It's Time to Dwell
Each year at the beginning of Advent, I begin to seek the Lord about a word on which to meditate in the upcoming year. In 2018, I had one of the most undeniably real experiences I’ve ever had with God as He whispered, “Transition”. It was during this time that the Holy Spirit began to prepare me for my big move. Last year, the word was “Restoration.” Slowly, I’ve seen restoration of things I didn’t even know had gone into disrepair. One thing in particular was a restoration in the area of writing and blogging. And although I have been unemployed for the majority of the year, I am in a better place than I ever have been in my finances, a restoration of all that Satan has stolen. God is so good!
As an executive director of a small non-profit, my pace had become frenzied. I hadn’t even noticed that I no longer was in touch with a major part of my personality; the part that slows down to take notice of hidden treasures and beauty. One of the Scriptures I had come to meditate on was Psalm 23. “He maketh me to lie down in green pastures.” Circumstances had to make me, because I had no intention of voluntarily resting. As a result, peace has been restored, even in the midst of many storms.
A few months ago, after reviewing all of the trials I’ve experienced since moving to Tulsa, I decided that it was time to begin meditating on Psalm 91. (I think it was the wasp stings that finally did it.) In doing so, I became “stuck” on the word “dwell.” I started to study the word in Hebrew, look up English definitions and wondered if this might be my new word. During Advent the word “dwell” popped up everywhere.
Then in a time of prayer, I heard His gentle spirit confirm my leading. He said that it was time to stop visiting my new hometown, and take up permanent residency. It was time for me to stop merely surviving and to begin thriving…in other words to truly dwell here. Not only in a house or property, but in new relationships, anointing and assignments.
Wherever He leads me, I must dwell in Him. Not in a house I love. Not in a neighborhood I love. Not even in a church I love. But in Him. When He becomes my dwelling place then I am at home wherever He leads me. My family and I have this long standing joke, “Home is where my stuff is.” I still hold this to be true. Putting familiar, loved and treasured furniture or belongings accumulated over a lifetime brings a little piece of who and where you have been as a visual story to your home. But it’s also important to begin to bring in a little of where you are currently and where you are going in the future; who you are and who you are becoming.
Ultimately, when my treasure is in Him, my home can also be found in Him. It is only then that I can “dwell in the house of the Lord forever.” I’d love for you to join me in my journey to dwell. Hopefully, there will be something gained by the both of us as His plan unfolds in my life. But I’d love to hear from you too! Do you have a word that you plan to meditate on in 2020? How do you plan to implement your study and pondering of your word? Tell the community here a little about it. We’d love to glean from what God is doing in your life!
