In a flash, the month of April was over, as were our last days in Whispers and Wildflowers. The discussion surrounded one word which stood out like a flashing neon sign – sanctuary –> Alone time with God.
“And Christ lives within you, so even though your body will die because of sin, the Spirit gives you life because you have been made right with God.” (Romans 8:10, NLT)
My alone time with God, during the years I raised my children, was literally in my van. I also did daycare during those years and so, when I went to pick my children up from school, my van was already full of children. But the kids would fall asleep on the drive. So I would take my Bible and leave earlier than I needed to, knowing that once I arrived in my parking space at the school, quiet time awaited me.
My van affectionately became known as “my sanctuary”.
Fourteen years of quiet time was spent in that van. Want to know how ridiculous it got? When it came time to sell my van, I cried because we were getting rid of it. My van was the most precious place where I had met with the Lord – alone. My husband thought I was crazy. One day I literally said aloud to him, “What if Jesus doesn’t meet me in my new car?”
And yes, I was serious, as the thought was quite upsetting to me.
It was also ridiculous. Of course, the Lord has surely met me in my new car. And it has nothing to do with my vehicle. It is because our hearts are His sanctuary. He comes into every space when we invite Him.
“You hold God inside of you. He’s taken up residence right there in your heart. If you’re like me, sometimes you forget. You forget that there is supernatural power living inside you. You forget that you have access to God at any moment of the day. Today see your heart as a sanctuary for Him.” (Sarah Beth Marr, Whispers and Wildflowers, pave 218)
Sanctuary —> “a consecrated place; a holy meeting place.”
May the Lord help us to remember this precious thought …
He dwells in the sanctuary of our hearts.
Our hearts, His home.
Today I am joining … Tell His Story and Purposeful Faith and Grace Full Tuesday and InstaEncouragements .
Oh how I love the image of meeting with God behind the wheel of that van! Thanks for this great story, Joanne.
By an amazing coincidence, I was also thinking about sanctuary this morning too. When My kids were little, my dad would stop by my house almost every morning rain or shine and take them for a walk. Those 15 minutes was the quiet time I needed to get my day off to a calm, peaceful start. It gave me time alone with my thoughts and with God. My dad allowed me to seek sanctuary in those hectic days.
I spend time with God in my van too 🙂 I love those moments of quiet while I wait to pick up kids or heading home from a drop off. God is so faithful to meet us wherever we are.
It is wonderful that we can meet with God anywhere. But those extra “special just to us” places that we have carved out and created – well, those are precious!
Joanne, I had one of those “sanctuary” vans too. Funny how that happens. I’d never thought of it that way, but it’s true. I too spend years of quiet time in a mode of transportation we affectionately called Black Beauty”” a GMC Suburban. Thanks for this great reminder and thanks for linking up at InstaEncouragements!
What a lovely post. I am now thinking about what place can be my “sanctuary”. 💖
I love how you found your sanctuary even when it was difficult! I have an old recliner that really should be retired but I am very sentimental to it for similar reasons! laurensparks.net