Hosanna Restoration Church

There is no doubt that it makes a difference where a person lives. In society there is often a lot of emphasis put on this very thing. Each town, city, county, and country has different labels based on where a person lives. There is a stigma for sides of town, type of house, and well, I am sure you get the picture.

The bottom line is that it makes a difference where a person lives. If I visit the White House, that does not make me the President. Some people dream of living somewhere else, but then they give up and resign themselves to never being able to get anywhere different. Others focus so much on where they are and are so discontented with their present circumstances that they lock themselves to the very place they detest.

Psalm 91 begins by assuring us that if we live with God in His presence, He will give us rest no matter where we are. Yes, no matter where we are or what is going on, we can live with Him, and His presence changes things. His presence gives us hope and rest. When we have hope and are resting in Him, we can see the way to change our circumstances as well as our location. Or, we may just find that our location is perfect, and our attitude was what was causing most of our problems.

It is important to emphasize the need to live in God’s presence. Just visiting from time to time does not accomplish much. In fact, just visiting God from time to time will often frustrate a person more than ever. Just visiting may reveal a little of what God is like and what God wants to do in our lives and only cause us to be more frustrated, when things go wrong.

Look at it this way. You may visit someone that has more than you materially. While you are there you have great accommodations, great food, and over all you are treated like royalty. When you go back home, would it be right to get mad at them if they did not build you a house and fill a bank account for you? If you don’t live there, you can’t expect all the benefits. God is so good that He invites us to live in that sweet spot with Him all the time. It may not always be easy, but it is always sweet!

As I read Psalm 91, I can see many times in my life where I believe that God visited me with glimpses of what it would be like to live with Him, but for many years I paid no attention. I believed God existed, but I did not think it made that much difference what I did, because He would do what ever He wanted. I visited Him sometimes hoping there might be more, but never stuck around until I finally understood that it mattered where I lived and that He had a place for me. Are you ignoring, visiting occasionally, or living with God? Every day brings a new set of circumstance, and greater opportunity to move more of your life in with Him. When you do this, don’t forget to expect all the benefits!