Architecture

"I want You to be where my heart runs to, clings to; Jesus, I so need You! I want You to be where my heart goes!" - Colton Dixon

Jesus, I so need You. I feel this world pulling me a million different ways. The voices in my heart cry out against the noise all around me, and You're the only One I want to hear. Let me hear Your quiet, still whisper amidst the noise. Let me refresh my soul in Your house, because mine has collapsed to the shaking and tugging of this world and left my foundation exposed.

And such a foundation could not be more beautiful; the tumbling walls of my own design expose the stable, beautiful architecture that You've built in my life. Nothing could be more wonderful. Walking through the rubble of my own demise, and seeing Your hand throughout my entire life, fills me with gratitude. The stone and mortar lying at my feet, what I've built in the past, will soon be swept away by Your grace, to be forever forgotten. 

Jesus, You'll help me build a new house. You always show me a new technique, a new feature, that could make my house stronger, bigger, or more beautiful. Because of Your teaching, as a Master Craftsman, I can fit more guests into my house to receive grace and love; more than ever before. And when my guests are away, I dine at Your table, and You send me away with more than enough to continue sharing with others.

Although this house I build is faulty, just like all of the others, I know You have Your hand in it. You are always helping me build. You show me how to work the tools and put up the walls and make the building habitable. 

My house will fall over again, but I still want You to help me build it. Many people wouldn't want the task set before me. Who in their right mind would want to build a house to watch it fall, and then build it all over again? Jesus, I do. I'm willing to build my house as many times as it takes, as long as You're there helping me. What I've learned in the past, I can apply as I craft this new one; and You again have the opportunity to teach me new techniques. This house will be better than the last, just as the last was better than the one before it.

Jesus, You have supplied the foundation for my houses. It has NEVER failed. It has NEVER cracked. It hasn't even moved. It's the same foundation that's been since the first house You helped me build. My house has fallen on top of it many times, but the foundation remains. That foundation is Your Word, Jesus Christ. God, You have shown Your faithfulness in my life. Every time You give me grace, every time You pull through for me, my foundation gets a little bit bigger, giving me a bigger plot of land to build on. Your promises to me have never failed, and they too keep my house standing.

Jesus, make my house a reflection of Your own. I have visited Your house countless times to be comforted. Let my house be a place of refuge for those who are hurting. Let my house be a base of operations for staging wonderful works. Let my house be indwelt by Your Holy Spirit, and let it be a presence that can be felt by all those who enter. Let them glorify You because of Your work in my life.

Don't let my house's lights go out. Even when I'm weary, Lord, give me the energy to stay awake. Let me always be willing to accept strangers into my doors. Let me not grow weary in doing the very things that You have done for me. For I have knocked on Your doors, and You have let me in. You never fail. You are my refuge, and strength, and peace, and joy. 

My King, Your house is the biggest. The house You are helping me build is but a shack when measured against Your own. You are the most gracious, most faithful, and most loving. Your walls never fall. Your lights never go out; You are the light to Your house. You can sit thousands at Your table, and never run out of grace to give them. You invite everyone, despite of what they've done or who they are, and You give them rest. You give them peace. You are an amazing God.

I know the storms will come again. I know my house will fall again. I know the rubble will lie at my feet again, just as it is now. I know I'll grow tired and turn my lights off again. I know I'll lock the doors from fear again. I know I'll empty my pantries and have no grace to offer again. I'll make mistakes. I'll fail You. I'll crumble again.

But You help me rebuild. You give me the strength. You are my God, and You are the One I cling to. Nothing could separate us; not even me. I thank You for Your faithfulness in my life, and I don't see the rubble as another failure as much as another chance to join You in building my house. It'll be better than before. You can come live in it. It'll look more like Your own, because You will have helped me build more of it. Your craftsmanship will be displayed in it's architecture; strong, big, and beautiful.

And Jesus, when my heart fails again, I'll run to You. You'll give me grace. You'll show Your faithfulness. You'll help me rebuild my house. And finally, when it falls for the final time, I'll become a permanent residence in Your house. I will be in Your presence and worship and glorify You. I will sing of all that You've done for me; no, with me. For You are not a God who is distant and does it all for us, but a God who is personable and invites us to join Him in His work. To You be all the glory and honor and praise, forever and ever. Amen.

"This is my song that I sing forever: You are my home, You are what I treasure! I want You to be where my heart goes! And if it all breaks, and if it goes to pieces, You are the One that I will believe in; I know You won't ever let me go! I want You to be where my heart goes!" - Colton Dixon