to dwell

Photograph captured by Garrett Randolph

“Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life; And I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.”

-Psalm 23:6

The word “dwell” in the scripture is the word “yashab” in Hebrew. It means to remain, to sit, to inhabit, or to settle. David is making a life altering decision in this moment. He is choosing where he is deciding to live—forever. Even though he addresses God with the authority of Lord, he does not refer to settling into the Lord’s school, world, or temple. He uses the word house or home.

Home is a place that is connected to the deepest parts of who we are. That is why our experience of home can be either very painful or very healing. It can be a place of fear that we avoid or lasting comfort that we return to. Home can be a place where we feel most alone/unknown or a place where the truth that we are loved is the most tangible.

When we become children of God through the Blood of Jesus, God’s son, we begin a journey of internally relocating. Through the Spirit of God, we now are able to see the home we were designed to remain in. The house of the Lord is not an empty house filled by orphans who are left to fend for themselves. It is where the presence of The Father and movement of His heart have prepared a dwelling place for us all with Him. A place to rest, to learn, and to grow. An environment where nothing can separate you from His unconditional and personal Love. A space of togetherness, laughter, and access to all of the kindness and wisdom of The Father. His character becomes the atmosphere where live and breathe in.

What happens within the home is the foundation and root of everything beyond it. If there is an area of our lives that is still wandering in the streets as if it had no love, know that:

God wants all of you home.

Imagine if your son or daughter were physically home, but never emotionally honest? Or they would call once a day to touch base, but never actually come to rest in their room that was built for them, eat at the table, or be embraced on the couch? What if there was an area of their life they were ashamed of, so they left alone every time they were hurting or struggling. How heartbreaking is it to the Father when we don’t allow Him to Love us into true life and health. This earth is not our home and nor is anything we could find in it (1 Chronicles 29:15 NLT). Only the Father’s heart will satisfy what true dwelling we were created for.

Is God’s design for us since the beginning really that simple? To be with Him, exchange Love together, and thrive in the abundance of His life? Yes. And I want to fully live with Him as my home, experiencing the joy of His goodness all the days of my life! (Psalm 34:8 NLT)

“The eternal God is your dwelling place, and underneath are the everlasting arms.”

-Deuteronomy 33:27