I’ve mentioned before how much I love my home.

It’s a simple place, and while it’s set on an extraordinary (at least to my eyes) piece of property, there’s nothing grandiose about it, at all. But it’s more “us” than just about anyplace we’ve ever lived. Everywhere you look there is evidence of something or someone we love. It’s a calming place where we can just “be.”

Last night, while I was soaking in a hot bath, I was reading a book a friend asked me to read. I only just started it, so I can’t speak to the book as yet; however, I was stopped by a quote in the preface.

If you are willing to bear serenely the trial of being displeasing to yourself, then you will be for Jesus a pleasant place of shelter. ~ St. Therese of Lisieux

For all the talk I’ve heard, and spoken, throughout my life about the Lord dwelling in me, I’ve never once thought about whether or not it was a pleasant place for Him to be. What does He see when He looks around? Is it all about me or filled with the stuff He likes? If St. Therese is right, the pleasant comes when I start thinking toward the latter.

I’d really like to think that He feels, in my heart, the same way I feel in my home, but is that really the case? I think I’ll take another look around in there. Might be time to redecorate.

“My old self has been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. So I live in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” Galatians 2:20 NLT

“Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.” Psalm 51:10 ESV