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After lightning struck and the fire destroyed seventy percent of my home, we rebuilt. Every item seared, soaked and smoked was lifted and sifted. Ashes were removed. All things broken and tattered were excavated and evaluated in pursuit of total renewal and restoration.
Then a new plan was put in place.
A plan paved with promise and purpose.
It was time to rebuild. Time for prayers of protection and direction. Time for beauty to rise. Time for fresh peace and paint to adorn rooms that had been wrecked by a storm that brought fire.
Echoes of healing and hope filled the hallways of home with each swing of the hammer and hanging of drywall.
Relief and resilience rose as painters brushed beams and seams with crisp, cool shades of color.
Day after day I searched high and low, online and in lines for items and art to decorate the space of our place. Because what we fill our homes with matters. Whether things of art or the posture of a heart.
The residence of God is filled with a splendor more colorful and glorious than you and I can even imagine. Streets of gold. Walls of jasper and glass (Revelation 21:11), the foundations of which were decorated with every kind of precious stone. (Revelation 21:19) All of it lit by the light of the Lamb, (Revelation 21:23) the essence of which fills the atmosphere of heaven with holiness.
“…holiness adorns Your house for endless days, O Lord.” (Psalm 93:5)
In just five short verses, the author of Psalm 93 paints words of worship on the canvas of a holy heaven that boasts our mighty, majestic Messiah. Rich with brush strokes of regal and royal. Accented with waters and waves, stability and strength, eternity and establishment. A work of art echoing the wonder of worship, responsive in awe of the eternal Holy One.
The Lord reigns, he is robed in majesty;
the Lord is robed in majesty and armed with strength;
indeed, the world is established, firm and secure.
2 Your throne was established long ago;
you are from all eternity.
3 The seas have lifted up, Lord,
the seas have lifted up their voice;
the seas have lifted up their pounding waves.
4 Mightier than the thunder of the great waters,
mightier than the breakers of the sea—
the Lord on high is mighty.
5 Your statutes, Lord, stand firm;
holiness adorns your house
for endless days.
(Psalm 93)
If God fills His house with holy, then I should too.
Holy words.
Holy wonder.
Holy works.
This is a plan I can put in place today: to build a holy house.
Holy God,
If You chose to fill the atmosphere of Your presence with holiness, then I do too. Please purify my heart, head, habits and home. Renew a right spirit within me for Your glory.
In Jesus’ name, Amen.
FOR YOUR REFLECTION and RESPONSE
Consider where you are with this today.
Grab your journal or click over to the wall of my blog and write out a prayer of response.
Happy Thanksgiving Week, friend! I’m sincerely grateful for you!
Love and blessings,
GWEN
GIVEAWAY! {12 Book Bundle!}
All DETAILS on how to ENTER TO WIN the 12-BOOK BUNDLE are on my most recent INSTAGRAM POST here: www.Instagram.com/GwenSmithMusic
One of the most beautiful and life-giving practices of the season is counting blessings. As I reflect on all that I’m grateful for, YOU are up there at the top of my list! I love doing life with you and this community of amazing women. So I thought it’d be fun to give away an incredible 12-Book Bundle!
Blessings and love to you!
GWEN
Comments 21
my husband and I are belivers but since we got married, things have not happened as we have expected and prayed , especially financially ,despite the fact that he has done a lot of jobs but no payment and lots of delay at the brink of breakthrough…But Father ,I lift my hands in total praise to you, knowing fully well that you are able to do all things and to make all grace abound towards us …Thanks for I know that you will surprise us this week… I also want to thanks the Lord for my baby Joshua whose arm was fractured at his creche and bandage removed today ,Lord I know that his arm will be perfect in no time …thank you Lord for all these….
Thank you, Lord, for your constant and unfailing love. Please defeat the negative emotions that have plagued my mind and heart. I have a longing in my heart for peace, the peace that only you can grant me. Please keep me open and vigilant for a sign from you.
I have put up the Christmas tree but haven’t decorated it yet. My heart is heavy. My 14 year old told me in September that he does not believe in God. My mom says not to worry- that he is just 14 and is testing me but this is so serious. He has been influenced at school. Every Sunday is an event in agony trying to get my son up and to church. He goes with me reluctantly (to say the least) and he doesn’t participate in the service. He wants to bring his phone out and that’s another battle. I feel so sad this Christmas. I never saw this coming and long for the days when he was little, Please help me figure out how to reach my son. I love him so much and want him to know how much God loves him.
Deborah, I completely feel your pain. I am going thru the same thing with my 17 year old son. You are not alone in this and I don’t believe we have done something to cause this. I know the world is so full of evil these days and I know it has a huge impact on our children, even when we do all we can to protect them and raise them right. I will keep you and your son in my prayers and please pray for mine as well.
And I know God has a good plan for them both.
God Bless you and Merry Christmas
Rose
Heavenly Father, Your works are wonderful. You are so glorious. Forgive me for turning to worldly things for comfort and for trying to lean on my own understanding. I’m sure Your plan is far greater than mine. Help me to embrace the storms in my life that bring fire, so that’s my spirit can be rebuilt and renewed for Your glory. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
I continually pray for my older son who is married with 2 small children to open his heart to accepting God back into his life. He has a trememdous amount of stress in his life, especially with his marriage. He is pulling 85% of the weight of this marriage, continually giving and not getting anything in return. I’ve talked to him and asked him “maybe what’s missing is God in your life?”. I asked him do you believe you can go thru life and totally rely totally on yourself and not God? He replied, “Yes, I will rely on family and friends”. I replied, “what about when those people are no longer living, who then?” He did not reply. My heart breaks for him when I see him crying and telling me he is so sad and exhausted.
