June 1 – Unconfinable

 “But will God indeed dwell with mankind on the earth? Behold, heaven and the highest heaven cannot contain You; how much less this house which I have built.” 2 Chronicles 6:18 (NASB)

These words in our verse today were spoken by King Solomon in his prayer of dedication for the Temple which he had built in Jerusalem. This was the first temple built in the nation of Israel.  Solomon puts in perspective the omnipresence nature of our God. We know that God has promised to be with us always. So why did Solomon ask if God would really live with men on earth?  Of course he was talking about God living in the temple as a house like we do, and being confined to one dwelling – and he was thinking of the Temple he had built.  God did let His presence be known in Solomon's temple. His glory did fill the temple as it had filled the tabernacle in the wilderness. But God was still everywhere else too. His dwelling is with us and with every true child of His throughout the world. We can be glad that the Lord God has promised this to us and we can know with certainty that He is with us today. As we understand the true meaning, we can answer Solomon's question for God is with us – always and everywhere.   

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October 1 - Lie Down in Trust

“In peace I will both lie down and sleep,
For You alone, O Lord, make me to dwell in safety.” – Psalm 4:8 (NASB)

It is a common complaint that sleep is hard to come by. Many reasons cause difficulty for some to get good restful sleep. Sleep deprivation is dangerous to the health of our bodies. When we experience insomnia or difficulty getting into the deep sleep where our bodies’ organs can rest and rejuvenate many other things can begin to happen. The list of causes is very long and the remedies nearly so as well. The Psalmist, David also wrote Psalm 3. There are certain similarities between these two songs. Psalm 3 is sometimes labeled a morning psalm (Psalm 3:5), while Psalm 4 has been called an evening psalm as we can notice in today’s verse (Psalm 4:8). In both, David is beset with suffering, injustice, and oppression. But we can see in Psalm 4 a change of attitudes in the psalmist as he worships in most difficult circumstances. David’s movement is from anxiety to assurance, as he journeys down the road of prayer and trust in God. We can trust God to keep us safe and to take our worries on Himself. We cast them on Him and He protects us while we sleep.

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April 16 – Rooted In Love

“He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with power through His Spirit in the inner man,” – Ephesians 3:16 (NASB)

The Apostle Paul often wrote long complex sentences and this verse is a bit from one of those times. Though the prayer for the Ephesian believers begins in verse 14 and ends in verse 19, Paul’s request is in verse 16. In this prayer he asked for only one thing: His petition in this prayer is that we be strengthened in the inner man. The result of this is that through faith Christ dwells in our hearts. “Dwell” is not a word used frequently in our day but in this passage Paul is praying for our faith to be dwelling in our hearts and permeating our whole being (personalities). “Dwell” refers not to the beginning of Christ’s indwelling at the moment of salvation. Instead it denotes the desire that Christ may, literally, “be at home in,” our lives. That is, dwelling at the very center of and deeply rooted within our being. It is a promise, if we let Him, that Christ becomes the dominating factor in our thought (attitudes), words (speech), and deeds (conduct). Being rooted and grounded in love is for our understanding the awesome extent of Christ’s love.

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February 4 – Home Forever

“Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever.” -  Psalm 23:6 (ESV)

Such protection, provision and love from God was what brought David to realize that the Lord’s good loyal love would go with him everywhere through all his life. God’s blessings on us, His people, remain on us no matter what the circumstances are in our lives. When we need substance he gives food and water…good calm water. He restores us when we are overspent. He makes sure we know the right path. If the path gets dark and scary we need not fear because He is there with us. And then, God spreads a banquet for us right in front of those who hate us. We are refreshed with anointing oil. All this goodness comes from God, from His promises. When times are up or down, in the darkest night or brightest day God has our back, and front, and both sides. He watches over us with His goodness and His mercy. Our reservation in God’s house is promised and secure. The 'house' is the presence of God, wherever we meet Him and worship. Not a specific building. “I will dwell, there” is our way of saying we’ll be frequently with God returning often to worship Him.  

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August 29 – Sleeping in Peace and Living in Safety

“In peace I will both lie down and sleep, For You alone, O Lord, make me to dwell in safety.” Psalm 4:8 – (NASB)

When we are troubled by uncertainty and challenges in our daily life.  When family problems seems to take up so much of our focus.  When we fear for our safety and are shaken by the trials and tribulations.  It is in these kind of times that we need to remember that King David had such times in his life.  Our promise today is in the last verse of a song David wrote that is full of distressful language as he poured out his heart to God.  He knew God was the one that could give him the peace and rest and sleep he needed.  He knew also that God was the one that would keep him safe not just as he slept but as he lived.  Jesus once during his life on earth slept in a fishing boat crossing the Sea of Galilee during a strong storm.  He slept because He knew God would not let anything happen to him.  David experienced this kind of assurance also in this Psalm.  We to can experience this by faith in our Lord who also makes us live in safety.   

