From a woman to women

​                                                                            A Heart That Hosts The King

                                                                                            (Anonymous)

Lately, I find myself pausing to reflect on my faith, the present and the world around me. During a quiet afternoon walk, a thought struck me: What if Jesus were to descend from heaven and look for hearts in which to take refuge? Who would He choose? Would He find me worthy? This led me to consider attributes that make a person a dwelling place for Jesus: love, forgiveness, gratitude, and obedience.
Love: Love appears hundreds of times in the Bible. The greatest commandments are to love God with all our hearts and minds, and to love our neighbors as ourselves (Matthew 22:37-40, Mark 12:29-31). In today’s fast-paced world, love is asking someone how they’re doing and truly meaning it, standing in the gap for those whose faith is tested, helping before being asked, and advocating for the voiceless. Love is lifting our church leaders in prayer, asking God to grant them strength and wisdom in their ministry, and nurturing those with abundance and kindness, so that their blessings may continue to flow without end. God is love. 1 John 4:20 reminds us: “If anyone says, ‘I love God,’ and yet hates his brother, he is a liar; for the one who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen.”
Forgiveness: Whom have I not forgiven? The day I became a Christian, I believed I had forgiven every slight. Yet, as I went deeper, I realized true forgiveness is seeing no one through the lens of past offenses. When asked how many times to forgive, Jesus said, “Seventy-seven times” (Matthew 18:22). My capacity for unforgiveness was immense; a week, a month, or even a year could pass, and I would still carry a grudge. Would Jesus have found refuge in my heart then?
Gratitude: Psalm 100:4-5 calls us to enter God’s gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise. Gratitude invites God’s presence into our lives, yet I often fall short. Each breath and heartbeat is a gift from God, His love language to us. Each moment we fail to acknowledge these gifts is a moment we fail to create a safe passage for Jesus in our lives.
Obedience: John 14:15 reminds us: “If you love me, keep my commands.” Obedience is following God fully, staying rooted in His Word, and letting the Holy Spirit guide us. Jesus obeyed the Father from birth until His ascension. Obedience is relying on God from the start, not seeking approval after decisions are made. In career choices, friendships, or places of worship, short-term success can be mistaken for blessings if achieved through disobedience. I now begin every prayer from love, gratitude, forgiveness, and obedience: “Let Your Will Be Done In My Life.”
May we pause in our daily lives to become sanctuaries for Jesus, hearts where He would feel truly at home and STAY.