Who's the Temple?

I'm the TEMPLE!
Today God told me through 2 Chronicles 7:14-16 that I AM the Temple...

The promises made to Solomon about God's Temple being dear to His heart are so applicable today! Post-Jesus, WE are the little living Temples- our hearts/souls are where the Spirit of the Lord lives... the LIGHT in US is contained in the Holy of Holies... our hearts! OH MY GOSH- I'm about to have a heart attack because this is SO BIG!!!! See what happens? I just graze over this stuff in my mind when I read it, but now and then something catches and it cuts me deep. I've gotta study this Temple stuff more. I've gotta go back and learn more about how the Temple was made- I bet all the specifications, measurements, and materials MEAN something (duh, Carissa! Of COURSE they do!)!  - Whoooooaaaaa-  I just tied this back (in my mind) to the way if someone who was unclean went into the Holy of Holies, they DIED! EEEP!! - I digress (and can't really explain or take the time to wrap my head around what I just said, so I'm gonna let it go for now). 

So anyway, God took this passage and applied it to my life because right now I feel so RIDDLED with SIN (which could be because I am not feeling as close to Him- I'm exhausted and am not being obedient to all that HE tells me to do... I'm not basking in the Presence of the Lord the way I have before...I'm not praying as fervently as I have before... I'm not reading as much of the Word as I MUST (it's my FOOD!)... and I feel (again), hung up on other's expectations of me.) 

So God told me to SURRENDER (again and again and again)! --> To stop trying to CONTROL my life, circumstances, desires, etc. He has lovingly shown me that when I try to control anything for myself, He lets me and the outcome of that is EMPTINESS <--and lots of other ugliness that comes with the desire to fullfill mySELF. He wants me to HUMBLE myself and PRAY and SEEK HIM!!!... and when I do that EARNESTLY, the only outcome is that I WILL to REPENT and TURN from my sin (control, pride, gluttony, lust, deception, etc.)....

PRAY. I have to pray. PRAY. PRAY. PRAY.  That means- take the TIME to pray. Have MARGIN in your life, Carissa. REST. Just BE with HIM!!!!!

And when I do that, He promises to restore me.
I will it, Lord. Restore me.
I surrender -again.


2 Chronicles 7:14-16
Then if my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sins and restore their land. My eyes will be open and my ears attentive to every prayer made in this place. For I have chosen this Temple and set it apart to be holy- a place where my name will be honored forever. I will always watch over it, for it is dear to my heart.

______________________________________

Lord, You are so faithful. Thank you for your all powerful, all knowing, never changing, fully present holiness and love. Amen.

<3