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May 2 – He Who Revives

“For thus says the One who is high and lifted up, who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy:  “I dwell in the high and holy place, and also with him who is of a contrite and lowly spirit, to revive the spirit of the lowly, and to revive the heart of the contrite.” Isaiah 57:15 (ESV)

As we acknowledge that we are serving the great and only God we remember that He lives in heaven.  He rules over the universe from a high and holy place.  Our Almighty God is high and lifted up over all His creation from eternity past to eternity forever.  Consider that for a moment.  And then, remember too that He wants us to know that He will also live with those who put their trust in Him.  In our verse we have the words of God Himself telling us that He will live with those of us who are humble.  He looks for those who are contrite and lowly in spirit because they are those who will respond and who will really benefit by His presence.  Let's be some of those people with our attitudes being right and responding to His working in our lives each day.  Open our hearts and keep them open today and every day for God to work in us and revive us for His glory.  

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March 23 – Enough For All

“Or what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are the temple of the living God; just as God said, “I will dwell in them and walk among them; And I will be their God, and they shall be My people.”   2 Corinthians 6:16 (NASB)

This verse in the New Testament of our Bible refers to statements God had given His people in the Old Testament to assure them of His presence with them.  God has always wanted His people to be aware of His presence with them and we believe He wants each of us today to be aware of this as well.  It is God's will that each of us today, who put our trust in Jesus Christ, recognize His presence in our lives.  God is in heaven and He is ruling over the universe but He wants us each to know with assurance that He is also with us and participating in our lives where we work, in our homes and wherever we travel to.  We are never alone and even if we are with no other person, we are with God because He is with us.  That is His promise.  We have no need to seek out other means, God is enough for each of us who believe in Him.  

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November 15 – Promises Made Promises Kept

“Or what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are the temple of the living God; just as God said, “I will dwell in them and walk among them;  And I will be their God, and they shall be My people.”  2 Corinthians 6:16b (NASB)

God has been making promises to His people since He first created human beings.  Many of the promises we spend our time with each day are from the Old Testament.  We find them from throughout including the time of Moses and the prophets such as Jeremiah and Ezekiel.  Today our promise is found in the New Testament.  It is the last part of our verse.  The Apostle Paul, writing to the believers in the city of Corinth was helping them recognize the importance of giving up the worship of idols of non-existent gods because God has promised that He dwells in those who believe and receive Him.  There is no way to combine the world's system with what God has said.  He promises to be with us and among us.  He is our God and we are His people.  The promise was first given to the People of Israel, and now this verse teaches us that we have received the same promise.  Again, today confirm this truth that the only God is our God and we are His people.  

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June 1 – Always and Everywhere

“But will God indeed dwell with mankind on the earth? Behold, heaven and the highest heaven cannot contain You; how much less this house which I have built.” 2 Chronicles 6:18 (NASB)

These words in our verse today were spoken by King Solomon in a prayer of dedication for the Temple which he had built in Jerusalem. This was the first temple built in the nation of Israel.  Solomon puts in perspective the omnipresence nature of our God. We know that God has promised to be with us always. So why did Solomon ask if God wold really live with men on earth?  Of course he was talking about God living in a house like we do, and being confined to one dwelling – and he was thinking of the Temple he had built.  God did let His presence be known in Solomon's temple. His glory did fill the temple. But God was still everywhere else too. His dwelling is with us and with every true child of His throughout the world. We can be glad that the Lord God has promised this to us and we can know with certainty that He is with us today. As we understand the true meaning, we can answer Solomon's question for God is with us – always and everywhere.   

December 1

“I long to dwell in your tent forever and take refuge in the shelter of your wings.” Psalm 61:4 (NIV)

David had experienced the nearness of His God. He knew what it meant to live in close fellowship with God. It made him feel that he was living in the same tent with Him. In those days many people had tents as homes. So David had found himself at home with God and he said that he longed to live with Him forever. David also thought of the close relationship with God as the way a baby bird would enjoy the safe feeling of being sheltered by the mother’s wings. All of this reminds us of the close relationship that is our by faith in our God. Let us rejoice and enjoy it today!