City Life Starter

Written by Aisha Darwesh

The Word

¹⁷ Then, by constantly using your faith, the life of Christ will be released deep inside you, and the resting place of his love will become the very source and root of your life

Ephesians 3:17 (TPT)

¹⁷ May Christ through your faith [actually] dwell (settle down, abide, make His permanent home) in your hearts! May you be rooted deep in love and founded securely on love.

Ephesians 3:17 (Amplified)

Aisha’s Analysis

Today’s verse is one of my favorite scriptures in the Book of Ephesians because it speaks to the life of Christ residing within us and the source from which our lives stem forth: the love of God. 

The truth that God dwells inside the life of a believer is totally mind blowing. It is no wonder in the preceding verse Paul prays for us to be strengthened by the Holy Spirit: May He grant you out of the rich treasury of His glory to be strengthened and reinforced with mighty power in the inner man by the [Holy] Spirit [Himself indwelling your innermost being and personality].(Ephesians 3:16 Amplified). 

Our faith in Christ is what allows Him to make Himself at home in our hearts. Inviting Him in is what changes us forever. The Holy Spirit is who strengthens us to receive Christ and unveils Him to us more and more in our walk with God. 

This gives us a framework for how we are to do life. Are the choices we’re making coming from the love of God? Do we live with the awareness that Christ is with us wherever we go? I think if we truly grasped the truth of this verse in our hearts, our lives would drastically change by its implications. 

Application

Take some time to enjoy God’s presence in your life. Let’s never take for granted that the Creator of the universe wants to do life with us. He wants to. That’s just a reflection of His goodness. 

After your devotional time with God, don’t forget that He’s with you wherever you go. Take Him with you to the grocery store, while you’re driving, while you’re at your job, or on a walk or jog–whatever you’re doing today. It’s no coincidence you’re reading this. God wants to connect with you in a meaningful way. We dare not turn Him away. 

Prayer

Father God, thank You so much for empowering me to receive Christ through Your Holy Spirit. You are forever faithful, and I am forever Yours. In Jesus’ name, amen.