Experiencing God's Presence #101

Don’t you realize that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God?

1 Corinthians 6:19

Where does God dwell? We think of heavenly thrones with crowds of angelic worshipers gathered round. Or of a long-ago Tabernacle in the wilderness or Temple in Jerusalem. We may even think of the right answer, but often only because we’ve been taught, not because our experience has made it obvious. The Spirit of God lives within those who believe in Him and have received Him.

Paul had to remind the Corinthians that the Spirit was within them; apparently that wasn’t obvious to some of them, either. Many of them had worshiped the Jews’ God, who had once visited a Tabernacle and a Temple; many had worshiped in the Greek temples that honored gods without expecting their presence. But the human body as a residence for the divine Spirit? That wasn’t expected.

Like many of us, the Corinthians had experienced the Spirit at work—as One who utilized His people for service. But they forgot the deeper truth that the Spirit lived in them constantly for the purpose of relationship—that they might know God and be fully known by Him. The Greek gods used their subjects but didn’t particularly enjoy them. The Hebrew God was different. He came to share life.

The awesome, majestic God of the universe chooses to make His home deep in the depths of your being. You have likely sensed Him often—perhaps without even knowing it was Him. Ask Him to teach you which voice is His, which impulses are His, which dreams and desires are given by Him. He resides there not primarily to use you but to move you, empower you, and enjoy you.

Spirit, I know You’re within me; please help me recognize You. I want to know which thoughts and dreams are Yours. And I want to enjoy You as You enjoy me.

From the book