My Dwelling Place

Today's my first free day in so long! Well, sorta. I still need to write lesson plans for school, go grocery shopping, clean my room and take Leela to the vet.

easy peasy, lemon squeezy.

It's basically a free day, and the weather is gorgeous, and I slept in. All great things.

"Because you have made the Lord your dwelling place..." -Psalm 91:9

I've read it a million times and even memorized the chapter in elementary school. Somewhere, without realizing it, I've internalized this verse, and in this morning's quiet time, it's alive to me. Lord, you are my dwelling place.

Today! Today in the midst of joy- a day to cook, clean, and get everything in ordered peace, I choose to dwell in Jesus. I place my thoughts on Him and I'll process all of my emotions through Him. Jesus is the lense with which I'll view my priorities, work through my discouragements, understand my relationships. As if I'm dwelling in a tangible location, I will not step out of His covering.

Yesterday! When seeing creepy neighbor gave me immediate anxiety, I chose to remember that all authority in heaven and on earth belongs to Jesus. Will I report him to the apartment complex? Yes. Do I know that my jiu-jitsu boyfriend and doberman-rotweiler dog provide much security? Yes. But to infinity and beyond those things, I dwell in Jesus. I literally chose to not dwell in fear! I was shocked by my own response, because I usually entertain anxiety to a ridiculous degree (one scary feeling leads to thoughts of funerals and how my family would cope, etc. The silliest, I know). But I didn't do this! All authority is Jesus. Fear is not my dwelling place. I stopped the downward spiral of anxiety recognizing Jesus, the Hope that anchors my soul. See you later, fear.

Tomorrow! I don't know what will come, and sometimes it seems so unstable. Will I accomplish my dreams? Will my life be as I've expected? I don't know. But I won't dwell in the future- I'm not there yet! I dwell in Jesus, who works all things together for my good, beacause I love Him. And in the future, no matter what happens, I will be dwelling in Jesus, and each day will therefore be just fine. I have no need to worry.

"He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say to the Lord, 'My Refuge and my Fortress, my God, in whom I trust." -Psalm 91:1-2

When I choose to dwell in Jesus, I rest. It's a recognition that He is the Most High, the Almighty, the Refuge and Fortress, my God. If I could just barely touch the reality of those names! But I'll learn to understand them through dwelling in them.  

Daily confession

"I do not run aimlessly; I do not fight like I am beating the air. I am not sluggish. I imitate those who through faith and patience inherit the promises. I exult in tribulation, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope; and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within my heart through the Holy Spirit. I do not lose heart in doing good, for in due time I shall reap if I do not grow weary. I run with endurance the race that is set before me, fixing my eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of my faith. For the joy set before me, I endure this cross. I despise shame. I revere Him who is seated at the right hand of the Father." 

- Ten Days Missions Scriptural Confession

All authority in heaven and on earth

"And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me... And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”- Matthew 28:18-20, ESV

I've been thinking a lot lately about the authority of Jesus. One day I was driving in my car, and it just struck me. ALL authority is His. All of it. Whew. If I could really grasp this (which maybe I'm hopefully starting to do?), it would change my perspective on many, many things. I'm even going to use bullet points to share them.

• All authority: I'm home alone tonight, and I'm often terrified of the tiniest spooky sound. But all authority is His! Therefore, I do not entertain fear. If something were to happen, it would be under His good allowance (ie., when Jesus tells Pilate that he has no power except what the Father has given him). And if nothing should happen, it's because His authority has deemed nothing to happen.
• All authority: cancer, AIDS, heart attacks, car accidents, the laws of physics and chemistry are subject to Jesus. He says, "Be healed," and we're healed. He says, "Come home," and we go.
• All authority: Nature itself is under His rule. He tells the tide where to stop; He is in the whirlwind and the storm. Natural disasters, drought, full harvests and fruit are because His wisdom has spoken the word.
• All authority: Alot of demonic stuff has been recently happening to different people I know. But really, I'm not giving it that much thought. All authority belongs to Jesus, so I will not be afraid. Why would I respond to Satan's false claims?

I know there are some significant complications in all this (free will and sin), and I'm not too interested in mentally dissecting everything for myself tonight. When I was in high school, I was crazy about finding all the right rhetorical ways to debate this stuff. But tonight, I just want to rest in the simplicity of this promise: that all authority is His.
         
I don't have authority over my own life, and woohoo! I mean, I hate to make decisions- why would I want to take authority over my life anyways? If I decide to go to Chilis for dinner, I wish I went to Chipotle. If I buy a purple bed spread, I immediately wish I'd bought green. I can't make any good choices! I don't know the future, and better to leave the shots to the One who does.

My friends don't have authority over my life, and hallelujah! People's opinions change everyday, and I could never keep up trying to change them/ always win people over.

My circumstances don't have authority in my life because I've already placed my joy in Jesus! If I lose my money, I'm okay, because my joy wasn't in money anyways. If I have a lame job, I'm okay, because my joy wasn't in work anyways. And if under God's good authority I get sick, I'm okay, because then I get to see Jesus, who is my joy anyways!

I recognize the authority of Jesus in my life today. I have been crucified with Christ, and it is no longer I who lives, but Christ who lives in me. The authority over my life is rightly His, and ultimately His no matter what I decide. But I willingly surrender it, without fight or fear. This is the most beautiful, peace-producing way to live!