Dwell!

Dwell!

HE WHO dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall remain stable and fixed under the shadow of the Almighty [Whose power no foe can withstand]. Psalm 91:1‭ AMPC

The Inspiration:

Isn't it interesting that the first two words of the verses before us today are in uppercase? There is first the issue of identity, and then the decision. The start point of anything that will have impact must be personal conviction. You won't do anything if you have not been convinced beyond all doubt that this is the best course of action. The action required here is to define your residence status in the best place on earth, which is the secret place of the Most High. The word used here is also important: DWELL means it is a place of permanent residence, where a man has deep roots in and has made a home. The dictionary defines it as 'to sit down, to abide, inhabit or remain. Where you dwell is a place people have come to know you at, and when they need to find you, they know where to go. For me, it is therefore important to work this out: if men come looking for me, where would they find me? Where would they find you? 

The Contention:

That question is important. In these days of uncertainty and compromise, men must know the depth and quality of my convictions. I can't claim to dwell in God's secret place and my life will not reflect that position. As much as God is God over all the earth, and He has made all men, there is still the need for man to search for God. It is a secret place because only those who search diligently have access granted. There is no automatic entry. It is a secret place because God is Spirit and those who must come to Him must know how and where to seek Him. The power of this decision is further strengthened by the fact that God does not compel anyone to dwell; it is a decision that must come from my heart. I must weigh the options before me and then decide: do I want to dwell where God is, or would I prefer the place of self -promotion? What steps do I need to take to get to where God intends for me?

The Conclusion:

The end of the process is quite revealing. The man who has sorted out his dwelling place is stable and fixed. Nothing moves him from that position. Oh, storms will come; the winds of adversity will blow and beat against the house of your heart, but as long as I am in the secret place, I need not fear anything. What gives you that stability and confidence isn't about what you contribute, but about the One who you have come to meet. I cannot keep myself safe, no matter how high the fence or deep the trench. The One offering a safe place is both able and capable to keep me safe; however, I must be IN Him to enjoy what He provides. I cannot be comfortable living in sin and expect that the grace of God will abound. God's power is limitless, but I can prise myself out of His cover by the way I live. I must find God and stay IN Him. Nowhere else is safe. God's time of favour is here.