Does my heart leap in recognition when I sense God within? Do I really know about hosting the holy in my earthly soul? Do I have a deepening awareness of His presence in myself and others?
As I contemplate how to live well in 2017, such thoughts, and more, make their way into my mind as I reflect on being a recipient of grace and a broken clay pot receptacle of God’s presence to others.
Maybe we can never fully make sense of holiness, the set apart unto God aspects it requires. But I believe we can try. We can open ourselves up to seeing God in others, honour the divine footprint in their soul. We can hunger for hosting the holy better as we mindfully create sacred spaces in our day, and try to live with an open hands, open heart awareness.
[bctt tweet=”We can open ourselves up to seeing God in others, honour the divine footprint in their soul”]
All kinds of prayer help: silent and spoken, tears and lament alongside gratitude, praise and rejoicing and lip-tied awe. It’s our lifeline to the Lord, focal point of our relationship with Him.
Prayer demonstrates our daily dependence, as does a desire for more of what God requires of us and less of living in a vague, self-preoccupied, selfish and self-absorbed way.
Jesus is ours for eternity. A Gift for all ages and years. And as we metaphorically loosen the swaddling bands surrounding the infant in the manger, longing to inspect Jesus for ourselves, so we can slowly unwrap the promises He brings, take time to savour the marvel, magnitude and magnificence of our Saviour.
[bctt tweet=”Jesus is ours for eternity. A Gift for all ages and years”]
Hosting the holy implies reverence, respect and responsibility. Mary-like, we have precious treasure on board, Holy Spirit living within. We’re ambassadors for Christ in all we say, think and do. It’s a sobering thought, isn’t it?
Our lives also mirror His in terms of bearing woundedness, brokenness and suffering. Those who live for Jesus cannot help but identify with His death, as we die a myriad little deaths to self on a daily basis in the decisions we make and choices we take.
[bctt tweet=”We pour out our broken lives as offering to God, give Him all the sharp shards, fractured parts”]
We pour out our broken lives as offering to God, give Him all the sharp shards and fractured parts. He tenderly gathers all the tiny fragments as He gradually mends, heals and restores us back to the way He intended us to be from the beginning.
Without Holy Spirit’s indwelling there would be no lasting change, growth or transformation in us, no ability to patiently endure trials and tribulations or overcome life’s manifold challenges, no grace to sustain, strengthen and uphold, or holy Light and Love to gently lead us.
[bctt tweet=”Without God’s indwelling there would be no lasting change, growth or transformation in us”]
This world would be as black as pitch and our hearts equally dark without God’s mercy and forgiveness, the joy of His presence with us. Jesus is the Door inviting us all into relationship with God, but will we say our first yes and keep on saying yes to Him?
May we be like His mother Mary and offer our willing yes, our heartfelt surrender to hosting the holy within our own souls. May we sense the awesome privilege being given to us. And may we aim to live a life that pleases God above all things.
[bctt tweet=”May we be like Mary and offer our willing yes, our heartfelt surrender to hosting the holy within”]
If you’d like to read my poem about bearing Christ within, please click here
What does hosting the holy well look like to you?
With you, I desire to “take time to savour the marvel, magnitude and magnificence of our Saviour.” It’s so incomprehensible, isn’t it, Joy? That He would dwell in fragile clay. That He would gather the “sharp shards” of our broken lives and make us healed and whole? Thank you, my friend, for giving me pause to reflect on these wonders. Love and hugs! Have a blessed weekend!
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I know what you mean, Trudy. It’s far more than a fleeting awe at the Nativity, or gaping wonder about the grace of the Cross, isn’t it? Maybe that’s why we need eternity to begin to comprehend the fathomless depth of these things! May you also have a blessed and restful weekend, dear friend. Love and hugs! xo ❤
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Dear Joy, These thoughts brought tears to my eyes today, as I paused to consider their fullness: “Without Holy Spirit’s indwelling there would be no lasting change, growth or transformation in us.” The world around us must bear the suffering and the pains with no hope of lasting peace or change within, and yet sometimes I find myself looking at my suffering in the same downhearted way. Oh, that I would grasp the deep grace that has been given to me by the indwelling of God’s Spirit! His presence within truly does transform and redeem my every moment; and His transformations are for all “ages and years” through eternity. Thank you for these precious words today, and for linking over to your beautiful poem as well. Hugs and Blessings my dear friend! xoxo
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Dear Bettie, I don’t want to be the bringer of tears to you, though God’s inner work can often lead us that way. Words pierce deep, don’t they? And when our Lord lovingly points things out to us we can react with deep emotion too. We are also given words to write which may suggest we have perfected the art of all we’re sharing. That is usually far from the truth. My heart says an echoing Amen!’ to your thoughts here: “Oh, that I would grasp the deep grace that has been given to me by the indwelling of God’s Spirit!” Oh indeed. I’m very much a work in progress in this area, as in so many. God’s grace is so mysterious, amazing and fathomless to us, it’s not surprising if we feel we can barely comprehend it. Thankfully, He gives us the gift of eternity in which to plumb its depths! You always bless me so much with your responses to the words I post. Thank you for being a beautiful soul encourager. I appreciate you, dear friend! Blessings and love. xoxo
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I love your word picture of loosening the swaddled bands and inspecting Jesus. To me, it evokes a sense of wonder an awe as the babe quickly transforms into my Savior and King! That the very same Spirit resides within us is mind blowing! Hosting the Holy. Definitely something I long to do better. Thank you, friend for this inspiring word. Blessings.
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June, that’s exactly how it feels to me and what I hoped to convey with those words, because the awe and wonder extends way beyond Christmas. Yes, I know, it is truly mind blowing to think that “the very same Spirit resides within us”! I’m so grateful for your thoughts and sweet company as we endeavour to learn how to host the Holy better. Blessings and love. xo
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i am so glad June posted a link to this post as my one word for 2017 is Presence!
I followed your link to the previous post and loved that too.
Subscribing!
Mary, New Zealand.
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Hello Mary, welcome to the blog! It’s an honour to have you join us for the journey of life and faith. I love the word God has given you for this year. May you be blessed by a deepening awareness of God’s loving presence with you in the days and months ahead. I’m looking forward to sharing words of joy with you, my friend! xo
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