“So that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.”
Ephesians 3:17-19
“Home is where the heart is.” This well-known quote reminds each of us that wherever we are in the world, our home is what we choose to make it, what we choose to love. But could we take this quote further and explore the deeper meaning as it relates to our faith in Christ? God desires to make His home in us, and as we invite the Lord to dwell within us and commune with us, we can talk with Him and discover answers to prayer that we wouldn’t experience without fellowshipping with the all-knowing Creator. How incredible that the God of the universe desires to take residence within our hearts! No matter what season we are currently walking through, when we invite the Lord to come into our hearts, we are transformed from the inside out. Whether we are in the Promised Land or going through the darkest valley; whether we are enduring a nightmare or experiencing the triumph of a much-anticipated answer to prayer; when we choose to dwell and commune with God no matter the circumstances, we can see His sovereignty over the tapestry of our lives. Through the dark and the golden threads, we can look back and see that He is weaving together all the details of our lives for our good and His glory.
Following the Lord’s guidance and inviting Him to dwell within our hearts involves trusting his lordship. In the Scriptures, the Israelites were known as “tent-dwellers”. They followed God’s cloud by day and fire by night to stay in step with God’s leading on their journey. Because of the Holy Spirit, we now have the incredible opportunity to have Him indwell us. Through His power, He can direct our steps and guide us step by step into His plans and purposes.
Many times, God may ask us to step outside of our comfort zone into unfamiliar territory. In those situations, we can seek Him and trust that He is leading us, just like the Israelites followed His directions in the Scriptures. Whether our residence in this current season is in the desert like Moses or the Cave of Adullam like David, we can know that where God guides is part of His training and preparation for our important purposes in life. Each thread of tapestry is needed for the beautiful design that he is weaving together in the big picture. When we hold onto His Word and believe His promises, it helps us stay focused and persevere as He leads us through tunnels or fog to the mountain tops of victory.
One of the important things we must remember is that surrender is part of dwelling with God. We must know and trust that He has our best interests at heart. David may have felt at times in the Bible like he wasn’t sure how he ended up in the Cave of Adullam, which could also be thought of as a “dull time that causes us to ‘hum’?” In the dark and uncertain times, we may be tempted to get angry or question what God is doing. However, when we study the men and women that the Lord used mightily in the scriptures (Moses, David, and Joseph, to name a few), each had to endure challenging seasons or circumstances, such as a desert, cave, or prison, and believe that God was working the best plans in each of those seemingly confusing and unexplainable situations.
As we spend time and commune with the Lord, listen to His voice, and obey His leading, we can trace His hand over the details of our journey. Apart from the Lord we can do nothing, but with Him we can do anything. Just like Psalm 139: 7-10 states, “Where can I go from Your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? If I go up to the heavens you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast.” When God is invited to dwell within us, He can strengthen and comfort us through the difficulties of life and lead us to do extraordinary exploits. Home is where God resides and abides.
Your Fellow Able Mom,
Liz
Have you ever considered that your home is actually where God resides and abides?
Three main points:
-Whatever our residence or our season in life, home ultimately is where God resides and abides.
-Surrender is part of dwelling with God.
-Apart from God, we can do nothing. With God, we can do anything.
-As we spend time and commune with the Lord, listen to His voice, and obey His leading, we can trace His hand over the details of our journey.
Connect with Liz:
FB: @LizPitmanAuthor
IG: @LizPitmanAuthor
Website: petethepuzzlepiece.com
Watch AMI CEO, Amanda, Interview amazing authors and speakers each week!
Don't miss us Tuesdays, or watch our most recent:
Laugh with other Able Moms on Facebook
Follow Able.Moms on IG
Not an Able Moms Member yet? Start here AbleMoms.org
How true! I was in ISrael and felt as though I was home as roots of my faith are there. I head to my home town soon and that has a feeling of welcome always. Each of these places also brings the presence of the Lord making me feel at hme in that spiritual connection.