In John 14:16, “And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever”. 

The Greek word used for “be with you” is meno. Meno means to stay in a given place, abide, dwell, endure, to be present, remain, stand and to tarry. In this scripture, Jesus was speaking about the Holy Ghost. The Holy Ghost is with us, he dwells in us, he is present in us, he remains in us, he abides within us. What a powerful thought.  

I have a visual of the Holy Ghost setting up a house in our bodies. He has designed the architecture as well as the landscape. The Holy Ghost has picked paint color, ordered furniture and is dwelling in you. He plans to remain in that given place forever. For the Holy Ghost to choose to abide in us, how special must that location be. 

The same Greek word, meno,  is used over 100 times in the New Testament. In most of those occurrences it is referring to where they are physically staying. Scriptures on which house they were staying at or where someone was remaining, where someone dwelt etc. I love that Jesus used the same word to describe how the Holy Ghost was going to be with us. The Holy Ghost is staying with us, remaining with us, he is dwelling in us. That word choice there I believe is very intentional. He wanted to give the disciples the visual of not being alone, of having someone remain with them even after He was gone. I believe He chose this word to comfort His disciples. 

Jesus could have used a word that meant; to visit, pass by, temporary. Yet He chose a word with permanence. He chose a word with staying power. Little moments like this make me love my relationship with Jesus even more. The fact that so much thought and care was put into a little word He spoke, imagine the care He puts into everything else. It makes me fall in love with Him all over again. 

Confessions:

The Lord is with me. 

The Lord dwells in me.

The Lord has settled in me. 

The Lord has established His habitation in me. 

The Lord is present in me. 

The Lord endures and continues with me. 

Posted on 2/1/2022