Our Dwelling Place
From everlasting to everlasting
You are God
From Andrew Murray's 'Abide in Christ.'
‘Lord, You have been our dwelling place
in all generations.
Before the mountains were brought forth,
or You formed the earth and the world,
from everlasting to everlasting,
You are God.’
Psalm 90:1, 2
Jesus, said. ‘I'm the true Vine,
You are the branches.
Abide (stay) in Me,
Without Me you can do nothing.’
John 15:5
When we spend time with Him in His word,
we are letting Him lift us and keep us safe
in His Almighty life:
His rest for our soul,
sharing all the glory of His royal life.
He died to give us this.
The still small voice that is
mightier than the wind,
whispers to us, 'Stay.’
Learn of Me and find rest for your soul,
freed from every fear, supply of every need,
fulfillment of every desire:
a place always open to you, the heart of God.
It is His own work to keep you abiding.
‘The eternal God is our refuge and underneath
are His Everlasting Arms.'
Deuteronomy 33:27
How great is His goodness,
how great is His beauty.' Zechariah 9:17
Look to Him and be saved, anytime, anyplace,
for He is life.
‘I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life.'
John 14:6
The connection between the Vine and the branch
is a Living one,
complete union with the Son of God.
wholly and only for each other.
Each moment dependent on Him alone.
The soul bows in worship
of the mystery of this perfect union.
The Vine keeps nothing for itself but exists only
for the branches.
All Jesus is in heaven, He is for us.
He stands before the heavenly Father for us.
I have joined Myself inseparably to you:
The most blessed
and joyful thing under heaven.
‘I in them and You in Me.’ John 17
He will enable you to abide.
Believing is the channel through which
His life flows. When we err, His promise is sure.
When we look to Him, perfect intimacy
and full love embraces.
‘When we confess our sins
He is faithful and just to forgive us
and cleanse from all unrighteousness.’
1 John 1:9
He holds you firm and nourishes you,
being responsible for your
growth and fruit.
Who ‘upholds all things
by the word of His power.’
Hebrews 1:3
Who calls us with exceeding sweetness,
who renews our fallen natures
by grafting them into Himself,
the Everlasting God.
The infinite One
who created the universe.
Of God, you are in Christ Jesus,
carried day by day, thought by thought higher
and higher into the splendor of His majesty.
Before He made the world,
God set His heart of love on you.
‘I have loved you with
an everlasting love.’
Jeremiah 31:3
‘Before I formed you in the womb, I knew you.
Jeremiah 1:5
Our heavenly Father watches over His own
with the same love and delight
that He watched over His Son.
John 17:23
Whatever God creates is exquisitely suited to its end.
From eternity made to
inseparably belong to each other.
He's bringing all who will into His very heart,
having His righteousness,
enrobed in His loving Presence.
You are ‘the one the King
delights to honor.’
The simple secret of reaching into heaven,
gaining more than was lost.
A deliverance complete and eternal
in the victorious King.
His endless power working in us.
Clothed with Him in the inner sanctuary
of the Father’s Presence.
His power to be your holiness:
the heir of future glory.
What is too high and too great to attain
is given.
It is no longer I,
but Christ that lives in Me;
the Son of God who loves me
and gave Himself for me.
Galatians 2:20
Begin each morning with the joyful,
childlike transference of all your needs
and cares to the Father.
He holds you as His own,
breathing into your heart His eternal holiness.
Our work is to listen in stillness,
hushed in the Presence of eternal majesty.
Quietness is the blessed secret:
the ever-deepening calm and quietness
of heaven is ours.
Be still and know that
I am God.
I will be exalted in the heavens.
I will be exalted in the earth.’Psalm 46
Storms root you more firmly in Him.
He is nearer than any affliction.
All His desire is toward you
with a longing stronger than death.
You are
indispensably precious to Him,
‘chosen before the foundation of the world,
to be holy and blameless
before Him in love.’
Ephesians 1:4
The eternal glory and Divine beauty
stretches out crucified hands
and says: Abide in Me.
Holy, harmless, undefiled,
separate from sinners,
and higher than the heavens.
Hebrews 7:26
By one offering perfected forever
those that are sanctified (believers).
Hebrews 10:14
Who ‘upholds all things
by the word of His power.
Stronger than my weakness
His almighty love holds me
to His heart.
Each moment the power
of eternity
..................................................................................................................
Talking with God
‘Draw near to God
and He will draw near to you.’
