The Christian Girl Chat

John 15:1-11 (ESV)

¹ “I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. ² Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. ³ Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you. ⁴ Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. ⁵ I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. ⁶ If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. ⁷ If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. ⁸ By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples. ⁹ As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love. ¹⁰ If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love. ¹¹ These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.

Like many people, I’m a list-maker at heart. I love writing to-do lists, checking off boxes, and seeing tasks get completed one by one. It makes me feel productive, organized, and accomplished. My calendar is filled with notes and reminders, each one ready to be checked off the moment it’s done. Once I make that check mark, I move on—rarely giving the task another thought.

I also love a good vacation. No matter the destination, I want to soak in every moment of it. There’s something about the transition from travel mode to vacation mode that feels magical. That moment when you finally check into your hotel, Airbnb, or resort is often the best part. It’s when you can finally exhale, unpack, and live like that place is your home—at least for a little while.

But recently, I’ve realized something important: this checklist mindset, while useful in everyday life, sometimes sneaks into my relationship with the Lord.

Instead of praying to connect with God, I sometimes pray just to say I did it—because it feels like a box that needs to be checked before I move on to the next thing. Reading my Bible doesn’t always stir my heart or renew my mind. In fact, there are days when I forget what I read just seconds after closing the book.

And maybe that’s the core of the issue—viewing God as a task rather than a privilege. As background noise rather than the main event.

In one of my church small group meetings, a wise woman I deeply admire said something that stopped me in my tracks: “We are to check in with Jesus, not check off a box.”

Her words brought to mind every vacation I’ve taken, and how that moment of checking in at the front desk signifies a shift—it’s the start of living in a new place, fully present. When we “check in,” we settle into the moment, embracing where we are and who we’re with.

I believe that’s exactly what she meant.

We are called to live in the presence of Jesus—not treat Him as just another item on our list. When we add Jesus to our to-do list, we put Him into a box that we check off and we reduce our relationship with God to a daily task. We box Him into something small, something finite—when in reality, He is infinite, personal, and ever-present.

This “check off” mentality makes us forget where we truly are. Whether we acknowledge it or not, we are always living in the presence of God. Every moment, every breath, every day.

In John 15:1–11, the word “abide” is repeated ten times—a clear indication of its importance. But what does it mean to abide? Simply put, it means to live or to dwell. Throughout this passage, we’re reminded to live in the presence of Jesus Christ, because He is the source of true life. Think about the joy and energy we feel on a vacation—the way being in an exciting place we love changes how we act and feel. Now imagine making Jesus our permanent destination. When we choose to abide in Him every day, we begin to produce the kind of fruitful, vibrant life that God desires for each of us.

So maybe today, rather than rushing through your quiet time or powering through a devotional just to feel productive, try something different. Pause. Settle in. Check in with Jesus like you’re entering into a beautiful place where you plan to stay for a while.

Because you are.