Whether reflecting on your own wedding day or remembering a particularly special wedding of a family member or friend, the feeling that stands out the most is the pure bliss emanating from the couple, because this day signifies the beginning of their lives together in a sacred union.
God’s design for marriage is a sacred, lifelong covenant between one man and one woman, established by Him to mirror the sacrificial love between Christ and the Church. It is defined as a "one flesh" union (Genesis 2:24) intended for companionship, mutual holiness, and a reflection of His glory, rather than solely for personal happiness.
In marriage, the couple leaves their parents and unites physically, emotionally, and spiritually with their spouse. The couple’s behavior toward one another should reflect Christ and the Church, mutually serving one another by relying on God’s grace. God intended marriage to be a permanent, stable union that represents His steadfast love and provides a secure environment for families.
The church is referred to as the Bride of Christ. As members of Christ’s church through His blood and sacrificial death, we are His bride; He is our Husband. Our covenant with God is sacred, and as such, we should conduct ourselves in a manner that showcases our marriage union with the Lamb of God. Not just once a week or whenever it’s convenient, but we are called to dwell with Christ continually.
There are six distinct ways Jesus invites us to dwell with Him that can easily be accomplished throughout the day, every day…
Abide in Him
"Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me." John 14:4-5;9 - Excerpts
In layman’s terms, what does it actually mean to abide with Christ? With someone we haven’t seen right in front of us? How can we connect to something that isn’t there physically?
In the spiritual realm, we can create spaces throughout our day to connect with Jesus - abide with Him: Through conversational prayer by talking to Him as you would a close friend. This can happen anywhere—while washing dishes, driving, or in a quiet moment. When we read and meditate on Scripture, not just for information, but to "see" Jesus and “hear” his voice, we are beholding Him. Simple practices like praying through a Psalm can deepen this engagement. Setting up reminders such as post-it notes with Scripture verses, listening to worship music, and setting phone app notifications will re-center your mind on Christ throughout the day.
It’s really that simple to abide with Christ. Basically, setting our focus on Him throughout our day through these simple habits.
Rest in Jesus
"Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest." Matthew 11:28
Anxiety and stress are two of the biggest roadblocks to dwelling with Jesus. We are so consumed with our worries and concerns that we aren’t able to rest enough to quiet our minds, let alone dwell with the Lord. Somehow, we think that the “action” of worry or our minds racing will somehow “fix” the problem. When quite the opposite happens. We create an even bigger “monster” than the reality of the situation.
Once you put into practice the following ways to rest in Jesus, you will indeed experience supernatural rest. Surrender Burdens in Prayer: Actively "lay down" worries at His feet, physically visualizing yourself letting go of anxieties and trusting in His control. Abide in the Word: Read Scripture consistently—even if just one verse—to renew your mind and rely on His promises rather than your own strength. Practice Intentional Stillness: Set aside scheduled, daily time to be quiet and unplugged (no screens or distractions) to focus on God's presence. Practice Gratitude: Recall God's faithfulness in the past to relieve anxiety about the present. Physical Rest and Nature: Take walks, get adequate sleep, and enjoy God's creation, recognizing that caring for your physical body is part of spiritual rest. Serve Outwardly: Find rest by serving others in small ways, which shifts focus from personal anxieties. Reflect on the Cross: Listen to worship music and read hymns that emphasize Christ's work, not your own.
Share Your Life with Christ
"Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me." Revelation 3:20
Jesus’ invitation is so beautifully stated here through this Word picture. Imagine going to God’s home, knocking at the door, and you hear, “Come in!” And Jesus is sitting at the table with food already prepared, smiling as you enter, saying, “Join me. I want to hear about your day while we share a meal.”
