The book of Ezekiel tells the ongoing story of the Israelites’ rebellion against God.

“My dwelling place will be with them;
I will be their God, and they will be my people.”

Psalm 34:3

Fed up with the Israelite’s rebellion, God shows the prophet Ezekiel a vision of his plan to unleash judgment on the ungrateful, disobedient people…including banishing them from Jerusalem and even from his own presence. Overwhelmed by what he saw, Ezekiel fell on his face and cried out to God: Is there any hope left? (Ezekiel 11:13)

Seeing Ezekiel’s distress, God assures him that the purpose of his judgement is to lead the Israelites to restoration.

I will give them integrity of heart and put a new spirit within them; I will remove their heart of stone from their bodies and give them a heart of flesh, so that they will follow my statutes, keep my ordinances, and practice them. They will be my people, and I will be their God. Ezekiel 11:19-20 

One day, he would gather them together again, in a new city with a new temple and a new name. They would have blessings like never before and God’s presence would be near them again: “…the name of the city from that time on will be: THE LORD IS THERE (Jehovah Shammah).” Ezekiel 48:35

But even in this new and beautiful city, God’s presence would not dwell in their hearts. Instead, it would stay in the tabernacle, where only the priests could enter and only one day each year 

Thanks to Jesus, God’s presence is no longer confined to a room of marble and stone. Because of Jesus, sin no longer separates us from God. Because of Jesus, God’s presence dwells in human hearts. In 1 Corinthians 3:16, Paul writes:

Don’t you yourselves know that you are God’s temple and that the Spirit of God lives in you?

If we believe in the death and resurrection of Jesus and receive his gift of salvation, then he is always with us. He is There; in every battle, every celebration, and every ordinary moment. Today, we claim the promise that “the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God.” (Revelation 21:3)

If you aren’t sure whether or not God dwells in your heart, see below to learn how you can be confident in his love, grace, and eternal presence.

Making it Personal

  • Am I confident that God’s presence resides in my heart? If so, how should this change the way I respond to life’s challenges?
  • Am I confident that God’s presence resides in the hearts of my adult children? Whether yes or no, how can I remind them of this beautiful truth this week?
  • Say a prayer thanking God for Jesus and asking him to make his presence powerfully known to your kids in specific ways this week.

February prayers for your adult kids

Understanding God’s Gift of Salvation

If I stood before God right now and he asked why he should let me into heaven, what would I say? 

Would you tell him you go to church? That you’re a good person? Would you think that a loving God should never ask such a question? Maybe you would just stand there in silence, not knowing what to say. 

Truth is, nobody is good enough to make it to heaven. Nobody. 

The Bible says that all of us sin and that the cost of our sin is spiritual death – eternal separation from God and the abundant life he offers (Romans 3:23). It also says that salvation can’t be earned by any good work we do (Ephesians 2:8-9). 

So then, what’s the answer? We stand on the edge of a chasm with death on one side and life on the other…unable to cross. 

But that doesn’t have to be where it ends. God loves us desperately; so much that he chose to make a way for us to cross that chasm.  

“For God loved the world in this way:  He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16

Because of the death and resurrection of Jesus, we have hope. Because of him, we can be forgiven and cross the chasm: The Bible says, “If you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. One believes with the heart, resulting in righteousness, and one confesses with the mouth, resulting in salvation. Romans 10:9-10

Are you ready to tell God that you believe that Jesus died on the cross and rose again, to pay the price of your sin? Are you ready to receive his gift of salvation? The following words don’t save you, but if they represent the cry of your heart, then God will hear them and you will be saved. 

Dear Jesus, I know that I’ve sinned and I’m sorry. I believe that you died  on the cross and rose again so that I can be forgiven and spend eternity in heaven with you. I also believe that you have a good purpose for my life and that you will teach me how to live. Thank you for loving me. Amen

Welcome to God’s family! 

The Bible says that angels rejoice when even one person repents, so smile big knowing that heaven is excited to have you in the family! (Luke 15:10) Becoming a Christian doesn’t fix your current problems or protect you from future ones, but it means that you will never again face any problem alone. You will never again have to wonder if there is a purpose in them. His purpose is to produce perseverance in you and to fill you with lasting joy, no matter what life throws your way.

As you dance into your new identity as a child of God, there are a few things to hold close to your heart. First, God’s Spirit is alive in you and he will never leave you. Second, the Word of God (the Bible) is an important tool for learning more about him and how to make wise choices. Finally, encouragement is found in spending time with other people who love Jesus. So, how does all of this work? Here are a few tips to get you started:

Talk to Him

A healthy relationship requires communication, and your relationship with God is no different. Talk to him in prayer about everything; what you’re worried about, what you need, and what you’re thankful for. When you take everything to him in prayer, he promises to fill you with peace that passes understanding and to guard your heart and mind. (Philippians 4:6-7)  

Learn from Him

Reading the Bible is an important way to build your relationship with God. If you don’t have one, check out biblegateway.com or the YouVersion App. Both have many suggested reading plans, but it’s always good to start simply by reading the book of John. As you read, ask God’s Spirit to teach your heart to be strong and wise. Another great way to connect with God daily is by reading Our Daily Bread, a free resource available at www.odb.org. We like to keep a copy on the powder room counter, because…well…you know.

Grow with Others

First, find someone to tell about the decision you made to receive God’s gift of salvation so they can celebrate with you. If you’re not sure who to tell, tell me: KristiDusenbery@TheLaughingGrandma.com. I’d love to hear your story! 

Next, connect with a local church that teaches from the Word of God. Just as receiving God’s gift of forgiveness seals your eternal fate, spending time at church and with others who love Jesus will impact the quality of your life here on earth.If you need help finding a church, visit www.churchfinder.com to browse websites that tell what different churches believe, how they grow relationships among Christians, and how they tell others about God’s gift of salvation.

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