Dwelling in the Shelter

I think it's an agreeable statement to say that as christians, we all desire breakthroughs in our walk with God. We all want to radically encounter God in a way that would finally wipe away all disbelief, fear, doubt, and anxiety by a fresh outpouring of who our God really is.

But honestly, breakthroughs are't realistic or satisfactory. Sure, initially it might seem like all problems and doubts have faded away. But they will return because we live in a sin soaked world and we are only human beings with finite minds. Things like fear, doubt, and anxiety are all side affects of sin in which we can't escape. But we do have a savior who understands this constant mind battle we face daily.

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“He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.”

P S A L M 9 1 : 1

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Doesn’t this verse bring so much comfort?? Rest in the shadow of the Almighty? Yes please- I could use a whole lot of that. But it’s easier verbally spoken than lived out.. How does one "dwell in the shelter of the Most High?"

It looks like reciting the words “I need you Lord” Before you even step out of bed.

It looks like choosing God before your phone.

It looks like loving everyone & forgiving the hard to forgive.

It looks like choosing God for wisdom over other people.

It looks like coming to God in deep prayer instead of worrying.

It looks like opening up your Bible to seek comfort instead of earthly comforters.

It looks like choosing Godliness over godlessness.

In order to gain the sweet reward, you need to live a life in active pursuit of the Lord Himself. For He is the Most High and the Almighty. Dwelling in the shelter of the Most High means letting God into your heart and letting Him do His work. It means full surrender to Him, letting go of everything you desire and only pursuing the things God desires. This process of dwelling is a constant and deep act of love that can only be formed by the gentle grace & warm embrace of the father.

To make things a little more practical, what are you submitting yourself to? Your job? Your phone? grades? I find it ironic that we live in a society that raises us up to submit to certain things and give our all to whatever we love and yet we can’t muster up the courage & humble ourselves enough to submit to the Most High king- the only act of submission that truly matters.

The things that the world tempts you with are not sufficient and they never will be.

They will leave you feeling empty.

They will leave you feeling exhausted.

They will leave you feeling defeated.

Why? Because our ultimate goal with anything we put hard work and submission into is perfection. And we cannot grasp onto perfection without the blood shed on the cross. God calls us to submit ourselves to Him (James 4:7). The only form of submission that promises life, rest, and joy.

Our job is not to idolize the concept of having a breakthrough in our relationship with Christ, our job is solely to dwell in the shelter of the Most High. God knows our sin. He knows our weaknesses. He knows our flaws. Spending time with the Lord every day should be our focus, for He is the one who will strengthen us and refresh us.

Father, please be with us. A generation of people who are so tangled up in false promises. Rescue us and help us to be obedient. Help us to find peace knowing that we are secure in your arms. That you've already set us free from the baggage we are carrying through the power of Jesus. God, help us to live a life set apart from the world & remind us that we don’t have to live up to the expectations it delivers each day. Thank you for filling us up and allowing us to never have to stretch ourselves thin in order find our true worth- because in you and you alone, we find our true identity. Only in your holy name we are rooted deeply into the foundation you had prepared for us all this time. There will be times where the gusts of life will try to take us out. But because of the nails on the rugged cross, there is nothing that can depart us from where we were meant to be- Secure in your loving arms. Jesus, we love you. Amen.

You are so loved.

Morgan