James 4:8
From Charles Stanley’s,
The Ultimate Conversation
Everyone has the privilege of coming
into the very throne room of the universe:
Invited into intimate conversation
with the One who cares about you most:
to talk to the Lord of all that exists.
He loves us and wants us to know Him.
Our good, loving, powerful, heavenly Father
is always available.
He delights to hear from us.
Call, I will answer
and show you great and mighty things.
Jeremiah 3:33
So constant a helper; So faithful a friend
We can approach God boldly
because Jesus’ death in our place made us
‘Holy as He is holy.’
The power isn’t in the prayer
but the God to whom we pray:
our Lord, Maker,
King, Mighty warrior, Redeemer,
and faithful High Priest.
He who is eternity, everywhere,
and can’t change, always with you.
He is our adequacy. He can literally
move heaven and earth for you, like Joshua
the day He made the sun stand still.
Is anything too hard for the Lord?
Genesis 18:14
Approach Him humbly and expectantly.
Looking to ourselves robs us
of the awesome power
of His love and Presence.
The One who has infinite power
is absolutely faithful
to keep His promises.
Immeasurable value,
the eternally existing Life Giver.
Let’s turn our thinking away from troubles
to our Matchless God
who can triumph over any difficulty.
The Lord is my shepherd.’ Psalm 23
Shepherds dedicate their lives to their flocks,
tenderly caring for them.
Our heavenly Shepherd is always here:
guiding, protecting from harm,
and satisfying your soul continually
with love, acceptance, companionship,
and worth, as no one else can.
We listen to God more closely,
depend on Him more fully
as we walk with Him through adversity.
His aim is to bring us deeper
into an intimate relationship with Him,
the Source of all we have
and our Defender in every situation.
The Lord spoke the entire universe into existence,
placed the billions of stars, worlds,
and galaxies in their orbits,
naming each one.
Everything that exists
from the smallest particle
to the infinity of space
rests in the omnipotent hand of
our omniscient Father.
8
He suffered and was tempted in every way.
He knows heartache of being rejected, betrayed,
and the absolute agony of being forsaken.
And He faithfully walks through
each challenge with you.
When you pray,
go into your inner room,
and close the door.
He wants you all to Himself.
'Your Father who sees in secret
will reward you openly.' Matthew 6:4
9
Jesus told us to call
the Lord of heaven Father.
Matthew 6:9
‘The Father of mercies
and God of all comfort
who comforts us in all our afflictions.’
2 Corinthians 1:3
Ask Him anything in My name
‘that your joy may be full,’
said Jesus in John 16:24
Talking to Him brings real answers
from the real God who cares,
who unfailingly accepts us.
10
You are a vital part of His royal family:
wanted, needed, and loved!
He sacrificed everything
to have a relationship with you
and went to the cross.
You become all He created you to be
as you look to Him.
Tell all to your Father and let Him free
you from any hurt
and bitterness in your heart.
‘Casting all your cares on Him
for He cares for you.’ 1 Peter 5:7
11
Only follow One who knows the way.
‘The Lord’s work is perfect.
All His ways are just.’ Deuteronomy 32:4
I will guide you with My eye.
Psalm 32:8
We are not to trust in ourselves
but in God who raises the dead.’
2 Corinthians 1:9
As we pray, Jesus,
our High Priest transforms
our prayers into exactly right,
pleasing ones,
ascending as beautiful incense
to the Father.
12
None can stand against the Living God.
‘I am the Lord, the God of all flesh;
is anything too hard for Me?’
Focus on His awesome power
(which spoke the universe into being)
and trust His perfect timing
(that keeps all the galaxies
on precisely correct paths).
The Lord will rescue Me from every evil
and bring me safely to His heavenly kingdom.’
2 Timothy 4:18
13
We serve the eternal God.
We live for what matters and what will last.
We joyously give thanks to the Father
Who has qualified us to share in the inheritance
of the saints in Light.’
Colossians 1:11,12
Holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners,
higher than the heavens.
Hebrews 7:26
Nothing can separate us
from the love of God
which is in Christ Jesus.’
Romans 8:38, 39
14
Prayer, the most awesome privilege in life.
Through it we can touch anyone, anywhere.
We can move mountains
and change nations.
15
Let Me hear your voice
for it is sweet.
16
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Living in Joy
I will know as I am known
Translated from French: notes, conversations, and letters by Nicholas Herman,
of Lorraine, a lowly and unlearned man who after having been a footman and a soldier
was admitted as a lay brother among the barefooted Carmelite monks at Paris in 1666
and was afterwards known as Brother Lawrence.
