Where Are You Dwelling? - iBelieve Truth: A Devotional for Women - September 1

Where Are You Dwelling?
By: Maggie Meadows Cooper

“Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.” - Psalm 91:1

A few days ago, my five-year-old and I were taking a walk around our neighborhood. As we climbed a huge hill, she began to talk about cars and the gas that gives them energy. She lamented the fact that that wouldn’t work for her, too. Amused and curious to see what she would say, I asked her how people get their energy. I expected her to say Coke (she may have seen her mama drink a few), or maybe sugar, but her answer stopped me in my tracks. She confidently said, “Resting.”

Energy from resting.

I found myself convicted and honestly dumbfounded by what my sweet baby had just told me. Because, y’all, I was so very tired that day. I had almost fallen asleep on the couch earlier, when for a rare moment, I did have time to sit down and take a nap. But I stopped myself and got up to continue the task list before me. Switch the laundry over, return emails, check homework, go exercise... and oh, drink a coke to keep me going. Pushing through in my own strength, with a little help from some caffeine, was what I felt I had to do. And I felt anything but rested.

So, as I thought more about our conversation, I remembered Psalm 91:1.

“Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.”

And I began to examine my heart. I clearly needed rest, but I wasn’t finding it... or on second thought, accepting it. So, was I where I needed to be? Was I dwelling in the shelter of the Most High?

The truth is that I wasn’t. Most mornings I look at my “verse of the day,” pray over my husband, kids, friends, and whatever is on the agenda, listen to praise music while I get ready and then go on with my day. If you gave me a Christian good girl checklist, I’d be able to mark most of the boxes. So why wasn’t I receiving the rest spoken of in Psalm 91? Because I wasn’t dwelling, or making my home/camping out/living specifically, under the Lord’s shelter as I went about my day.

It’s so very easy to try and pick things up in our own strength, y’all. But don’t be deceived into thinking you can do it on your own. Your energy comes from allowing your physical body to rest as well as your soul receiving time to reconnect and meditate on God’s Word and presence. As I sit typing under a big oak tree right now, the branches surround me, and the shadow is protecting me from the heat of the day. The Lord does the same thing for us.

So what are some practical things we can do to “dwell” in the Lord’s shelter?

1. Make your home in His Word.

You may be thinking, “Ok, Maggie, that sounds great, but I can’t read the Bible all day long.” And no, you can’t. But you can post scripture around you wherever you may be, so that it’s easily accessible and catches your eye. In your cubicle or office at work, above the sink or washer and dryer, and on the dash in the car. Wherever you live, allow God’s Word to go with you as a reminder of His presence and promises.

2.  Listen to music and media that will draw you to Him.

I personally love some music in a variety of genres, but country would be my favorite. My kids love the pop/R&B type stuff that’s out there, and there’s a place for all of those. But if you listen to the radio for very long, you’ll find that many of the lyrics are not very uplifting. And believe it or not, that affects your day. Choose music and podcasts that will lift you up and allow your soul to find comfort and encouragement in knowing the Lord is with you.

3. Surround yourself with people who point you to Jesus… and will call you out when you are slipping.

My family and best friends are those who love me, listen to my heart, laugh with me, and just do life with me…but also hold me accountable to the life I want to live for Jesus. If I have stepped out from under the shelter of the Lord, it’s usually pretty noticeable. At bedtime last night, my kids began to ask, “Why are you so grouchy? Why are you fussing at us so much?” I had to take a step back, apologize and explain that I was just really tired and was sorry I took it out on them. It was a needed call back to the safety of the Lord’s shelter.

Have a time-out when you need it, y’all. Take the nap. Watch your favorite show. Do something that you enjoy for a brain break. But make sure that over all of that, you are covered in the shelter of the Lord’s presence. True rest for our souls can only come from Him.

Maggie Meadows Cooper is a wife, mom, educator, author, and blogger with a longing for women to grow a heart for Jesus and others. She is the author of the children’s book “Bumper” and blogs at The Little Moments about what the Lord is teaching her through her children and everyday life. She contributes to Blogs by Christian Women, Devotional Diva, She Disciples, and Connecting Ministries. An educator with a M.Ed. in Early Childhood Education from Auburn University (War Eagle!), she has twenty years experience working with young children. She loves all things chocolate, real Coca-Cola, and lives with her husband, three children, and two rambunctious dogs in Opelika, Alabama.

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If you've been feeling tired, overwhelmed, depleted, or just quietly wondering where God is in the middle of a very full life — this episode is for you. And honestly? It might be for me too, because I'm recording this in one of those seasons myself.

Today we're doing something a little different. Instead of going deep in a passage, we're talking about what to do when deep feels like too much — when you need less, not more. Specifically, I'm walking you through one of my favorite practices for weary seasons: handwriting scripture.

Not typing it. Not scrolling past it. Actually writing it out, slowly, in your own hand — because something happens in your brain when you do that. The words land differently. They go deeper. And over time, they become part of that personal library of God's voice that the Holy Spirit can pull from when you need it most. That's what Psalm 119:11 means when it says I have hidden your word in my heart — it's scripture moving into your long-term memory, where it lives and stays even when you haven't opened your Bible in weeks.

I'm sharing the five verses I wrote out for myself today — and why each one hit me fresh even though I've known some of them for years. This episode is part of our How to Study the Bible Podcast, a show that brings life back to reading the Bible and helps you understand even the hardest parts of Scripture. If this episode helps you know and love God more, be sure to follow the How to Study the Bible Podcast on Apple or Spotify so you never miss an episode!