As we prepare our hearts and minds to embrace the year that’s ahead of us, I think it’s important to have a framework. In other words, to be able to visualize and understand the role we play in the Kingdom of God, and why it’s so vital and powerful. Though it’s almost too much to fathom, the truth is that we — and all who have received salvation through Jesus Christ — have become His temple. In the Old Testament, the temple building was the center of Jewish existence. It was the hub of activity, but it’s also where the presence of the Lord lived. In other words, the very real life of God was there — you could sense His Spirit, smell Him through the burning of offerings, and “see” Him in the various artifacts used for worship. In short, the temple was Jehovah’s house, and if you wanted to encounter Him, you had to pay Him a visit. Amazingly (and this is where it gets really cool), after Jesus died, the curtain within the sanctuary that separated God from man was ripped in half, and the Holy Spirit left that physical building to dwell in the souls of people. Whenever someone decides to surrender their life to the Savior, they become His house, and He moves in and inhabits the activities of their daily life. This means that we — you and me — carry within us the real and powerful presence of the Lord that others so desperately need to experience. My hope and prayer is that this will be our focus as we chart our course for the coming year.

My friend, you are God’s temple! Whenever you enter a room, you bring the very essence of Christ, and that’s exactly what people are searching for. Though you are not perfect, as you submit to His leading, His Spirit burgeons within you and you supernaturally display His glory. It’s a mystery, but it’s also a reality, and when you make it the framework through which you view every relationship and encounter, the Lord will crystalize your mission and excite your heart with His purpose. You carry Heaven wherever you go — remember that this year and you will make a supernatural-sized difference!