Oceans in the Desert

by Kathi Pelton

Each day that I live I become more aware of the “place of habitation” that we must dwell in. The presence and person of Jesus isn’t a place that we visit during a worship service or a prayer time; it is and HE IS to be our continual dwelling place and habitation day and night.

“Those who live (dwell) in the shelter of the Most High will find rest in the shadow of the Almighty. This I declare about the Lord: He alone is my refuge, my place of safety; he is my God, and I trust him.” Psalms‬ ‭91:1-2‬ ‭

The dwelling place of the Most High is not a swinging door that we are to go into and then out of; it is to be our “constant.” Whether we are resting on our beds or traveling the nations we are to dwell in His shelter and become a place of habitation for His presence. The oneness and unity that the Father, Son and Holy Spirit share is a constant and unbroken flow of communion and connection. This is what we have been invited into…the “constant indwelling of God.”

I recently heard someone say, “The Lord will visit and bless many things that He does not inhabit.”

Yet He longs for a habitation!

I love David’s heart and desire that he expresses in Psalm 132:4-5,

“I will not let my eyes sleep nor close my eyelids in slumber until I find a place to build a house for the Lord, a sanctuary for the Mighty One of Israel.””

It is the response to God’s longing in Psalm 66:1

“This is what the Lord says: “Heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool. Where is the house you will build for me? Where will my resting place?””

The amazing reality is that He is our resting place and we are to be His resting place. He who dwells (inhabits) us is to be our habitation and dwelling place. He is not to merely be a visiting place but a constant and permanent place that we live in and carry; no matter where we are or what we are doing. It is then that His glory (His manifest presence) will bring heaven to earth wherever we go.

This is one of the greatest mysteries that any person can spend a lifetime discovering…God with us! He is the God who says, “Come up here…” (Revelation 4:1) and the God who “bends low to hear our prayers” (Psalm 116:2). There is a constant and continual (unbroken) communion that we have been invited into. There is ascending and descending always happening as we dwell with Him and allow a habitation of His Holy Spirit to be a river of life that flows to us and through us.

The indwelling of God with us is our unspeakable joy! One moment we find ourselves at His feet in humble adoration and the next we are gazing into His eyes with an awe that causes everything to stand still. He is the One who picks us up to dance with us and who leaves us terrified at His power and might. The place of habitation with God is never boring but rather always amazing. It is a holy place of great power and authority and a humble place of comfort and rest. All are welcome and all receive what they truly need.

Let us pursue habitation rather than visitation. May we see a generation of “inhabitants” arise instead of “visitors” who are always “up and down.” Let us see a generation come forth who will be a resting place for the glory of the Lord. Then His manifest presence will come and transform orphans into sons and daughters.

There is no lack in His presence…no want…no depression. There is fullness of joy that ushers in a yielding to absolute trust. This yielding brings the peace that surpasses understanding. This is the beauty found in habitation, dwelling and abiding in His presence. Let’s not settle for anything less!

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