August 12, 2024
Derek Smith
Lead Pastor
2 Chronicles 7:1
When Solomon finished praying, fire descended from heaven and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices, and the glory of the Lord filled the temple.
Chrystal and I have moved 3 times in our married life together. The first move was into our house together after we were married. The second time was to Clarksville in December 2009 to serve our church and our community in ministry. The third time was in 2021 when we moved into a new home in the county. Every time we moved into a new place we had lots of plans and ideas about certain spaces. I was going to have an office for study, Chrystal was going to have a place to scrapbook and relax, and the kids were going to have a room to play in without their lives being threatened for tearing up the walls. However, these plans never did pan out the way we would have liked. Inevitably, the moment we made a plan for a room it got filled with something else. It became storage. It became a homework study room instead of an office for me. It became a baby room for the next child. Wherever we made space it immediately was filled.
In 2 Chronicles Solomon led the Hebrew people to finally build the Temple. This Temple was one of the most ornate and beautiful structures ever to be built, but most importantly it was the place where God said His presence would dwell. Inside the Holy of Holies He would meet with the High Priest who would bring in the blood of a spotless lamb and the sins of the people would be atoned for. They built a space for God, and He filled it with His glorious presence. The same is true for our personal lives. IF WE MAKE SPACE FOR GOD HE WILL FILL IT WITH HIS PRESENCE. If you and I will take significant time and give God our full attention He will fill us with Himself. Because of the precious blood of the Lamb of God, the Lord Jesus, our sin has been atoned for and we now have direct access to the Father. Just like the Day of Pentecost in Acts 2, when we trust in Christ we become born again by His Spirit and the glory of the Lord fills us just like it did that physical temple centuries ago. You and I are the temple of the Holy Spirit, and if we will create the space for God He will fill it. How silly of us to question why our lives are not filled with God if we are unwilling to create the space for Him. During this prayer and fasting season my prayer is that we will learn to make room for Jesus. Not out of obligation but out of the very desire of our hearts. If we will create the space God will fill it. Are you going to make ample room for God to fill your life?
Lead Pastor
2 Chronicles 7:1
When Solomon finished praying, fire descended from heaven and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices, and the glory of the Lord filled the temple.
Chrystal and I have moved 3 times in our married life together. The first move was into our house together after we were married. The second time was to Clarksville in December 2009 to serve our church and our community in ministry. The third time was in 2021 when we moved into a new home in the county. Every time we moved into a new place we had lots of plans and ideas about certain spaces. I was going to have an office for study, Chrystal was going to have a place to scrapbook and relax, and the kids were going to have a room to play in without their lives being threatened for tearing up the walls. However, these plans never did pan out the way we would have liked. Inevitably, the moment we made a plan for a room it got filled with something else. It became storage. It became a homework study room instead of an office for me. It became a baby room for the next child. Wherever we made space it immediately was filled.
In 2 Chronicles Solomon led the Hebrew people to finally build the Temple. This Temple was one of the most ornate and beautiful structures ever to be built, but most importantly it was the place where God said His presence would dwell. Inside the Holy of Holies He would meet with the High Priest who would bring in the blood of a spotless lamb and the sins of the people would be atoned for. They built a space for God, and He filled it with His glorious presence. The same is true for our personal lives. IF WE MAKE SPACE FOR GOD HE WILL FILL IT WITH HIS PRESENCE. If you and I will take significant time and give God our full attention He will fill us with Himself. Because of the precious blood of the Lamb of God, the Lord Jesus, our sin has been atoned for and we now have direct access to the Father. Just like the Day of Pentecost in Acts 2, when we trust in Christ we become born again by His Spirit and the glory of the Lord fills us just like it did that physical temple centuries ago. You and I are the temple of the Holy Spirit, and if we will create the space for God He will fill it. How silly of us to question why our lives are not filled with God if we are unwilling to create the space for Him. During this prayer and fasting season my prayer is that we will learn to make room for Jesus. Not out of obligation but out of the very desire of our hearts. If we will create the space God will fill it. Are you going to make ample room for God to fill your life?
Posted in Daily Devos