Does Christ Live in You or Does He Just Visit Sometimes?
When Paul writes to the church in Ephesus, he doesn't just offer encouragement — he offers a challenge. In Ephesians 3:14–17, he says:
“For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, that according to the riches of His glory He may grant you to be strengthened with power through His Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith.”
Let’s not rush past that. Paul isn’t tossing up a casual prayer. He bows his knees — a position of desperation, submission, and humility. In ancient Jewish culture, prayer was typically done standing, hands lifted. But Paul kneels. Like Jesus in Gethsemane. Like Stephen before he was stoned. This is no performance — this is a surrender.
And what does he pray for?
Not for circumstances to change. Not for external victories.
He prays that God’s Spirit would strengthen our inner being — the very core of who we are — so that Christ may dwell in our hearts.
Not visit.
Not pass through.
Dwell.
The Difference Between a Guest and a Resident
We know what it’s like to have a guest in our home. We clean up. We put on our best behavior. We let them into the “good” rooms — the living room, the guest bathroom, maybe the dining room. But they don’t open the closets. They don’t rummage through the attic. They don’t see the places we’ve tried to hide.
Sometimes, that’s exactly how we treat Jesus.
“We invite Him into our Sunday mornings, but lock the closets of our hearts.”
We invite Him into our church life. We let Him walk through the “clean” parts of our life — our attendance, our social image, our highlight reel. But the private habits? The bitterness we refuse to let go? The insecurities buried deep from childhood? Those stay hidden.
But here’s the truth:
“Christ didn’t die to be your guest. He died to own the house.”
Christ in Every Room
Robert Munger’s classic booklet My Heart: Christ’s Home gives a powerful picture of the Christian life. In it, Jesus walks room by room through a believer’s heart — the library (our mind), the dining room (our desires), the living room (our relationships), even the hall closet (where hidden sins stay locked away). And what does He do?
He clears out the garbage. He removes what doesn’t belong. He doesn’t tidy up — He transforms.
“You can’t ask Jesus to dwell where you still rule.”
This is what Paul is praying for. That Christ would not be a polite visitor in your life, but a living, present Savior — Lord over every room. Every thought. Every secret.
A Personal Father, A Permanent Home
Paul reminds us that we come before a Father, not a distant deity. But let’s be honest — for some, the word “father” doesn’t bring comfort. Some know only abandonment, abuse, or absence. But God the Father is different. He’s not unpredictable. He’s not unsafe. He is steady. He is loving. He is good.
And He’s not just inviting you to visit Him. He’s ready to live in you — to be at home in your heart.
Christ in You — Not a Metaphor
In Galatians, Paul says, “It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me.”
In Colossians, he writes, “Christ in you, the hope of glory.”
In John’s Gospel, Jesus Himself says, “If anyone loves me… we will come to him and make our home with him.”
This is not poetic language. It’s a spiritual reality. Christ wants every part of you — not just the parts you’re proud of.
“God loves you where you are — but He loves you too much to leave you there.”
So, What Needs to Change?
Ask yourself honestly:
Are you letting Jesus into every part of your life — or just the “good” rooms?
What locked doors still keep Him out?
Is He dwelling in your heart, or just stopping by for visits?
Here’s the good news: Jesus is ready to move in.
The question isn’t if He wants all of you — the question is, will you give it?