3
Lawrence grew in the knowledge and love of God,
trying to constantly to walk in His presence,
living only as a steward,
to stay in ‘the simplicity that is in Christ Jesus.’
2 Corinthians 11:3
His one aim was union with God.
‘The inexpressible sweetness I taste there
yields great joy.’
In turmoil, 'I possess great tranquility
as in the quietest prayer.
Knowing He is with me.’ Hebrews 13:5
4
Seeking God's Presence
by continually conversing with Him,
without fear of being troublesome,
he resolved to make the love of God
the end of all his actions.
Long fearing he would be damned,
he saw this arose from lack of faith. '
Faith comes by hearing the word of God.'
Romans 10:17
Realizing this, he lived in perfect liberty
and continual joy.
5
He knew he could do nothing of himself.
God was his strength.
Speak with God simply and plainly,
for He invites, ‘Let Me hear your voice,
for it is precious to Me.’ Song of Solomon 2:14
With prayer he found unwelcome tasks
easy and well done.
When overcome by a fault, he confessed to God,
knowing the Savior cleansed them away at the cross.
6
Useless thoughts spoil all.
We ought to reject them
as soon as we perceive their impertinence
and return to communion with God.
Our only aim is to love and delight ourselves in God
(while pointing others to the same).
And to expect the pardon of our failings in this
through the Blood of Jesus.
The greatest pleasures in this world
are but pale shadows of the wonder of Him.
7
The trust we put in God honors Him much
and draws down great graces.
Knowing the comfort of His nearness
and turning away from everything
that does not lead to God,
unspeakable pleasures followed.
When distracted from the thought of God,
a fresh remembrance from God invested his soul
and so inflamed and transported him
that it was difficult for him to contain himself.
8
In difficulties when we look to Jesus
everything becomes easy.
Leaning on His help brings us to adoring
and loving Him incessantly.
We rely only on the merits
and ability of our Lord Jesus.
To the soul being insensible to everything
but His love,
life passes in continual joy.
His life is in us to reflect Him
without our effort and to our exceeding great delight.
9
When filled with great sentiments of the Divine Being,
Lawrence went to work in the kitchen for he was the cook.
Keeping Him always before us,
brings a holy freedom where we ask
and are granted whatever we need,
bringing awe of His great goodness to us.
‘The Presence of God, always with and in me,
brings great delight, a profound inner peace,
a center place of rest.’
10
A simple, secret conversation of the soul with God.
In failure, far from chastising me,
He embraces me with love,
gives me the key to His treasures.
‘In whom are hid all the treasures.’ Colossians 2:3
A little lifting of the heart to Him suffices,
even on a march with sword in hand.
There is not in this world a kind of life
more sweet and delightful than c
ontinual conversation with God.
In troubles turn to Him often.
He is nearer than any of us know.
11
Everyone is capable of familiar
conversations with God.
Sufferings are sweet
while we are with Him.
Leave Him not alone.
You would think it rude to leave a friend alone
who came to visit you.
Think on Him often,
adore Him continually.
Put all your trust in Him
and you will soon find recovery.
God permits us to suffer a little to purify our souls
to continue with Him.
12
The Lord will guide you continually
and satisfy your soul. Isaiah 58:11
I, who deserve the severest discipline,
feel joys so continual and so great
I can scarce contain them.
Humble, affectionate conversation
with God brings the peace of paradise.
The deeper our knowledge of Him,
the greater will be our love.
Stay always with Him even in unfaithfulness.
13
God is with you at the very depth of your soul.
Quiet times with God
destroy the love of self unconsciously,
finding our joy in the eternal Source of all.
To Him all hearts are open.
His perfection is infinite and Sovereign.
What great surprise awaits in these times
with Him,
who delights with all His being
in this communion.
14
Joy that has no measure,
without a single effort on our part.
Dazzled by the Majesty of His Infinite Being.
The greatest glory we can give Him
is to trust and commit ourselves to His safekeeping.
God allows trials to purify the soul.
Let us seek Him in our sorrows and pains
just when they begin to press upon us.
If I had only known Him sooner.
15
Your Presence is fullness
of Joy
16
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We are Beloved
He crowns us with His love
2
‘Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me,
bless His holy name.
Who forgives all our sins and heals all our diseases.
