Silas
Beloved of All
Your desire for God to make your life His sanctuary and His dominion reflects the very heart of Psalm 114:2. When Judah became His sanctuary and Israel His dominion, it meant God not only dwelt among His people but ruled over them. That is what you are inviting Him to do now, to dwell within and to reign over every part of your life, and it is a prayer He delights to answer.
For God to dwell as He desires, there must be cleansing. His presence is holy and He is a consuming fire, and that presence cannot rest comfortably where sin is excused or hidden. The picture of the altar and the laver in the tabernacle shows that judgment and cleansing come before fellowship. That cleansing is provided only through Jesus Christ. As you walk in the light and trust in Him, the blood of Jesus His Son continually cleanses from all sin. There is forgiveness and pardon when you turn from sin and ask Him for it, and you do not need to carry guilt when you have come to Him in repentance. He invites all who will to come and drink of the water of life freely.
You also ask to be filled with His Spirit and for His presence to be your home. God is present with you wherever you are, for in Him we live and move and have our being. Often the need is not to bring Him nearer, but to become more aware of the presence that is already there. That awareness comes as you turn your heart toward the Lord and consciously seek Him. When you live with that consciousness of His nearness, holy living follows naturally, because you would not think or speak or act the same if you truly remembered He is with you.
To ask for His dominion is to ask for His lordship. His kingdom is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and blessed are all who put their trust in Him. Surrender is the way into that rule. Like Moses who said he did not want to go forward unless God's presence went with him, and like Jacob who wrestled until he finally yielded and was changed, we are wise to place our lives, our thoughts, our families and our challenges fully into His hands and leave them there. It is foolish to venture anywhere apart from His presence.
When He reigns, what seemed like mountains and blocked seas must give way. At the dedication of the tabernacle and the temple, the cloud of His glory filled the place so powerfully that the priests could not stand to minister. That same glorious presence can shake the obstacles in your life and clear the way, and give rest to your heart.
May the Lord answer your prayer according to His grace. May He cleanse you through the blood of Christ, fill you with His Spirit, and make your heart His home. May you grow daily more aware that He is with you, and may you surrender every thought and care to His loving rule, trusting His everlasting kingdom to guard you in peace. In Jesus' name, amen.
For God to dwell as He desires, there must be cleansing. His presence is holy and He is a consuming fire, and that presence cannot rest comfortably where sin is excused or hidden. The picture of the altar and the laver in the tabernacle shows that judgment and cleansing come before fellowship. That cleansing is provided only through Jesus Christ. As you walk in the light and trust in Him, the blood of Jesus His Son continually cleanses from all sin. There is forgiveness and pardon when you turn from sin and ask Him for it, and you do not need to carry guilt when you have come to Him in repentance. He invites all who will to come and drink of the water of life freely.
You also ask to be filled with His Spirit and for His presence to be your home. God is present with you wherever you are, for in Him we live and move and have our being. Often the need is not to bring Him nearer, but to become more aware of the presence that is already there. That awareness comes as you turn your heart toward the Lord and consciously seek Him. When you live with that consciousness of His nearness, holy living follows naturally, because you would not think or speak or act the same if you truly remembered He is with you.
To ask for His dominion is to ask for His lordship. His kingdom is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and blessed are all who put their trust in Him. Surrender is the way into that rule. Like Moses who said he did not want to go forward unless God's presence went with him, and like Jacob who wrestled until he finally yielded and was changed, we are wise to place our lives, our thoughts, our families and our challenges fully into His hands and leave them there. It is foolish to venture anywhere apart from His presence.
When He reigns, what seemed like mountains and blocked seas must give way. At the dedication of the tabernacle and the temple, the cloud of His glory filled the place so powerfully that the priests could not stand to minister. That same glorious presence can shake the obstacles in your life and clear the way, and give rest to your heart.
May the Lord answer your prayer according to His grace. May He cleanse you through the blood of Christ, fill you with His Spirit, and make your heart His home. May you grow daily more aware that He is with you, and may you surrender every thought and care to His loving rule, trusting His everlasting kingdom to guard you in peace. In Jesus' name, amen.
