Make My Heart Your Home

Have you ever been house shopping? Whether you're looking to rent or to buy, it can be a stressful process. Especially when I was a single mother, I felt a huge responsibility to find the right house. I wanted somewhere safe and warm, somewhere we would enjoy spending our time. Somewhere with nice neighbors and sidewalks and a landlord who would take good care of us. Sometimes I didn't find the right house, and my daughter and I lived in places with leaky faucets, drug dealers downstairs, and landlords who didn't care. God taught me a lot about house hunting during those years.

Did you know that the Holy Spirit is always looking for a home? Jesus tells us in John 14:23 "All who love me will do what I say. My Father will love them, and we will come and make our home with each of them." God does not require a beautiful exterior. He isn't looking for a place in perfect working order. He doesn't inspect attics and dark places for damage or mold before He moves in. He has one requirement: obedience.

The greatest commandment, He taught us, is "You must love the LORD your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind." (Matthew 22:36)

All God requires is full access. He doesn't ask us to renovate or make things pretty before He moves in. He is not like us. Most of us want to move into a house that will need little work to be move in ready. When we pay top dollar for something, we expect it to be comfortable and easy. Not God. On the cross, Jesus paid it all. And He doesn't mind the dirty work of cleaning out our closets. He loves to get in there and open the windows to the let fresh air flow through. It means everything to Him when we allow Him to redecorate, to rearrange the furniture and let Him pick out new colors. When we trust that He really does know what's best, He can throw away the things that need to go so there's room for new and wonderful things. But He will only do so if we ask Him.

Have you invited Him into your heart? If you have, "Do you not know that your body is a house of God where the Holy Spirit lives? God gave you His Holy Spirit. Now you belong to God. You do not belong to yourselves. (1 Corinthians 6:19) Is there any dark thing hidden in your basement that needs to go? Some unforgiven hurt or self loathing? Some fear of letting go? Open the door! Let Him in! He will lovingly and gently get rid of those things to make room for His peace and His power. You will be astounded at the beauty that will grow!

If you haven't given your heart to Jesus, why not? Are you waiting until everything looks perfect and that guest room is spotless before you invite Him in? Don't wait. You will never get it clean enough or pretty enough to make it worthy of Him. Only He can do that. And He doesn't want the guest room anyway. He wants to make your heart His home.

Father, thank You that I don't have to be perfect before You'll come to live in me.Lord, make my heart your home!  Thank You for the gentle and merciful way You unpack all my hidden away boxes and tell me what needs to go. I trust You with all of my heart, all of my soul and all of my mind.

In His perfect love,

Amy

copyright 2013, Amy Wallace