Five Minute Friday: Dwell

Posted on by Marie

Along the Way @ mlsgregg.com

Gentle Reader,

Got to enjoy some time chatting with my fellow writers, but I confess to being distracted.

I’m worried that I’m going to forget underwear.

Headed out for a ladies retreat tomorrow evening. I’ve packed my clothes. Checked more than once to make sure that the underwear is present and accounted for. It’s right where I left it.

Still.

Kate asks us to: dwell.

Go.

“He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High
Shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.
I will say of the Lord, ‘He is my refuge and my fortress;
My God, in Him I will trust.'”

– Psalm 91:1-2 (NKJV)

Dwell is defined as, “to live or stay as a permanent resident; reside; to live or continue in a given condition or state; to linger over, emphasize, or ponder in thought, speech, or writing.”

Live. Stay. Emphasize. Ponder. Linger.

In the secret place.

One of my favorite hymns is Rock of Ages. Often when I’m feeling anxious, snippets of lyrics float to the forefront of my mind. Let me hide myself in Thee. Helpless, look to Thee for grace. Wash me, Savior, or I die.

God invites us to dwell in Him. Not just with Him. In Him. Tucked safely in His lap, our ears pressed against His chest so that gradually all sound but that of His lion’s heart fade away. The tears run from flood to trickle. Breaths, staggered and shallow at first, turn slow and deep. The knots in our souls unwind, untangle.

God dwells in us (John 15:4). The moment of salvation finds Him taking up residence. The King comes to sit upon His rightful throne. He promises that we will never again be alone. Never without resources. Never without a defender. Never without guidance.

This reality stabs me with the peculiar ache that arises from the inexplicable gentleness with which He convicts and disciplines those within whom He dwells. Paul David Tripp says it best – when we willfully sin, it’s not because we don’t know it’s wrong. It’s because we don’t care.

God, His Holy Spirit, dwells within me. Earth-shaking. Paradigm-shifting.

And yet still I rebel.

Tender, how tender, is His voice. He does not sugarcoat. Nor does He attack. He simply tells it like it is. Me, the wayward sheep. Me, the cranky child. God, the Lord of all.

Let me hide myself in Thee.

Stop.

My journey to faith. (15)

27 thoughts on “Five Minute Friday: Dwell”

    1. The more I think about God dwelling within me and inviting me to dwell within Him, the more I can’t describe or understand it. One of those holy mysteries – and I am thankful.

      Thanks, Mary!

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  2. LOL love how you started with the undies 😛 Seriously an awesome and encouraging post. Going to go listen to the song now! Praying for safe travels AND that you don’t forget anything 😉

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    1. I’m so glad you were encouraged! You won’t regret listening to every song on Chris Rice’s hymn project. They’re all on YouTube.

      Thanks for the prayers!

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  4. I love Chris Rice’s work! I love his quirky sense of humor. I ended up going to the ER this summer and then getting admitted for five days. I sent my hubby to buy undies for me. It was traumatic for him (“there are so many choices!”), but he’s a sweet and brave man. But, that’s all beside the point ;). I love what you wrote. I’ve done a lot of lap-crawling and sobbing this past year. I know he is always there and that I can dwell as close to him as I choose.

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  5. Your writing always moves me, Marie. As you described going from a place frantic to a place of calm as we dwell with the Lord? Ministered to my heart, that did. I’m so thankful for His tender, truthful voice. His patience as I learn to dwell with Him is such a gift.

    I hope your ladies’ retreat is refreshing and peace-filling this weekend!

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  8. Pingback: five minute friday: dwell

  9. I am so happy to see that the “underwear paranoid” both chose the same theme. O! I am delighted that we BOTH are dwellers in the Secret Place…xo Have an awesome and blessed time at that retreat. And, don’t forget….oh never mind. 😉

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  11. All of it… but this: “God dwells in us (John 15:4). The moment of salvation finds Him taking up residence. The King comes to sit upon His rightful throne. He promises that we will never again be alone. Never without resources. Never without a defender. Never without guidance.” So much amen!!!

    Praying for you this weekend, my friend! He’s up to something big, I just know it!

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  13. You really expressed this beautifully, Marie; even though the imagery isn’t that with which I tend to associate my relationship with God – he’s more like the playing captain of a particularly rowdy rugby team – I sure appreciate the skill and evocative beauty of your writing.

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Thoughts?

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