Dwelling with God

I decided to follow Jesus twenty-two years ago. I was at a weekend called Chrysalis in January 1996 with no one I knew. I had been asking God a lot of questions in the months leading up to that weekend, but it was there in a room of strangers I wrote on a piece of paper with what was hindering me from choosing God and then nailed that paper to a cross. The worship team was playing Rich Mullins’ “Growing Young,” and I was choosing to let God made me new.

God saved me that one day, but
He’s been rescuing me ever since.

{Tweet that.}

Throughout the years, I’ve learned so much about walking this faith journey. Circumstances have changed. How I spend time with God looks different from one season to the next. But I’ve learned dwelling with the One whose spirit dwells within me is life-changing.

When Becky Hastings asked if I wanted to preview her email series called DWELL, I was in. DWELL is a five-day email course that helps women connect with God in their everyday lives. It includes scriptures, devotional messages, encouragement for next steps, and resources.

I enjoyed DWELL because it was packed with refreshing truth. I loved having that show up in my inbox like a friend spurring me one toward the One who makes us new. And it’s presented in a way that just requires a few minutes but leaves you wanting to dwell with God even longer.

DWELL is now available for free to anyone interested. You can sign up here to receive the series.

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I also want to share a Q & A with DWELL creator Becky Hastings so you could hear more about how this resource came to be:

Kristin Hill Taylor: What does the word DWELL mean to you?

Becky Hastings: DWELL makes me think of an internal pause. We all have all of these busy life things spinning around us all the time. DWELL is choosing to pause my spirit to be with God, even as all those other things keep spinning. We know the kids and work and laundry never stop, but we can take moments in our head to be with the Father. He doesn’t need us to do things for Him as much as He longs for us to be with Him.

KHT: What prompted you to put together DWELL for other women?

BH: Honestly, I was getting sucked into the New Year, New You mentality. I was thinking that when January 1 hit I was going to be a different person. I would magically read my whole Bible in a day – well, maybe not a day, but certainly in a year. I would wake early and spend time and the kids would never interrupt and life would never get in the way. I was being drawn to the idea that turning that calendar page was going to make me into a better Christian, a better child of God.

But then I realized two things:

1. That was never really going to happen. Let’s be real.

2. It was never what God asked of me. I could never be a better child of God. He loves me just as I am. He sees the dishes piling up and the baby that won’t sleep. He sees the endless mom taxi service and the meals that need to be made. He doesn’t love me in spite of those things. He loves me in those things. In the mess. In the middle of life.

God doesn’t call us to live our Christian life and our “real” life. It’s all one.

I figured if I needed help learning how to be okay with that, maybe other women did too.

KHT: I know some people (including me!) got to preview this series. What was the initial response and how did that encourage you in your own relationship with God?

BH: It was a big step of faith to reach out and ask women (most of whom I barely know outside the internet) to preview DWELL. I wasn’t sure anyone would say yes. But God provided the perfect group of women to be part of this. They are women who understood the desire to spend time with God in the middle of their very real, and very busy, lives. That was a huge encouragement, to know I wasn’t alone.

And the response has been great! I think DWELL has provided a grace-filled framework for women longing for more of God in their lives. I’m so blessed by each person who has taken time to participate and let me know what they think. And I hope that doesn’t end! I love hearing from readers! We’re all in this together.

KHT: What do you want women to get out of their time DWELLing with God?

BH: Freedom and grace. It really is that simple for me. I hope women see that their time with God doesn’t need to be perfect or fit a formula. It can be simple and honest and short and He still shows up. And it’s those little, simple pauses in our day that add up to a cumulative DWELLing in our spirit.

Our time with God becomes part of who
we are instead of something we have to do.

{Tweet that.}

KHT: Once women finish the DWELL series, what next steps can they take if they’re new to spending time with God?

BH: This is one of my favorite parts about DWELL. It’s not five days you check off and you’re left hanging. It really is a framework you can use over and over. When you complete the course I provide a curated list of my favorite resources to keep going, using the same framework. And you may even get the occasional email from me when I find a new resource I think you’ll love!

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Rebecca Hastings believes in embracing grace in real life. At My Ink Dance, she captures hard, uncomfortable, often unspoken feelings and brings light, honesty and God’s truth to them in a relatable way. She is also the author of “Worthy: Believe Who God Says You Are,” a 20-day devotional inviting women to live life confident of their worth. Rebecca is a wife and mother of three in Connecticut writing imperfect and finding faith along the way.