What do I mean by this continuous inner abiding?
To be continuously turned deep inside simply means that, having turned within to God—by a direct act—you have remained in His presence. You have no further need to keep turning to Christ; you already abide with Him in the chambers of your spirit. The only time you need to make a point of turn-ing again is when your abiding is interrupted for some reason.
At this point in your spiritual life, you should not concern yourself with trying to turn to the Lord by any outward means. You will even find it difficult to make a deliberate, outward act of turning when you have begun this inner abiding.
You see, you are already turned within to the Lord; any outward activity will only draw you away from your union with Him.
To form the act of turning within, that is the goal! When this act has been formed in you, it will express itself as a continual abiding in your spirit and a continuous exchange of love between you and the Lord. Once this goal is attained, there is no longer any need to seek after it by outward acts. You may forget the outward act of trying to love the Lord and to be loved by Him. Instead, just continue on as you are. You should simply remain near to God by this continuous inner abiding.
In this state of continually being turned to God, you are abiding in the love of God, and the man who abides in love abides in God. (See First John 4:16.) You rest. But what does that mean? You rest in the continuously inward act of abiding.
Now, in this state of rest, is your soul active or passive? It is active! You are not in a passive state, even if you are resting. But what activity could there be in resting? You are resting in the act of abiding in His love. Can that be activity? Yes! Inside your spirit there is an act going on. It is a sweet sinking into Deity.
The inward attraction—the magnetic pull—becomes more and more powerful. Your soul, dwelling in love, is drawn by this powerful attraction and sinks continually deep-er into that love.
So you see, this inward activity has become far greater than it was when your soul first began to turn inward. Under the powerful attraction of God drawing you into Himself, the inward activity has increased! - Jeanne Guyon
Jeanne Guyon (1648–1717) was a French Christian writer whose life and teachings have shaped believers for more than three centuries. She wrote extensively about prayer, surrender, and living in continual awareness of God’s presence, emphasizing a simple, inward devotion to Christ. Because her teachings challenged religious performance and control, she was imprisoned for her faith, including years spent in the Bastille. Even in suffering, her writings reflect deep joy, trust, and a quiet confidence in God.
The daily devotional readings shared during our consecration are drawn primarily from 100 Days in the Secret Place, compiled by Gene Edwards, and a select number of other rich essays and writings. These excerpts are shared for devotional and discipleship purposes, with gratitude for the rich spiritual heritage preserved in the work. We encourage anyone who is helped by these readings to explore the full book for deeper reflection.