You will experience this beautiful scene when you enact the following practical steps to dine with Jesus: Treat Bible reading as listening to Him speak into your life, treating it as true, necessary sustenance; Share your daily joys, struggles, and questions, trusting Him to listen and guide; Dedicate a quiet, distraction-free space for quiet time to focus solely on Him; Practice active listening by asking Him to show you His perspective in daily situations, such as asking "What 'doors' in my life have I kept closed to Jesus?" and inviting Him to help you open them; Invite Jesus into ordinary moments, such as drinking coffee, working, or in times of joy and struggle, rather than only in formal
settings; Live with honesty, kindness, and love, which strengthens your union and shows your love for Him by obedience; Participate in the Lord's Supper to spiritually eat and drink with Him.
Commune with the Holy Spirit
Jesus answered him, 'If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him.'" John 14:23
What a gift we have in that the Holy Spirit resides inside of us. He is as close as our own breath. What a comfort it is to know He is with us. But we don’t always act that way. Often, we go through life like a lone soldier, depending only on ourselves. We make things difficult even though our Helper is sooo close!
We can avoid this pitfall by putting into practice the following practical ways to commune with the Holy Spirit: Cultivating "God-consciousness" by speaking to the Holy Spirit throughout our day as a friend and guide, inviting Him into daily tasks; Study and meditate on Scripture, reading it in a manner to hear His voice, asking for wisdom and revelation before we read; Schedule specific, unhurried time for prayer. Practice waiting and listening, not just talking, to develop two-way communication; Keep a "clean heart" by promptly confessing sins and obeying the quiet promptings to change or act, which fosters intimacy; Engage in worship—singing, music, or adoration—directed toward the Holy Spirit, thanking Him for His presence; Seek counsel from mature, Bible-believing Christians, as the Spirit often works through wise counsel to provide direction; Memorize verses to meditate on, such as Romans 8 and 1 Corinthians 2, which focus on the Spirit's work; Actively ask for the Spirit's guidance on decisions throughout the day, trusting Him to lead.
Step into His Presence
"One thing have I asked of the Lord, that will I seek after: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord and to inquire in his temple." Psalm 27:4
There is an excellent book called Practicing the Presence of God by Brother Lawrence. In it, Brother Lawrence talks about the mundane work he did as a monk in a monastery, YET he had the richest time with the Lord as he communed with him while washing dirty dishes, doing laundry, etc.
We too can practice the presence of God in our everyday lives whether mothers, fathers, career men and women or retired by doing the following: Begin by thanking God, which shifts focus from personal anxieties to His goodness, acting as a key to enter His presence; Take moments to stop, be still, and recognize God's presence, rather than just filling time with words; Read and meditate on the Bible to know God’s character; Dedicate the first moments of the day to God in prayer; Use music to lift your
heart and focus your mind on God; Spend time in nature, acknowledging God as the creator; Journal your prayers and look for where you have met God throughout the day; Perform acts of service to reflect God's love and feel His presence; Reconnect with God by letting go of bitterness and asking for forgiveness; "Practice the presence of God" by conversing with Him while doing mundane tasks.
You can see that some of the habits we’ve discussed are repeated. Although it may seem repetitive, it brings additional insights into that practice, which will ultimately make it easier to remember and do. None of these suggestions is meant to be completed legally, but rather to build good habits so that you can enjoy dwelling with the Lord throughout your days.
Since there are 6 ways Jesus invites us to dwell with Him, we could start by intentionally practicing the first one on Monday, the second one on Tuesday, and so on. Sunday, you will have the opportunity to put all of them into practice. What a fitting day to do so!
The good news for most of us is that we are already doing some of these practices, just maybe not as intentionally or in a way that blesses us as it should. If we set out to be intentional with accepting Jesus' invitations to DWELL with Him and do them diligently, we will find that we are truly dwelling with Him daily.
Dear Lord, please help us to dwell with you as soon as we open our eyes each day and throughout the day. In Jesus name, Amen.
What is one area of dwelling that you haven’t practiced before?
Is there any area of dwelling that will be difficult, and if so, how will you overcome it?
Photo credit: Unsplash/KellySikkema
