it, i remember thinking, "i wonder what he's thinking right now" (that is if he saw the connection).

But i think this is a great reminder we need to constantly remind ourselves of. To remain in Him. This verse comes from "The Vine". The gist of it talks about how we are branches that are attach to the vine, the vine being God. The vine provides us with the nutrients, the minerals to grow and to thrive. We need to remain in Him. Its a scary thought when you read on and learn that the ones that fail to produce good fruit are withered, cut off, and then burned. We have to be constantly producing good fruit, that is the fruit of the spirit. And this only happens when we remain in Him. Whether if that is indulging in His Word, spending time in prayer with Him, or glorifying in Him.

Last night was a whirlwind. But after the wind blew, the things flew, and everything was messed around, i've come to somewhat of a weird... odd conclusion. I dont really know where i am in my walk with Christ at the moment. Pastor HM is my mentor, and he says that im on the right track, but many times, i think, and i dont know what im doing. Where i am. Doubt floods my mind. I feel like my faith has plateaued, and i havent progressed for a while now. I always say i need to step it up, but i never really do. Last night, I let Satan get the best of me. I was told that I meant nothing, that no one cares, that life is just too difficult to manage. I didnt feel worthy of anything. His love, his grace, his sacrifice, why he hasnt given up on me, and why he's still here. All that piling on top of school stress and friendships, i just felt really lost. I have to learn to remain in him. I have to learn to get right with God and i just have to have Him reassure me. No worries, last night, i just tripped and fell, but im slowly getting back up on my feet and trying to walk this out again. Who said the Christian Life was going to be a breeze? no one.

Remain in Him and He will Remain in You.