Grace for the Writer’s Journey: Building a Habitation

Dear Writer, I hope you had a beautiful Thanksgiving week and considered how you’ll cultivate the heart of a gatekeeper! To help with that, this week we’ll explore a key to help you partner with God’s grace in every area of life. That key is building a habitation for His presence.

You see, writer, developing our connection with God can help us overcome host of problems from writers block to imposter’s syndrome and more. Why? Creating a habitation for God helps keep our vision and priorities clear. The better we understand His heart and purposes for us, the more grounded we are to persevere.

But before we get started, let’s look at some others whose practice of God’s presence transformed everything they did…

Habitation in History

Brother Lawrence is a beautiful example of a man who created a habitation for God in his everyday life. Bother Lawrence felt he had few skills to offer the brothers in his monastery. However, the skills he did have, he did as unto the Lord, training himself to become aware of God’s presence as he washed dishes, mended sandals, and performed other menial tasks. 

Through this simple habit, Brother Lawrence developed a deep well of joy and wisdom. So much so, that men and women of all ages and ranks began to seek out his counsel and advice. Some of these conversations were compiled in “The Practice of the Presence of God” where they continue to influence countless people today.

Here’s the thing, writer. One of the best ways to ensure we write the story God’s given us is to invite Him into our writing process. When we begin to ask for and write with an awareness of His presence and participation, it banishes many of the fears that try to stop and opens our eyes to His wisdom and strategies.

Habitation in the Bible

David is another wonderful example of a man who built a habitation for God in his life. Whether in the pasture or the palace, on a field of victory or hiding in a cave, David created a habitation for God’s presence through his relentless praise.  Whether life was difficult or delightful, David’s first thought was to pour his heart out to God. And while he was always honest, voicing his trouble and laments, the very act of turning his sorrows and joys to God made David keenly aware of His presence. No matter what.

You see, one of the things that made David a man after God’s own heart was the fact that he pursued God’s heart on almost every occasion. Not only did this practice create a habitation for God in David’s life, but it also led him to institute day and night temple worship so that Israel could foster a corporate habitation for God as a nation. in so doing, David accomplished the purposes of God in his generation.

You see, writer, when we persistently turn to God in prayer and praise, it develops our spiritual eyes to recognize both God’s presence around and His purposes for us. Not only that, it fits us to write stories that will create God-spaces in the lives of others too.

Habitation in Life

I learned to create a habitation for God when I served in my church community. From the start, God made it clear that His call alone placed me and others into leadership positions in the group. As we created a space for Him through regular prayer and seeking, He continued to guide and raise up the right leaders each year. Amazing things took place among our members as His specific guidance ignited the hearts of His people.

A few years later, a move was made to institute a new board-like governance model. I insisted we persevere in simply seeking Him and His will for the simple reason that He had never failed us. That final year using our “seeking” model was one of our community’s very best. Still, the community chose to make the switch. 

While God did not forsake us when we changed our governance method, over time the community drifted and dwindled. Until several years later, it finally closed its doors.

Habitation in Your Life

You see, here’s the thing, writer. Creating a habitation is really about recognizing God as the author of our life story. And it’s about learning to actively pursue and anchor all we do in Him and His purposes. Because here’s the deal. God’s plans for us are always God-sized. Trying to accomplish them on our own is not only impossible, it’s foolhardy. If we want to see His best for us and our readers, making space for Him in that journey is the best first step we can take. Let me show you….

• • Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him, and he will act. – Psalm 27:4-5
  • The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight. – Proverbs 9:10
  • Commit your work to the Lord, and your plans will be established. – Proverbs 16:3
  • You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you. Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord God is an everlasting rock. – Isaiah 26:3-4

Creating a habitation for God in our lives re-calibrates our vision to recognize His presence. It re-frames our thoughts to seek His strategies. It resets our priorities to seek His purposes. Because here’s the real deal…

Where to Start with Habitation

Creating a habitation for God is really about learning to walk in step with Him in our everyday lives. And the amazing thing is that, when we do this, He shows up in anything and everything we do. Including our writing. Just like He did for Brother Lawrence. Just like He did for David. Just like He did for my community in those early years.

So are you ready to create a habitation for God in your personal an writing life? Here are some ideas to get you started! 

1. 1. Give Thanks. One of the simplest and most powerful steps we can take to create a habitation for God in our lives is to prioritize giving thanks. There is nothing that orients our hearts toward God more quickly than a habit of gratitude and praise. Gratitude opens our eyes to where God is at work. Plus, the more we practice, the more we begin to see Him even in life’s most difficult situations. Consider keeping a gratitude journal or setting an alarm to thank God at different times of day. Whatever you choose, be consistent and persistent to help develop the habit.
   2. Pray. One of the best ways to create a habitation for God in your life is to begin asking Him for help. Start asking for His wisdom in all you do. He promises in James __ to give it liberally, as long as we trust Him to do so! Also, whenever you receive bad news or have alarming thoughts, begin to pause and pray according to Philippians 4:6-7. Learning to cast our cares on Him not only keeps your mind and heart free, it’s a critical part of learning to partner with God’s grace for you!
   3. Study the Bible. Reading God’s Word and asking Him to illuminate it is another way to create a habitation for Him. As we diligently study, we better understand who God is. Better yet, as our we fill our hearts with scripture, the Holy Spirit can to recall it to us as needed throughout the day.
   4. Assemble. Another powerful key to creating a habitation for God is attending worship with other believers. Taking time every week to step outside ourselves to worship our King and serve others is extremely healthy. Corporate worship helps us to keep Him in His place of primacy, reminding us that our goal is to enter into His life rather than simply fitting Him into ours. Because here’s the real deal…

Creating habitation for God is all about entering into His Kingdom. More than that, it’s about learning to establish His kingdom into every single aspect of our lives. Creating a habitation for God essentially moves us from knowing God is the Lord of our lives to learning to let Him be Lord of our lives by recognizing He is with us and loves us and does have a plan for our lives.

I hope your faith rises as you read that, writer, because it’s true. And here’s the real deal. As we create that habitation, daily experiencing God’s love for us, that we grow the fearless faith that so many of the giants of faith had. You see, it’s not that they were any better than us. It’s simply that they resolved to prioritize God’s Kingdom. And here’s the final thought…

Creating a habitation for God in your life and writing is about stepping into the relationship God’s always desired to have with us. Knowing that, as you do, that relationship will begin to touch everyone you meet and permeate very action you take. What a wonderful picture of gatekeeping and of grace!

So I encourage you today, writer, to begin developing a habitation for God in your life. Not only will it bring joy and wisdom for your journey. As your life becomes saturated by Him, He will begin to reshape our entire life to reflect His glory too.

#habitation #glory #joy #strength #EveryWriterWriting