The Holy Work of Living Whole

Imagine this—Jesus sees a man who has been paralyzed for 38 years, waiting by the pool of Bethesda, hoping for healing. Instead of immediately restoring him, Jesus asks, “Do you want to be made whole?”

At first, it seems like an obvious question—of course, he wants to be healed! But Jesus isn’t just asking about his physical condition. He’s asking about his heart, his desires, and his willingness to step into a new way of living.

The phrase “made whole” isn’t just about being able to walk again. It means complete, sound, and restored—body, mind, and soul. Jesus isn’t offering a quick fix; He’s inviting the man into true, lasting wholeness.

And He asks us the same question today. Do you truly want to be made whole? Because wholeness isn’t just about relief from our struggles—it’s about dwelling in God’s presence, aligning our hearts with His truth, being restored mind, body and spirit, and stepping into the fullness He offers.

It’s both an invitation and a challenge - and our response is not about perfection—it’s about the practice of dwelling with the one who dwells with you. A daily returning. A gentle unfolding. A way of living that invites you to breathe deeply, trust fully, and dwell in God’s presence as you learn to walk whole and free.

The DWELL Journal is a companion for the The holy work of living whole - the daily, sacred practice of bringing every part of yourself—your heart, mind, body, and soul—and surrendering it to the work of the Spirit so that we can be strengthened in our inner being and make room for Christ to dwell in our hearts. It’s about learning to live fully present, deeply rooted, and free from striving to be more and do more than God intended for us

It’s holy because it’s God’s work in you—an invitation to experience more of the fullness of Christ’s love for you. And it’s living whole because it’s about embracing all of who you are instead of compartmentalizing your faith, emotions, rest, and purpose.

Living whole looks like:

• Creating rhythms of rest practices that move you into proximity to Jesus and shape you into a person of love
• Renewing your mind – shifting from stuck thoughts to clarity and truth (Romans 12:2).
• Restoring your heart – allowing God to meet you right where you are in the honesty of your heart and emotions
• Living from a place of freedom – knowing who you are in Christ and walking confidently
• Responding to God’s invitation – moving past fear, doubt, or shame and stepping into the life He’s calling you to.
• Reflecting and refocusing  - looking back at where you have been with gratitude and looking ahead at where you are going with intention.

My prayer for this companion not just be a place for words, but a sacred space where you can dwell with the Lord—honestly, freely, and without fear.

I pray that as you write, reflect, and process, Jesus would meet you. May this journal be a companion on your journey to wholeness, a place where you can pour out their heart and hear the Spirit’s voice in return. 

As you turn these pages, breathe deeply in the presence of Jesus, and remember that wholeness is not something to strive for but something to dwell in.