dwelling in

Opening Prayer: He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.”  (Psalm 91:1-2)

Scripture: Ephesians 3:17

Journal: What does it mean for God to dwell in your heart through faith?  Why would God do that?  What is his hope?  How does it invite us to dwell in God’s heart in return?  What does it mean to dwell in God?  How do we do that? 

Reflection: “So that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith.” (Ephesians 3:17)  Is that not an amazing phrase!  The God who became flesh and made his dwelling among us, is now the God who comes and makes his dwelling within us.  God has taken up residence in the hearts of his people.  He has made his home in them!  Thus, he is continually present and available to us at all times.  The only question is: Are we present and available to him?  Why else would he come to dwell within us, unless it was because he wanted us to dwell in him?  That is God’s deepest desire, that we would live our lives in him.

Thomas Merton said it this way: “Some people live for God, some people live with God, and some people live in God.”  Now, don’t get me wrong, living for God and with God are great things, but God wants more for us than that.  He wants us to live in him.  He does not merely want duty and obligation, or even side-by-side companionship, he wants intimate union.  He invites us into the very life of the Trinity.  He doesn’t just want us running around doing all sorts of things for him, he wants us to live in him.  He wants us to share in his life.  He wants us to see with his eyes, he wants us to think his thoughts, and he wants us to have his heart. 

Prayer

Closing Prayer: Dwell in my heart, Lord Jesus, as I dwell in yours.  Amen.