September Blessings,
“Whoever 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.” Psalms 91:1-2 NIV
This is a very well known psalm which was written by Moses. Over the past weeks, I have been meditating on this scripture and praying it often over my life, my loved ones, and the Church. I have even prayed over our world…that all of God’s image bearers would come to make Him their home, declaring their trust in Him and recognizing Him as their refuge and fortress.
“Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High…”
This phrase brought to my mind the image of my kids growing up in our home and dwelling together year after year. These are some very precious memories that we share, filled with mostly happy moments, but also difficult and painful times.
Dwelling with God looks like living every moment with Him & in Him for He is our Home. He is Immanuel, God with us, in every season of our lives.
As I continued pondering this phrase, John 14:23 (NIV) came to mind, when Jesus said, “Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them.” Here again we see this picture of living with God in His residence. Furthermore, in John 15:5;9 (NIV), Jesus states, “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing…
“As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love.”
These last two verses paint a picture of abiding or remaining in Jesus in order to produce abundant life and enjoy His love. Jesus is beautifully expressing both His and the Father’s desire and love to make their home with anyone who will obey His teaching. Jesus explains He is our source of life and if we’re disconnected from Him, we can do nothing! Therefore, it’s essential to remain in His love.
The Apostle Paul shares the importance of Christ’s love with the Church in Ephesus,
“For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name. I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 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 3:14-19 NIV
It is incomprehensible to me to think that we can be so strengthened by God’s Spirit in our inner being, with Christ dwelling in our hearts through faith…rooted & established in love, having power with all the Lord’s holy people to grasp the width, height, and depth of Christ’s love which is beyond knowledge…All so we may be filled to overflowing with the fullness of God. It is absolutely amazing to me that we can be filled to overflowing with the fullness of God! What does the reality of this look like? …
I think it looks like beautiful Jesus fully formed in us and flowing through us as a result of being rooted and established in love. Remember, Jesus told us to remain in His love because apart from Him we can do nothing, but if we remain in Him we will produce much fruit!
“…will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.”
Rest is the blessed result of making God our home. I was gardening recently and it was quite warm in the direct sun, but as soon as I began working in the shade I felt relief from the heat and was refreshed by the cooler air around me. In this moment, the Lord reminded me of Psalm 91:1…as we dwell in Him, we will enter the cool rest of His shadow, removing us from the intensity of heat or any harsh elements for the LORD will literally be our Shelter!
“For in the day of trouble he will keep me safe in his dwelling; he will hide me in the shelter of his sacred tent and set me high upon a rock.”
Psalms 27:5 NIV
“I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.”
Our confession is of vital importance! What we say carries weight, influence, and power. It is essential that our words are in agreement with truth…that we declare, “The LORD is our refuge & fortress, our God, in whom we trust!
Speaking aloud creates and establishes the greater reality of God’s Word over natural circumstances/realities.
In the beginning, we see God the Father using words to create light (Genesis 1: 3 NIV) and as the story of creation goes on, He continues to create through His words.
The Father clearly models the importance of using our words to bring forth life.
In the book of Romans, Paul quotes God in Genesis saying of Abraham, “As it is written: “I have made you a father of many nations.” He is our father in the sight of God, in whom he believed—the God who gives life to the dead and calls into being things that were not.” Romans 4:17 NIV
We, like our Heavenly Father, create as we speak, so let us daily declare, as long as we have breath in our lungs, that the LORD is our God, our refuge and fortress and we will ALWAYS trust in Him ALONE!
“You will also declare a thing, And it will be established for you; So light will shine on your ways.”
Job 22:28 NKJV
The LORD is our Peace under pressure! Regardless of what happens to us or around us, the LORD is our God, our home, our refuge & shelter…the One we can trust who is forever faithful! Rest in His shadow, beloved ones…
“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:9 NKJV
Dwelling & Resting in Him,
Veronica
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