Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

— Psalm 23:6

In many parts of North America, where I live, summer is a season of vacations. People leave their homes and go traveling to explore new places or to stay in familiar getaways. Being away offers opportunities to take a break from everyday tasks and routines.

But a lot can happen when you’re away from home. When our family goes to a vacation home, we find that cooking plans can get complicated because the kitchen doesn’t have the pans or cooking supplies we are used to at home. The roads and stores are unfamiliar too, and we have to navigate new uncertainties. Sometimes people face medical emergencies when they are away from home, and crises like that be very difficult because there is little or no support network.

“There’s no place like home,” an old saying reminds us. This is true for us spiritually as well. We are created to be at home in God’s presence. And while sin may promise adventures, the places it can bring us do not provide the security of being at home with God.

Psalm 23 reminds us of the God who cares for us along the journey of life. And God offers us a home, a place of welcome through the promises and presence of his Son and Spirit. This month, let’s explore how the Bible invites us to be at home with God.

Holy God, thank you that we can depend on you to guide and lead us. Assure us through your Son and Spirit that we can always be at home with you. Amen.