All In, Under His Roof
Settled under His roof, the heart rests secure
Devotional Credit: His Victorious Indwelling, compiled by Nick Harrison. Primary reflections from Hannah Whitall Smith with a closing word from Edward Dennett
Photo Credit: Unsplash
Hannah Whitall Smith clears the fog around abiding. Abiding is not a puzzle. Abiding is trusting the Lord completely, placing all that concerns us in His care, and leaving it there. When we live in His dwelling place by faith, we rest under His shadow and discover that anxious self management loosens its grip.
She also names a common mistake. We try to split our confidence, some with God, some with ourselves. We lay our worries in His fortress, then we quietly pick them back up and carry them again. Smith says the two trusts will not mix. Either our affairs are in our hands, or they are in His. If they are in His, they are safe. If they are in ours, they are restless.
The invitation is practical. Since the Lord is our dwelling place, we take our whole selves, along with our interests and cares, and we place them with Him by faith. Then we dismiss the inner committee that keeps dragging everything back for review. We speak truth to our hearts. God is my home, and I remain here. I am safe in Him.
Edward Dennett adds a quiet amen. The path of the Christian life aims at simple, absolute trust in God. The one who walks in that direction, even a step at a time, will not be confounded. Today we can settle it again. Under His roof is our place, and there we stay.
Journal Entry – Voice of the Holy Spirit Through Scripture
I am your refuge and your dwelling place. Abide in My Son, and let My words abide in you. Trust in Me with all your heart. Do not lean on your own understanding. Cast all your care on Me, because I care for you. In returning and rest you are saved. In quietness and confidence you find strength. I keep in perfect peace the one whose mind is stayed on Me.
You have died with Jesus, and your life is hidden with Him in God. Present yourself to Me as alive from the dead. Let the peace of the Messiah rule in your heart. Be anxious for nothing. With thanksgiving, make your requests known, and My peace, which surpasses understanding, will guard your heart and mind in Christ Jesus.
I am at work in you to will and to do for My good pleasure. Commit your way to Me. Trust in Me, and I will act. I am your rock and your salvation, your fortress. When you pass through waters, I am with you. When you walk through fire, you shall not be burned. I am able to guard what you have entrusted to Me. The one who calls you is faithful. I will surely do it.
Real-Life Analogy
Picture the sound of a deadbolt sliding into place on your front door. Before it turns, the door rattles in the wind. After it turns, the frame and the lock hold firm. You stop testing the handle. You know you are secure, so you settle in.
Trusting God is like that. The Holy Spirit turns the inner deadbolt when we place our affairs in the Lord’s hands. He holds, not us. When an email thread grows tense or finances feel thin, you might say, Lord, I entrust this to You. Live Your steadiness through me as I reply and decide. Then answer with a clear, gentle tone, take the next wise step, and let Jesus in you keep the door from rattling.
Prayer of Confidence
Father, thank You that You are my dwelling place. In Jesus I am under Your shadow. I affirm that my life and my concerns belong to You. I acknowledge that mixed trust only unsettles my heart, so I rest everything in Your faithful care.
You have already given me Your peace. You guard my heart and mind in Christ. Your Spirit lives in me, willing and doing according to Your good pleasure. Today I receive Your rest. I remain under Your roof. I move through my day with the confidence that You are my fortress and my home. In the name of Jesus I give thanks. Amen.
Scripture References for the Voice of the Holy Spirit Through Scripture Section
Psalm 91:1-2; Psalm 62:5-8; Psalm 37:3-7; Isaiah 26:3-4; Isaiah 30:15; Isaiah 43:1-3; Matthew 6:25-34; John 14:23; John 15:4-7; Romans 6:4-11; Romans 8:28-32; 2 Corinthians 1:9-10; Galatians 2:20; Philippians 4:6-9; Philippians 2:12-13; Colossians 3:1-4; Colossians 3:15; 1 Thessalonians 5:23-24; 1 Peter 5:6-7; 2 Timothy 1:12; Jude 24-25; Proverbs 3:5-6