How Lovely Is Your Dwelling Place...

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How Lovely Is Your Dwelling Place,

O LORD Almighty!

My soul yearns, even faints for the courts of the Lord;

my heart and my flesh cry out for the living God."

Psalm 84:1-2

My heart's desire is to have a stable home, not just always in transition, never unpacking most of the boxes. This will be my 10th move since marriage. I'm weary.
So I prayed.

Not what I expected when I hear that He gives more than we ever imagined...
So what did I imagine?
...that immaculate apt. with lots of windows, black stainless steel appliances, walk-in closet, clean, shining, all-inclusive at a price we could afford while paying off debt and bills...
Yes! My spirit soared when we saw that one...and fell in love..and were overjoyed that the landlady was a Christian and friend of friends...but...
a beautiful young couple due to be married soon got there ahead of us and got it....
Ouch!
As my son said, "they're just starting off...we've been moving for years...how come they get to start off perfect?"
Well, pretty much because God wanted them to have it as I told the young woman later.
Dangerous lie pops in.."you don't deserve anything nice..."
I reject that for the words of Jesus are totally trustworthy..
"If God gives such attention to the appearance of wildflowers—most of which are never even seen—don't you think he'll attend to you, take pride in you, do his best for you?" (Matthew 6:30..The Message) 

So, what was left?
One that was also immaculate but not affordable...stomach sinks...
Trust Me.
Then an unfinished apartment which I probably would not have gone to view if I had known there was a cat. Very allergic. Hubby and sons see the potential. Landlady promises it will be finished and all signs of 'cat' will be removed.  I actually really like the couple there, feel at home with them.
Not having the energy left to see people's greasy and smelly basement apts., I agree to sign but with much pain.

Then God spoke.
He used God of All Comfort by Hannah Whitall Smith...
p.118..."God is my dwelling place, and I am going to abide in Him forever. It is all settled. I am in this divine habitation, and I am safe here, and I am not going to move out again."


What's that, God?

Sita, I am offering you the dwelling place your heart desires and it is eternal. It matters not if your earthly environment is in chaos, in my Home, you dwell securely and serenely. My eyes are the windows in your new home through which you will see, perceive all that you encounter. The aroma of my sweet Holy Spirit pervades. Beauty fills my home. Joy pumps through the pipes.
Sita, my child, will you come?


Yes, Lord. I am coming in, unpacking, and I am excited.


The outer surrounding should terrify me.
"Basement"--that word is shrouded with terrible images, cold, dark, dingy. A place where I experienced major losses, a baby, a ministry, my life's dream. (Click on last sentence if you want to read more.)
A place where new immigrants may start, where singles or single parent families reside.
Not usually where a native-grown family moves...as one Guyanese woman so eloquently put it..."yuh mean yuh live here so long and yuh doh even have a house..."

It is now "a new thing" that God is doing.
God's opening.
And I look forward to seeing His Hand, His glory.

I look forward to God, my new Dwelling Place.

(I found this great article: God the Dwelling Place of Man by Reimar Schultze)