My son was brought up Catholic and received all his sacrements however, both of his children are not baptized and we continually as Grandparents, bring them to church every chance we can.
Please pray for him to open up his heart again and bring God back into his life, I know if he does, his life will improve, but he does not see it that way.
He is a great Dad and does everything he can to make is children and wife happy, but he cannot do it alone.
Thank you God almighty for this message please help me to get rid of my negative emotions so that I can make my house holy
In Jesus name I pray
Amen
Dear Father God, thank you for your grace and mercy this new day. I open the windows of my heart and soul to You. Fill me anew with your strength to turn from the enemy and strive for ways. Lead me as you refresh others through my words and actions today. I submit myself totally for you and wait expectantly. Help my mother seek you as you restore her health and show my brother and me how to help her through this trying time, Great Physician. Cover my family members with your favor. We love you Lord and thank you for your Holy Spirit who guides us. In Jesus’ Name I pray. Amen
Heavenly father
You told us to call on you in the time of trouble and you will deliver. You said that the prayers of the righteous are powerful and effective. I touch and agree on Lisa’s behalf. She is more than a conqueror through Christ Jesus. I pray that she will get the victory and you will get the glory out of her life. I also pray for healing and restoration in my own home. In Jesus name. Amen.
Dear God,
I’ve been far from holy, yet you still love me, you still hear me and you still are near me. Help me to strive to be more like you. Renew my heart, my home and my family Lord. We are often broken by the things that happen here on earth but you Lord, can heal the hurt. Please continue to comfort as we work through our trials. Please continue to love so that we might show that love to others. Thank you for your peace. In Jesus name, Amen.
Thank you,
Greeting to the jesus christ,
Revelation:20:11 Then I saw great white throne and him who was seated on it the earth and the heavens fled from his presence, and there was no place for them.
Psalm:146:10 The Lord reigns forever, your God O Zion, for all generations praise the Lord.
Thank you
Grace and Peace
Thanks,
Greeting to the jesus christ,
Proverbs:3:5-6 5. Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. 6. In all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.
Thank you
Grace and Peace
God bless us all.
Father God, Holiness is not some far off thing that we humans can’t attain while we live here on this earth. You have told us to be holy, even as You are holy. We are to be set apart from this world and its desires and wants and thoughts – set apart for You. Lord, please help me to live each day with my thoughts consumed by You and how You want me to live. I long for the day when I shall see the New Jerusalem, but as I live here, let me live wholly devoted to You in everything I do, think, say, or am.
In Jesus’ most HOLY name,
Amen.
Holy Spirit, I pray you will clear out all of the bugs and pestilence in my home. Currently termites are eating at its structure, trying to destroy it from the inside out But that is also the way un confessed sin works. It nibbles away slowly at the bones of us. It steals our joy and self confidence. It ruins our marriages and families as well as friendships I pray Lord your Holy Spirit will heal from the inside out and make my home more holy in every way. I also pray that it will be rid of termites and their damage safely and completely.
I want our house to reflect God’s glory everyday! Thank you for your encouraging words.
BTW: I could not get on Instagram to get a chance to win the book bundle. I pray that the sister that wins will use them to encourage others!
Praying for you this morning Lisa from one sister in Christ to another…know you are not alone. You are a warrior for reaching out. Remember you got this because God’s got this. Keep asking God to provide and protect especially wherever struggles lie. I believe in you but most importantly the God of the universe loves you so far wide and deep it’s unfathomable💕
I truly want to fill my atmosphere with Gods Holy Spirit but I’m struggling with the habit of alcohol in my daily life. I look to it to fill a void. I come home from work or on the weekends. I know it’s hindering my walk. I want to walk in the fullness of God but I’m afraid too. I believe this is a tool of the enemy to hinder me. Why am I choosing this? It’s so empty and it never satisfies. I need prayer. Thank you so much
On Lisa you can do it just take a day at a time! If the time after work is a battle for you or the weekends get an accountability partner that you can call and get something you really enjoy to replace that longing. Go for a walk or better yet a run!Take up a new hobby,knitting,reading ,volunteer at a school,nursing home. Fill that time with something fun and meaningful. You can do it!
Father God, my heart breaks for Lisa as she struggles to find the strength to abolish alcohol from her life. Father I lift Lisa up to you today. I implore you to give her strength to lay this stronghold of alcoholism at your feet and to live in your confidence for her life instead of placing her trust in alcohol. Father let her know your presence and your unfailing love in this very difficult time in her life..In Jesus’ Name Amen.
Lisa I will be praying this prayer over your life while I’m doing the 40 day sugar fast. I have seen God move and act in Miraculous ways during this time. Keep asking and keep praying for God’s strength. He WILL answer.. Hugs And Love Richelle❤️
Father God,
I pray for Lisa, that You will destroy any temptation she has because of alcohol. Please remind her of what Paul wrote about suffering (and suffering through an addiction is indeed suffering) in Romans 5:1-5: “Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we[a] have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice[d] in hope of the glory of God. Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.” Please help Lisa to see each step away from the alcohol as a step of endurance which will lead to character and that character leads to hope. You have her in Your arms – let her feel that strength and peace and hope that comes only from You.
In Jesus,
Amen
Lifting you up, Lisa. Praying that God would remove the desire for alcohol from your heart and that you would feel the pleasure of overcoming in this area of your walk. Praying that physical fitness, healthy diet and better sleep will help compensate for the immediate void you may feel as you move to eliminate alcohol from your life. ❤️