Who crowns us with His love
and renews our youth like the eagle’s. Psalm 103:1-5
3
Abimelech, king of Gerar, called Abraham saying,
What have you done to us, bringing on me
and my kingdom a great sin
(and danger of judgment from God)?
Abraham said, I thought, Surely the fear of God
is not in this place.
They will kill me and take my wife.
Genesis 20:9-11
(Abraham let Sarah be taken into the harem
of a foreign king,
twice, out of fear for his own life.
4
God came to Abimelech in a dream, saying,'
You are a dead man.
The woman you have taken is a man's wife.'
But Abimelech had not come near her,
and he said, Lord, he said, She is my sister!
And God said, I know. So ‘I withheld you
from sinning against Me.'
Genesis 20:3-6
Ah, Lord God! You made heaven and earth
by Your great power.
Nothing is too hard for You.
5
Great in counsel, and mighty in work:
You see all the ways of men and
repay the fruit of our doings.’ Jeremiah 32:19
Years later, after chasing
and defeating four raiding kings
that stole his nephew Lot, Abraham
recovered all but feared retribution.
The word of the Lord came to Abraham saying,
Don't fear. I am your shield,
and your exceeding great reward.
Genesis 15:1
6
Abraham said, 'You haven't given me an heir;
my steward will inherit.
The Lord said, Look toward heaven,
and count the stars. So will your descendants be.
He believed in the Lord;
and God counted it to him for righteousness.
Genesis 15:1-5
To him that believes on Him that justifies the ungodly,
his faith is counted for righteousness.'
Romans 4:7
Our faith honors God
because His enemy goes before the throne of the universe,
challenging His worthiness to rule.
Our faith refutes those challenges. (book of Job)
James said, ‘We all err
and stumble in much.’ James 3:2
But God is always faithful
to everyone He made in His image,
guiding, protecting, building their faith, if they will.
8
Abraham worshipped the way God set at the fall,
showing the ‘Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.’
John 1:29
He received forgiveness
and restoration to communion with God.
Blessed is the man that delights in the Lord;
and meditates in His law day and night.
He will be like a tree planted by the rivers of water;
whatever he does will prosper.'
Psalm 1:1, 3
9
A glorious high throne is the place of our sanctuary.
All that leave Him have left the fountain of living waters.
Jeremiah 17:12, 2:13
'Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord of hosts:
the whole earth is full of His glory.'
Isaiah 6:3
The Lord knew we couldn't measure up,
so paid with His life to buy our forgiveness.
infinite forgiveness for all the universe, free to all, just believe.
10
The glorious mystery: Christ in you.
Colossians 1:27
The excellent power being from God,
and not us. 2 Corinthians 4:7
We aren’t to trust in ourselves, '
but in God who raises the dead.’
2 Corinthians 1:9
At the cross, Jesus, knowing
that all things were accomplished,’
all sin and evil paid in full,
said, ‘I thirst.'
11
Now a jar of vinegar was there:
and they filled a sponge with vinegar
and put it to His mouth.
When Jesus had received the vinegar
He said, Finished!
And He bowed His head and released His Spirit.
John 19:28-30
As far as the east is from the west,
He removed our transgressions from us.
Psalm 103:12
If we confess our sins,
He is faithful and just to forgive us
and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 1 John 1:9
12
Forgetting those things which are behind.
Philippians 3:13
Others may remind us of our sins and failures,
but not our precious Lord,
who paid the greatest price ever paid for anything
to erase all sin and evil,
so all could be His Beloved forever.
We can leave all the guilt where He died to put it,
and press on toward the prize of the high calling of God.
Philippians 3:14
13
To be found in Him, not having our own righteousness,
but His. Philippians 4:9
His is infinite.
A door opened in heaven and the first voice said,
Come up here. I will show you things to be hereafter.
Revelation 4:1
I saw a throne where One sat
who looked like a jasper and a sardius stone
with an emerald rainbow surrounding.
Revelation 4:2,3
14
He who made all nations from one blood
so they would seek Him
‘in whom we live and have our being.’
Acts 17: 24-28
Rather than warring,
all the nations of the world will sing
glory to Him in perfect unity.
And the nations will lift their voice and sing
for the majesty of the Lord.
Isaiah 24:14
'I love you with an everlasting love, says the Lord.'
Jeremiah 31:3
15
Where I am you will be
16
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Until I Come
Hold fast what you have
until I come.’ Revelation 2:25
Jesus, the brightness of God's glory,
upholding all things by the word of His power,
when He had purged our sins,
sat down at the right side of the Majesty on high.'
