“Who may ascend the hill of the LORD? Who may stand in His holy place?” Psalm 24:3 (NIV)
There is a difference hosting a guest overnight and having someone move in with you! For a guest, you may prepare their room, but you don’t need to prepare your home! You can simply throw unwanted or shameful things under the bed, in the closet or in another room and simply close the door. But for someone who you’ve invited to co-habit your home with you there is a much more thorough preparation process. Our simply crying out for the Holy Spirit to show up in our church, or city can be presumptuous if we are not willing to prepare for Him! We may get His attention, even His visit. But if our home, or city is not ready for Him, He will most likely cut His visit short. Jesus wept when He entered Jerusalem as they had not prepared for their day of visitation (Luke 19:41-44).
God brought my family here to Athens, Georgia, over ten years ago, and since then we have been crying out for a move of God. And we have been actively, intentionally preparing the way since then! Lately, many are strongly sensing that He is coming soon, but also feeling “our home” is not ready. Have we adequately prepared our homes, churches and city for His habitation?
Please join me in crying out for God to give us the grace to prepare a place He wants to dwell in. Psalm 24 gives us a glimpse of what He desires – clean & undefiled hands, pure & passionate hearts, putting Him first above all other things, and embracing & living under truth. Ask God to draw His people deeper into holiness, purity, passion and His priorities. May humility, prayer, long suffering (endurance) and sacrifice increase in His church across our city. Ask Him to prepare you for His increased presence! Ask Him to prepare your pastor and church. Ask Him to give us the grace to prepare our city as somewhere He would want to inhabit!
