Changed By Love

A post from Nancy Campbell at Above Rubies from her devotional 100 Days of Blessing, pp. 14,15.

All the Days of My Life

“One thing have I desired of the Lord, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord, and to inquire in His temple.” Psalm 27:4

David longed for the “house of the Lord.” But David could not be in the house of the Lord continually, as much as he longed to. He was king of a nation. He had battles to fight; administration to attend to. Dear mother, we have the opportunity to live David’s longing. Let me explain.

The house of the Lord is no longer one temple as it was in David’s day. It is not even a church building where we attend on Sundays or Saturdays today. The house of the Lord speaks of His presence. God wants your home to be His house where His presence dwells; a place where you abide in Him and He abides in you. The house of the Lord is your kitchen where you prepare the meals; the house of the Lord is your dining table where you feed your family and make every meal a love affair; the house of the Lord is any room in the home where you are working or interacting with your children.

In your home you can behold the beauty of the Lord. As you abide in Him and look to Him, He will impart His grace to you in your time of need. He will show you that He is the “God who is Enough” for every challenge and every situation. He is with you in your home and will never leave you or forsake you. No, not even when everything seems overwhelming and you feel like tearing your hair out! You are still in the house of the Lord at this moment. Instead of despairing about the situation, stop for a moment and realize that God is with you. He has promised that He will not fail you. Thank Him that He is with you.

In your home you can inquire in His temple. David had to go to God’s temple to inquire of the Lord. He faced battles, enemies and challenges; He needed God’s discernment, wisdom and strength. You also need God’s wisdom. You are desperate to know what to do. You cannot go on without His strength. Praise God, you don’t have to get into your car and rush off to a church building. You are in the house of the Lord right now. You can inquire in His temple right now. He will give you His wisdom right now.

All you have to do is abide – that literally means to live in His presence. It means to acknowledge that Christ is living within you and that you are in Him. You are inseparable. You are one. He is your life source. You can’t live without Him (well, I can’t anyway!)

Your strength wanes; you need His. Your wisdom is human; you need His divine wisdom. Your love runs out the door; you need His agape love. You are depressed and down in the dumps; His joy is greater than your feelings. You feel your life is worthless; you can only bear fruit to bless your family and touch other lives as you abide.

John 15:4-5 says, “Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in Me. I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abides in Me, and I in him, the same brings forth much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.”

See your home in a new light. It is the house of the Lord and you can live in it all the days of your life.

PRAYER:

“Thank you, Lord, for showing me that my home is the house of the Lord. Help me to enjoy my home in a new way. Thank you that I don’t have to visit the house of the Lord. I live in it! Amen.”

Affirmation:
I am not a visitor but a dweller in the house of the Lord.