09/06: Hold That Thought!
Category: In His Grip
Posted by: Luann
If you came to visit because you read my devo on Encouragement For Today, WELCOME!
I've been digging into a wise guy's life recently, breaking down the verses in Solomon's prayer to God to dedicate the temple. It seemed to me that if the wisest human (besides Jesus) was taking the time to dedicate his temple to the Lord, I might glean some nuggets of insight when I look in the mirror today.
Paul asks a compelling question in 1 Corinthians 6:19, "Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own;"
It's so easy to forget that we are not our own, isn't it?
Solomon said in his prayer (emphasis are mine), "But will God REALLY dwell on earth with men? The heavens, even the highest heavens, cannot contain you. How much less THIS temple I have built!"
In other words, ARE YOU KIDDING ME? No, not kidding. The God of the universe sent His Son to dwell on the earth and when He left, He sent the Holy Spirit to dwell on the earth inside you and me! We are His temple on earth! Whew! That is a hard one to get my mind around.
I understand why Solomon would, in a sense, scratch his head in bewilderment saying, "Really?"
So how do I dedicate this temple to God so it can be used to bring Him glory? I'll admit, I don't many days. But this verse in 2 Chronicles 6:18 made me pause and linger for a minute. After reading it and pulling out the facts and the lesson, I sat still and listened for His Voice.
The facts are clear, you dwell on earth. The lesson is, if the God of the universe chose to take up residency inside me, His temple, how do I dedicate it to Him?
But as I sat pondering this one little verse this morning He overwhelmed me with this thought:
Present your temple to me, holy. Sacrifice striving for other fulfillment and empty yourself before me so my Holy Spirit can inhabit you COMPLETELY. If the heavens cannot contain me, there is surely no room for anything else in you besides Me.
Luann, you know that constant nagging you have about the future? Leave it outside of my temple. Do you see that concern for your kids over here? Yea, it needs to be taken outside. Don't worry about the bills, or the job, or the people in your life. Empty, Luann, I require all the space. Empty all your cares and burdens. When others see this temple they should immediately see that I dwell inside it. Lose your grip on all the things you are holding on to and watch how I will inhabit your life!
Hold that thought!
For more encouragement, (and a chance to win stuff!) visit us over at the cafe....Encouragement Cafe, that is ;o) see you there!
I've been digging into a wise guy's life recently, breaking down the verses in Solomon's prayer to God to dedicate the temple. It seemed to me that if the wisest human (besides Jesus) was taking the time to dedicate his temple to the Lord, I might glean some nuggets of insight when I look in the mirror today.
Paul asks a compelling question in 1 Corinthians 6:19, "Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own;"
It's so easy to forget that we are not our own, isn't it?
Solomon said in his prayer (emphasis are mine), "But will God REALLY dwell on earth with men? The heavens, even the highest heavens, cannot contain you. How much less THIS temple I have built!"
In other words, ARE YOU KIDDING ME? No, not kidding. The God of the universe sent His Son to dwell on the earth and when He left, He sent the Holy Spirit to dwell on the earth inside you and me! We are His temple on earth! Whew! That is a hard one to get my mind around.
I understand why Solomon would, in a sense, scratch his head in bewilderment saying, "Really?"
So how do I dedicate this temple to God so it can be used to bring Him glory? I'll admit, I don't many days. But this verse in 2 Chronicles 6:18 made me pause and linger for a minute. After reading it and pulling out the facts and the lesson, I sat still and listened for His Voice.
The facts are clear, you dwell on earth. The lesson is, if the God of the universe chose to take up residency inside me, His temple, how do I dedicate it to Him?
But as I sat pondering this one little verse this morning He overwhelmed me with this thought:
Present your temple to me, holy. Sacrifice striving for other fulfillment and empty yourself before me so my Holy Spirit can inhabit you COMPLETELY. If the heavens cannot contain me, there is surely no room for anything else in you besides Me.
Luann, you know that constant nagging you have about the future? Leave it outside of my temple. Do you see that concern for your kids over here? Yea, it needs to be taken outside. Don't worry about the bills, or the job, or the people in your life. Empty, Luann, I require all the space. Empty all your cares and burdens. When others see this temple they should immediately see that I dwell inside it. Lose your grip on all the things you are holding on to and watch how I will inhabit your life!
Hold that thought!
For more encouragement, (and a chance to win stuff!) visit us over at the cafe....Encouragement Cafe, that is ;o) see you there!
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Joy wrote:
Twice Monday God asked me the question, "Do you want to be healed?" (From John and Acts) The healing, whether physical, emotional etc... sometimes doesn't come not for lack of God's willingness to restore, but our willingness of desire to truly receive.
"Present your temple to me, holy. Sacrifice striving for other fulfillment and empty yourself before me so my Holy Spirit can inhabit you COMPLETELY."
Wanting to, but really struggling. Just being honest,
Joy