Hebrews 1:3
Holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners,
higher than the heavens' Hebrews 7:26
By one offering perfected forever
those being sanctified.
Hebrews 10:14
3
I will come and receive you to Myself,
that where I am you will be.' John 14:3
The majestic Lord of heaven and earth
invites all to walk with Him forever
on streets of gold
in a place where nothing bad can happen.
Ezekiel saw visions of God.
I was among the captives by the river of Chebar
when the heavens were opened:
4
I saw a sapphire throne and a fiery amber gemstone
form of a man on it flashing forth rainbows.
This was the Glory of God.'
Ezekiel 1:26-28
The treasure of the universe.
A treasure that only multiplies
as you give it away.
A Living Treasure
that guides you away from every
possible trouble and shields you from
every danger and evil.
5
For I will be a wall of fire around them,
and Glory in them.'
Zechariah 2:5
You will keep in perfect peace, whose minds
are stayed on You.
Isaiah 26:3
And the One who holds the universe together
is your strength.
The Lord is my strength and my shield.' Psalm 28:7
He renews our youth like the eagles:
Bless the Lord, O my soul:
bless His holy name.
Who forgives all our sins;
6
who heals all our diseases, crowns us with His love,
and renews our youth like the eagle's.
Psalm 103:1-5
He solves every problem. 'Call to me.
I will answer and show you
great and mighty things you don't know.
Jeremiah 33:3
He provides for every need.
My God will supply all your need
from His riches in glory,
promises the Holy One who owns the universe.
Philippians 4:19
Our faith leads others to highest place.
7
The heart of God,
Lord, you have been our dwelling place in all generations.
Before You formed the earth and the world,
from eternal ages, You are God.' Psalm 90:1
Ones that overcome will sit with Me on My throne.'
Revelation 3:21
I go to prepare a place for you.
I will come and receive you to Myself,
to be with Me. John 14:3
8
Moses kept the flock of his father-in-law
and came to the mountain of God.
The angel of the Lord appeared in a fiery thorn bush
that wasn't consumed.
Moses said, I'll go see this great sight.
God called to him out of the bush, Moses, Moses.
And he said, I'm here.
God said, 'Don't come close. Take your shoes off.
You're standing on holy ground.
I am the God of your fathers.
9
Moses hid his face, afraid.
The Lord said, 'I see My people,
hear their cries, know their sorrows.
(as He sees us and knows our sorrows.)
I've come to deliver (all) to a good, spacious land,
flowing with milk and honey.' Exodus 3:1-8
I cried. The Lord heard
and saved me out of all my troubles.
The angel of the Lord camps
around those that fear Him
and delivers them. Psalm 34:17,7
10
The Lord is a sun and shield.
He gives grace and glory:
He withholds nothing good those
that walk uprightly.
Psalm 84:14
After six days Jesus took Peter, James,
and John up a high mountain
to Himself:
Everything in life is Him bringing us more
to Himself.
And He was transfigured before them.
His face shined as the sun.
His clothing was white as the light.
And Moses and Elijah appeared, talking with Him.
11
Peter said, Lord, it is good we are here:
let's make dwellings; one for each of you.
While He spoke, a bright cloud overshadowed them
and a voice said, This is My beloved Son,
in Him I'm well pleased.
Hear Him. Matthew 17:1-5
Hear the One who knows everything
and never makes mistakes.
Delight yourself also in the Lord:
and He will give you
the desires of your heart. Psalm 37:4
12
Everything about Him is delightful wonder.
And He loves you with all His heart:
dying to take all sin 'as far as east is from west.'
Psalm 103:12
God showed what is good: do justly, love mercy,
and walk humbly with Him.' Micah 6:8
I am the vine,
My Father is the gardener.
Stay in me, and I in you.
Without Me you can do nothing.
If you stay,
Ask anything and it will be done for you.
John 15:1-7
13
Trust in the Lord with all your heart;
Always look to Him. He will guide you.
Proverbs 3;5,6
The Lord God is mighty to save.
He will rejoice over you with singing.
Zephaniah 3:17
The Lord will descend from heaven with a shout.
The dead in Christ will rise first.
Then we will be caught up in the clouds
to meet the Lord and will always be with Him.
1 Thessalonians 4:17
14
To the only wise God our Savior, be glory, majesty,
dominion, and power, both now and forever. Jude 1:2
Come!.
Be filled with all the fullness of God.'
Ephesians 3:19
15
Ever with the Lord
16