When God Moves In: Why You Don’t Have to Strive to Shine

Tami VanHoy

4 months ago

Part 2 of the 4 week series: ‘When God Moves In‘

Tips for using each post in this weekly series to draw closer to God in a season when busyness and added expectations abound:

Day 1
- Read the featured scripture in several translations and expand the reading to include verses before and after it.
- Read the blog article and journal some thoughts that come up.
Day 2
- Read the “Conversation with God – Journaling Prompts” featured in the post and enjoy an intimate conversation with God.
Day 3
- Read the featured scripture again, including the verses before and after it.
- Use the “Hair Fire Check” section of this post to engage in a deeper conversation with God.
Day 4
- Use the “Heart Fire Moment” section of this post to walk you through a journaling conversation with God.
Day 5
- Use the “Prayer Starter’ section of this post to guide you into a personal and prayerful conversation with God.
  - Reflect on the week of conversations around John 1:14 as part of your prayerful conversation.

focus verse: John 1:14

The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us.
We have seen His glory, the glory of the one and only Son,
who came from the Father, full of grace and truth

When Jesus moves in, we stop striving to shine. Discover how God’s glory, grace, and truth transform us from the inside out.

A ‘Move-in’ Mindset Changes Things

Last week, we reflected on the first part of John 1:14:
“The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us.”

John reminds us that Jesus didn’t come to make occasional appearances—He came to move in. We explored the difference between living with a “move-in” mindset versus a “visiting” mindset when it comes to our relationship with Him.

When we invite someone into our home for a visit, we prepare in ways that are temporary—and honestly, unsustainable. We tidy up, rearrange schedules, and make room with the full intention of returning to “normal” once they leave.

We offer space, knowing we’ll reclaim it.
We put in extra effort, knowing it’s short-term.

But when someone moves in, everything changes.

We make room for them to become part of the household. We willingly give up space that once served another purpose. We learn a new normal—often letting go of how things used to be to make room for what now is.

When we invite Jesus to move in, we quickly learn this means surrendering priorities, releasing what no longer aligns, and making room for God’s calling and purposes.

The Glow We Can’t Manufacture

So let’s continue reflecting on John 1:14 and lean into the second part:

“We have seen His glory, the glory of the One and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.”

This time of year, we put intentional effort into making our homes beautiful. We hang lights, deck the halls, and add touches meant to bring warmth, sparkle, and joy.

We work hard to create a feeling—a glow we love during the Christmas season. But it’s temporary.

When the season passes, the lights come down. Not because we didn’t enjoy them, but because they were never meant to be permanent.

I can’t help but reflect on seasons in my life when I worked just as hard to shine—to sparkle for others and even for God. Striving to shine in a way that validated my existence or even worthiness to be in relationship with God.

But striving to glow on my own was never sustainable.

And here’s the freedom found in a move-in relationship with Jesus rather than a visiting one: He brings the glow.

Yes, inviting Jesus to move in requires letting go of what doesn’t align with God’s purposes. But He brings with Him the glory of merciful grace and loving truth.

So as we prepare our homes this Christmas, maybe the deeper invitation is to prepare our hearts—to make room for the One whose glory fills every space He enters.

A glory that outshines every twinkling light and ornament we could ever hang. No decoration compares to the beauty of His presence dwelling within us.

The Reflection He Invites Us to Carry

When John wrote, “We have seen His glory,” he wasn’t describing a shimmer or a halo. He was describing the visible goodness of God revealed in Jesus—love made tangible.

Every miracle.
Every act of mercy.
Every word that healed and restored hope.

2 Corinthians 3:18 reminds us:

“We all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into His image.”

When we ‘deck the hall’ and bring the holiday sparkle and shine to our homes, we are ‘fixing’ our home, we’re transforming it to reflect the holiday glow and warmth.

This is what it means to invite Jesus to move in. When we spend time with Him, His character begins to glow through us—not as a performance, but as a reflection of His glory.

Trying to fix something assumes it was broken or lacks value as it is.
Transformation assumes growth—becoming what it was always created to be.

When we ask Jesus to move in, we aren’t fixed, we’re transformed as our relationship with Him grows.

He brings transformation—not condemnation.
We can stop trying to fix what we feel isn’t valuable (hair-fire living) and experience the joy of being transformed (heart-fire living).

You don’t have to strive to shine.
You simply have to stay in fellowship with the Source.

Conversation with God – Journaling Prompts

Where have you seen His glory—His goodness—show up in your story.

Extend the conversation by using these prompts to guide a heartfelt discussion between you and God.

When have I experienced God’s presence in an unexpected or ordinary place?
What does “reflecting His glory” look like in my life right now?
Am I chasing sparkle or substance this Christmas?

Hair Fire Check

Hair-fire living often comes from striving to create our own shine—to impress, earn approval, or feel worthy of love, acceptance, or even God’s presence.

It shows up when we feel we must perform to be valued.

Ask yourself:

Am I trying to create my own shine instead of resting in His?
Where do I feel constant pressure to earn validation or acceptance?
What would it look like to stop striving in that area and trust God to bring His glory instead?

Sit in conversation with God regarding your thoughts on these questions. Journal to capture the conversation and insights from God.

Heart Fire Moment

His glory—not my effort—is the light of my home.

Heart-fire living means allowing God’s grace and mercy to move in. When we rest in His forgiveness and step into the transforming promises of relationship with Him, we can stop striving to be “enough.”

Sit in conversation with God using these conversation starters:

Where have I been frantic to fix something that God’s inviting me to release for transformation instead?
How would it feel to stop striving and trust God to grow what feels unfinished?

Closing Thoughts + Prayer

Prayer Starter:
Lord, open my eyes to see Your glory all around. Let Your goodness be the light that fills my life and spills into others.

Transform me until what shines from me looks like You.

… sit in conversation with God and meditate on what He’s saying to you about this.

Closing Thought:
Every light you hang this week can remind you of this truth:
His glory isn’t decoration — it’s transformation.

The brightness of Christmas isn’t what we see around us… it’s Who dwells within us.

We’ve seen His glory in Jesus — but His arrival was not a new plan. Next week we’ll trace the story of a God who has always been moving toward His people, from the tabernacle to today.