A thought has been following me around for a while, and it is this: God knows where he wants to live. |
God’s Dream Home… From Genesis to Revelation, God has mentioned it multiple times—in writing. One of the early inklings comes in Genesis 3, on an evening when cool breezes were blowing and the only two humans on earth “heard the LORD God walking about in the garden” where God had put them to live. During the Exodus of the Israelites from Egypt, God says he brought them out so that he might dwell among them: “And I will dwell among the sons of Israel and will be their God. And they shall know that I am the Lord their God who brought them out of the land of Egypt, so that I might dwell among them; I am the Lord their God.” – Exodus 29:45-46 (NKJV) God wanted to walk among his people: “Moreover, I will make My dwelling among you…. I will also walk among you and be your God, and you shall be My people.” – Leviticus 26:11-12 (NKJV) (God’s dwelling and walking among his people is also mentioned in Numbers 5:3 and 35:34; 1 Kings 6:11-13; and 1 Kings 8:12-9:9.) God made the way—through Jesus—for his Spirit to live in his people: “I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; and I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put My Spirit within you and bring it about that you walk in My statutes, and are careful and follow My ordinances.” – Ezekiel 36:26-27 (NKJV) God’s dream is to dwell among his people: “And I will make a covenant of peace with them; it will be an everlasting covenant with them. And I will place them and multiply them, and set My sanctuary in their midst forever. My dwelling place also will be among them; and I will be their God, and they will be My people.” – Ezekiel 37:26-27 (NKJV) (Also see Ezekiel 37:23-25, 28.) And, as Jesus revealed, that dream will be fulfilled: “Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the old heaven and the old earth had disappeared. And the sea was also gone. And I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven like a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. I heard a loud shout from the throne, saying, ‘Look, God’s home is now among his people! He will live with them, and they will be his people. God himself will be with them.’” – Revelation 21:1-3 (NLT) |
… is with You The long and short of it is this: God wants to dwell with his people. God’s dream home is with you. He is holding out his heart—now—to the intimacy you were designed for. It is an amazing invitation. Today is a good day to let him know you want that, too. Let him know you want to live with him the way he designed you for. Ask him to help you to increasingly be a place where his Spirit delights to “dwell”—where he can live free, and be joyfully fruitful, and rest. |
“How to Journal with God” Book is Now Available! Over the years, journaling has become a vital part of my relationship with God. God has used pen and paper to lead me deeper into his freedom and goodness in areas of life where I didn’t even realize there was more available from him. I am confident that he will do the same for you. And I believe this new book can be a valuable tool in the process. How to Journal with God really is an open-door invitation to deepening intimacy with God. This book is a great way to start or deepen a practice that can be part of a life-giving relationship with God you will enjoy forever. I invite you to order your copy now: How to Journal with God paperback on Amazon How to Journal with God in ebook (& in Kindle Unlimited) on Amazon Buy Now |
Parting Words When I think of God’s vastness, and of all the places he might have created to dwell, it’s pretty amazing to consider what he chose. When I let myself ponder that he’s designed people to live with—and in and through—it makes me feel very tender toward God for showing us that kind of vulnerability. And very dependent on him to make me what he had in mind. I want to be the kind of home for him where he can fully be himself—where we can both fully be ourselves. According to his book, that’s been his dream all along. May this be a season for deepening our intimacy with the God who wants to dwell with us! To your freedom, health, and wholeness, AmyLu |
Inspiring Christian Non-Fiction by AmyLu Riley How to Journal with God – NEW! Faith with WingsStay: Why I’m Still Here, A Spiritual Memoir Jesus as Healer: Miracles and Meditations in Luke |