A rich dwelling.

Colossians 3:16 "let the word of Christ dwell in you richly."

When something is dwelling in you richly it's only logical to come to the conclusion that what is in "full measure" will spill out of you. "Out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks."

This last verse eats away at me and not always In a good way. The sin that dwells in me does not want to own up to the fact that the way I just yelled at my kids and the look my face just made towards them (using personal examples here) was because that anger and lack of patience was already there in my OWN heart. It's not enough to rely on that one really good message you heard on Sunday, or one quick 5 minute devotional on Monday to pull you through a whole week where the enemy is out to kill, steal, and destroy.

I am learning that this dwelling has to be a daily discipline. When you are dwelling you remain there, you abide there. At some point in the last two weeks I had some very tough and challenging days. My husband had a clean up for his job that put him out of the house and away from us for 3 1/2 days :( during that time I lacked so much motivation to do anything. I'm talking about from mopping my dirty floors, doing school with Addy my kindergartner, and neglecting the very thing I knew I needed most. The quietness of a heart stilled before The Lord with the Word of God opened and a heart of repentance and readiness to receive from Him. Instead I continued to do the very thing I knew would slowly keep stealing my joy and leaving me feeling empty. I praise God for his steadfast love and mercy towards me! This week has been much better because of his grace not my own "cleaning up" of my mess.

There have been several verses I have been sitting on lately that reemphasize this constant dwelling I would like to share.

First: Psalm 1:2 "his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night." I have been talking to a dear friend who shared with me that this word "meditate" means to "mutter." In other words being at a place where you can recall his words, his promises. Speaking, reminding, and encouraging yourself with them all throughout the day. Knowing them not just with your mind, but with your SPIRIT!! The battle for our hearts and attention is heavy. For me it starts at the moment I roll over out of bed and the first thing I'm drawn to do is grab my iPad on the nightstand and start clicking.

Colossians 3:1-2 a little side note here. These verses meet me so much where I'm at right now with my struggles that I'm currently memorizing them. Of course ALL scripture at any time is good to memorize, but I find it very helpful to find scriptures that deal with your current situations and have them there to fight against those moments of sin and weakness.

Here Paul says "seek and set your mind on things that are above and not on the earth." I know how much I'm daily pulled towards the love and attractions that this world so carefully puts before me/us that we begin to think if we don't get this thing right now then we can't be fully content.

I must be setting my focus and aim on The Lord, and seeking after him. He will give us the grace and meet us with mercy when we don't get it right. I mess up so much! Sometimes the Word of Christ is dwelling so richly in me I just want to sing and jump and dance for all of his wonderful works!! And then there are the times that my vision and thoughts are so clouded and distorted by this world that I can't seem to get past how many things are wrong with my home and how badly I want to change it, or the times I rush my kids in bed because I am so ready for my day to be over that there was no praying for them just get the lights off and doors shut so I can go veg out and watch_______? I realize how selfish and bad that sounds but there is my sin laid out bare.

This a day by day growing and maturing in these things. We have a God who says that " he daily bears us up" he knows we need him and that we are absolutely helpless without his tender guidance and strength. He leads and guides us with such love and compassion.

Thanks for taking the time to read. May God richly bless you with his presence!

Steph

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