The Dwelling Places of God

For the Lord has chosen Zion; He has desired it for His dwelling place: "This is My resting place forever; Here I will dwell, for I have desired it."

Psalm 132:13–14 (NKJV)

The Lord dwells in heaven, but here we see that there are places on earth for which the Lord has a special liking. Zion was a place on earth that the Lord chose for His dwelling; He desired it. In Proverbs 8, when Wisdom speaks, she says that her delight was with the sons of men, in the habitable parts of His earth.

The dwelling places of God are places where His presence is manifested permanently: the place where Jacob encountered the gate of heaven, or where a Man met him and wrestled with him, or where the angels met him at the camp of Mahanaim. These are places where the divine meets the mortal, where men can encounter God: the burning bush, Mount Sinai, the tabernacle of Moses; Mount Horeb, the mountain of God, to which Elijah was sent; the Mount of Transfiguration, where Jesus was transfigured; and the house Solomon built for the Lord. These are places on which God puts His name and His presence.

Such a place can be created for God to dwell in, and yet God also decides; both are true. The secret is the spiritual altar. Abraham built an altar that became a gate of heaven, and Elijah's altar brought down fire from heaven. This is how a man can create an environment fit for the dwelling of God. True churches, which the Lord designates houses of prayer, are dwelling places of God. The Lord dwells in the praise and worship of His people, and your own house can be turned into a dwelling place of God. Remember that the Lord must desire a place for His presence to dwell there, and just like Enoch, you can make God take pleasure in you, in your ministry and in your household by continually seeking Him in faith, knowing that your reward is His dwelling place.

In conclusion, we are already His dwelling place, but His manifest presence is not always with us. Jesus gave us the secret: abide in Me, and let My words abide in you. The word of God is a major factor in how God manifests Himself in our lives. Exalt His Word, and His presence in your life will become real.