Daily devotional, May 1, 2024 Transient
"Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever." Psalm 23:6
Backpacking is always a hit for some cultures. Some even quit their jobs and go backpacking around the world. Transient accommodations provide a safe and comfortable place for backpackers to rest and spend the night, and then consequently move on to their journey.
As followers of Jesus, we must open our homes to Jesus Christ our Savior. We should welcome Him and make Him stay with us our whole lives. And the way Jesus can enter our homes is through our hearts.
"Jesus answered him, 'If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him.'"
John 14:27
And we indeed are blessed if we find ourselves dwelling with the Lord. While we look forward to our eternal dwelling place in heaven, the Lord promises His indwelling with us here on Earth through the Holy Spirit. When we delight in Him and keep His words, He will remain with us.
"For a day in your courts is better than a thousand elsewhere. I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of wickedness. For the Lord God is a sun and shield; the Lord bestows favor and honor. No good thing does he withhold from those who walk uprightly." Psalm 84:10-11
When we open up our hearts to Jesus, we make ourselves conscious of His will for us. We strive to abide by His commands, and stay connected to Him. We make ourselves aware that He is the source of our strength.
"For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love," Ephesians 3:14-17
As mothers, we have the responsibility to raise our children to welcome Jesus joyfully in their hearts, in their lives. We have to let them know that in Jesus Christ we can seek refuge from all present and future troubles. We must testify to them by telling them that we have been shielded from past crises by sheltering under God’s wings.
"For God alone, O my soul, wait in silence, for my hope is from him.He only is my rock and my salvation, my fortress; I shall not be shaken.On God rests my salvation and my glory;my mighty rock, my refuge is God."
Psalm 62:5-7
It is by ingraining in our children’s minds that there is a higher power, who is Sovereign, and in control of every aspect in this world, that they can become resilient amid future adversities. That they will know in their hearts, that there is hope in God. That they can rest assured that if they fail, the Lord is gracious enough to forgive and grant us the chance to renew our lives and start on a clean slate.
We can make this happen by letting our children attend Sunday school. By exposing them in worship and bible study. By normalizing conversations about God and the bible at home. By praying with them consistently and teaching them to Love God above all and by showing them that God is our priority. Most of all by inviting God not as a transient or a guest, but as a permanent dweller in our home.
“But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.”
Joshua 24:15
Thank you for reading through our devotional today. I invite you to ponder on Psalm 84 to dig deeper on today’s topic.
Reflection Question: Have you invited the Lord to dwell in your home?
Conversation with the Lord: Heavenly Father thank you very much for giving me the opportunity to seek you and invite you to dwell in my heart. I want to be in your presence for the rest of my life. I want my whole family to be with you and serve you. Give me the wisdom to get on this path my Lord, and seek to be with you always. Amen.
