God in Our Skin
God’s faithfulness to meet us in the messy, mundane, and miraculous never ceases to amaze me. He is continually present, no matter the situation or circumstances. He is and always will be Immanuel- God with us- in every moment of every day.
Last week was my on campus week for the Master’s program I’m working through. On the first day, the professor opened in prayer. As he prayed, one particular phrase resonated in my mind.
“Holy Spirit, You are God in our skin…”
Several times throughout the week this pastor-of-forty-years-turned-Bible-college-professor made reference to the indwelling presence and power of God at work in us by referencing the Holy Spirit as “God in our skin”.
I’m not sure what that felt so overwhelmingly profound to me, but even typing out that phrase brings tears to my eyes.
Think about it for a moment.
The same God who clothed the flowers of the field, sprinkled the stars in the sky, drew boundaries for the seas, and breathed life into dust chooses to make His home in us. It’s one of those beautiful mysteries of Truth that is almost incomprehensible.
I am full of the Spirit of God.
And sister in Christ, Daughter of the King, Beloved and Chosen one, if you’ve given up the battle for control and have asked Jesus to be Lord of your life, SO ARE YOU.
God is in your skin.
He flows through your veins.
He is the breath in your lungs.
He is the beat of your heart.
He is the synapses firing in your brain.
He is in every thought and movement.
He will never leave you or forsake you.
I took a second today to google, “I will never leave you or forsake you” to find the exact address of the verse that I have come to know and repeat almost like a mantra. Do you know what I found? I found a list of nearly 100 Bible verses in the ESV that relate to “God with us”.
Deuteronomy 31:8 is one I have tucked in my heart. “It is the Lord who goes before you. He will be with you; he will not leave you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed.”
But let me give you a few more you can cling to.
Deuteronomy 31:6 says, “Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the Lord your God who goes with you. He will not leave or forsake you.”
Joshua 1:9 is another great one. “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”
Isaiah 41:10 is one of my favorite passages in scripture. “Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”
Listen to John 14:16. “And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper to be with you forever.”
Isaiah 44:3 says “For I will pour water on the thirsty land, and streams on the dry ground; I will pour out my Spirit on your offspring, and my blessing on your descendants.”
I won’t list them all, but let me just drop some here. Maybe you want to write them down or look them up? Joshua 1:5, Matthew 28:20, 1 Chronicles 28:20, Genesis 28:15, Deuteronomy 4:31, 1 Kings 8:57, Psalm 94:14, John 14:18, Psalm 73:23, Deuteronomy 20:1, Deuteronomy 31:23, Isaiah 43:2, Deuteronomy 20:4, 1 Kings 6:13, Isaiah 41:13, 1 Samuel 12:22, Hebrews 13:5, and Psalm 23:4.
He is with us.
He is with YOU.
Immanuel- God with YOU.
Holy Spirit- God in YOUR skin.
The Faithful One, who will never leave or forsake YOU.
Let the truth of that root deep into your heart.