The Spirit of God, Who raised Jesus from the dead, lives in you. And just as God raised Christ Jesus from the dead, He will give life to your mortal bodies by this same Spirit living within you. Romans 8:11 

Who dwells in your heart?

Do you allow GOD’S GLORY to fill you?

I remember a really good online bible study that I participated in a few years back. It was called ‘The Daniel Prayer’ by Anne Graham Lotz. I loved how during each day of the study, we were to follow these four steps:

Step one: Read the Word.

Step two: List the ‘facts’ from the Word.

Step three: Write the lessons we learned.

Step four: Listen to His voice and write what God’s Word meant in our lives. 

2 Chronicles 7:1 was a big part of that study and this verse brought such a change to my heart:

“When Solomon finished praying, fire came down from heaven and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices, and the glory of the Lord filled the temple.” 2 Chronicles 7:1 (Verse in Bible Hub)

You know how sometimes when you read the Word and it’s just that … reading? Or you’ve read the same scripture many times and think you have it all figured out?

But then the Holy Spirit breathes life into it. And it comes alive in your heart, either for the first time or in a brand new way! It’s in that moment that the verse becomes a solid rock in your life that you can stand on forever! You never waver again with that scripture and the truth that lies within it. That’s what happened to me when I read 2 Chronicles 7:4. Here it is again:

“When Solomon finished praying, fire came down from heaven and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices, and the glory of the Lord filled the temple.” 2 Chronicles 7:1 (Verse in Bible Hub)

When I read the glory of the Lord filled the temple, I said, “Oh Father God in Heaven, I am Your temple.” These words just came out of my mouth and I was quite taken back by it because it happened in an instant!

But I knew it was the Holy Spirit Himself Who opened my eyes to this because I’ve read the verses about how we are His vessels many times prior to this. Here are a few of those verses:

• 1 Cor 3:16: We are the temple of God and His Spirit dwells in us.
• 2 Tim 1:14: Guard the Truth deposited in us with the help of the Holy Spirit within us.
• Rom 8:11: The Spirit of Him Who raised Christ from the dead lives within us.

The next verse after 2 Chronicles 7:4 goes like this …

“The priests could not enter the temple of the Lord because the glory of the Lord filled it.” 2 Chronicles 7:2 (Verse in Bible Hub)

I believe God chose these verses to drive the truth that I am His temple deep into my heart because of the contrast between the Old and New Testament. Here in the Old Testament, even the priests themselves could not enter the temple because the glory of the Lord had filled it.

But thankfully, Matthew 27:51 tells us that when Jesus died on the cross, the veil in the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. This is so that we, as Believers and followers of Christ, would be granted access to the Spirit of God. The same Spirit that raised Jesus up from the grave lives in me and He lives in you, too, my Sister in Christ! Isn’t that SO incredible?

JESUS lives inside every believer …

I then had to ask myself these questions:

• Do I allow Christ’ glory to fill me, therefore flowing out to others?
• What is God’s glory?

I don’t claim to know everything about the Holy Spirit and the glory of God. But I learned that God’s glory is all His attributes woven together.

God is: holy, righteous, pure, wise, sovereign, merciful, faithful, infinite, omnipotent, love, immutable (He never changes), just, forgiving, our provider, our healer, our joy, our peace, our banner, and full of grace. And infinitely more …

When answering theses questions, I had to be honest about something. I don’t always allow His glory to fill me and spill out to others. There are times when I grieve the Holy Spirit. I’m not proud of this fact but I am very thankful for His grace and I know I’m forgiven. I will continue to push forward while allowing God to bring the necessary changes to my heart.

In this Season of cultivating Thanksgiving and Gratitude, I am praying for us all to take time to dwell on the One Who dwells within each one of us Believers. Who are we that Almighty God, the Maker of Heaven and Earth, is not only mindful of us but chose to dwell within us? This is too much for our finite minds to completely grasp but we want to keep trying!

Bless you sweet Father! 

You’re turn:

• Do you allow God’s glory to fill you and flow out to others? What changes can you make so His glory does fill you? Is there an area where you have grieved the Holy Spirit?
• We all fall short of the glory of God. Ask Him to show you and when He does, ask for and receive His forgiveness. Make the changes He’s asking you to make. Remember: God gave us fresh grace for today … His mercies are new every morning! 

Are you ready to receive Jesus as your personal Lord and Savior?
Please CLICK HERE and we will be honored to pray with you.

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