Experiencing God's Presence #162

Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong.

Ephesians 3:17

Familiarity breeds contempt, it’s often said. That’s a reliable statement in many relationships, perhaps, but it’s not true of our relationship with Jesus. True familiarity—real knowledge of Him rather than assumptions about Him—breeds depth. The more we get to know Him, the deeper He takes us.

The key mechanism by which that happens is faith. Jesus becomes more at home in our hearts as we trust Him. His Presence is always there—He assured us of that in the new birth—but His Presence doesn’t have much practical benefit for us unless we learn to rely on Him, trust His work, and experience Him. And the only way to have that kind of faith is to know its roots. We believe not because we can muster up faith but because we’re rooted in love. We can trust someone we love.

That’s why Paul prays not only that his readers would know the Presence of Jesus through faith, but that their hearts would be deeply rooted in God’s love. We aren’t just after the practical benefits of His Presence; that would be utilitarian spirituality. No, this is personal. It’s relational. We experience His Presence through faith in Him, and our faith is based in His love.

Know God’s love. Then you can trust Jesus, and your trust will cultivate your awareness of His Presence. And He will be more and more at home in your heart.

Jesus, make Yourself at home in my heart. Let my roots grow deep into Your love, and let my trust in You grow stronger and fuller every day.

From the book