properly prepared

By David Nicksic

I first became friends with Paul in 2017, and our friendship deepened during Exodus 90 (a spiritual program for men) in January of 2019. I had already shared a long-standing friendship with his brother in-law, Andy, and the three of us went through Exodus 90 together. That experience became a pivotal moment in our lives.

During that time, our friendship grew into something deeply meaningful and truly holy. As we walked through the discipline and prayer of Exodus 90 together, our spiritual lives began to take off. We supported one another, challenged one another, and grew closer not only as friends, but as brothers in Christ.

Through this journey, my own relationship with Christ accelerated in a profound way. My faith became deeper, stronger and more alive than it had ever been before.

During that time, I also witnessed many of the spiritual experiences Paul was having. Through these experiences, not only did our friendships grow stronger, but the impact began to extend beyond just the three of us. The experience began to encompass our families as well, drawing all of us deeper into faith and into a shared spiritual journey.

A few years later Paul and Molly began telling me about something called, The Divine House Guest and the prayer process that was developing. About a year after that, I received a packet in the mail explaining the devotion.

My spiritual life, however, has often been one of ebb and flow- much more desert than consolation. I have been fighting the good fight, struggling to build a relationship with the Holy Spirit that would move me into the spiritual warrior, disciple and battler for Christ that I have always wanted to become.

There were moments of spiritual sloth. Moments where I could not hear the voice of God at all. Moments where I felt somewhat abandoned. At times I had probably also become a little too friendly with the world and its trappings.

During those years our family also went through a very difficult time with one of my children, which required enormous attention, energy, and prayer as we fought a very real spiritual battle within our home.

EXODUS 90 -2026

Fast forward to Exodus 90 in 2026.

I was listening to Andy during one of our Exodus 90 meetings when he brought up the Divine House Guest devotion. I was inspired to start it. I had only looked at it twice since the time it was promulgated -and I felt guilty that I hadn't embraced it - but as I said my spiritual life was not so inspired but very dry and difficult. Since the start of '26 I had really been intentional about relying on the Lord and realized I can do nothing without the Holy Spirit. I began begging for an infusion of His gifts praying, "Come Holy Spirit" very many times during the day and the night.

I was trying to develop a real relationship with the Holy Spirit- for clarity, strength, guidance, and the courage to step into the next phase of my relationship with Christ. I knew that only the Holy Spirit could bring that transformation.

Two weeks ago, while doing my Exodus 90 readings before the Tabernacle, I was reading from the Book of Leviticus where the Lord says to Moses:

"Tell Aaron your brother not to come at all times into the holy place within the veil before the mercy seat... lest he die. For I will appear in the cloud upon the mercy seat."

The passage continues describing how Aaron must come properly prepared- with offerings, holy garments, purification, and reverence before entering the presence of God.

Right after reading that passage, I began reading the DHG for the first time intentionally, where the prayer reminds us that before entering the church, we should make an act of contrition, make a grand genuflection and bless ourselves with holy water.

Suddenly, something dawned on me.

Every time I walked into church- where the Mystical Mass is celebrated- I had often walked in casually. I had grown comfortable.

Just as Aaron had grown comfortable in approaching the veil. But God reminded him that the temple is entered with reverence, prepared and clothed in holiness.

I realized that I too had sometimes walked into church as if it were simply another building off the street, forgetting that the same God who appeared in the burning bush and dwelt above the Ark of the Covenant, is the same Lord living in the Tabernacle.

PREPARATION BEFORE ENTERING

When I followed what the prayer recommended in the DHG- I actually went outside the church and entered, this time making an Act of Contrition, blessing myself with holy water, making the sign of the Cross, and offering a grand genuflection- I realized I was not simply performing small devotional actions.

I was preparing myself to enter holy ground.

Through the act of contrition, I was being cleansed.

Through the holy water I was recalling the waters of my baptism.

Through the sign of the Cross, I was sealing myself again with the mark of Christ.

Through the genuflection, I was acknowledging the true presence of the King before whom I stand.

These actions were not small gestures- they were spiritual preparation, like putting on holy garments. Much like Aaron entering the Holy of Holies to offer sacrifice before the Lord, I too was preparing to enter a sacred meeting with God.

And in that moment of preparation something changed within me.

The Holy Spirit moved.

And I entered into my very first Divine House Guest meditation.

THE HOUSE

As I entered my interior house, an image of Christ the King came from the Tabernacle and blessed me in the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

Then the meeting space began forming. It was as if the room itself was being built.

Almost immediately, an entire host of saints and angels began to appear: Our Blessed Mother, St. Joseph, St. Martha, St. Mary Magdalene, St. Gemma Galgani, Fr. Dolindo Routolo, St. Ignatius of Loyola, St. Augustine, St. Thomas Aquinas, St. Padre Pio, St. Josemaria Escriva and St. Julian of Norwich.

Later even St. Therese of Lisieux appeared smiling with joy.

My kitchen was suddenly full of angels and saints preparing to welcome the Lord. I washed His feet. I washed His hands. I massaged them with oil. I baked the cakes of gratitude. With the help of Martha, I prepared a charcuterie board while Mary Magdalen gathered herbs and berries from the garden. I prepared cured meats from the scullery and gave Him water to drink.

And we shared time together.

Our Lord sitting in my house, surrounded by a court of saints.

WHAT IS THIS HOUSE?

When speaking with Paul afterwards I described it this way: this devotion feels like a spiritual shortcut for our time.

In an age where everything is accelerating and time feels short; we need ways to develop a deep relationship with Christ quickly.

Through the Divine House Guest devotion, the Lord enters our interior life through the Holy Spirit and makes His home with us. The Lord uses our faculties in a way I have never experienced.

At any moment during the day, I can return to that room, that house, that mansion and meet the Lord.

As long as I remain in a state of grace, He is present. The saints are there. The angels are there.

It is as if Heaven itself is dwelling within my soul.

A FASTER WAY TO THE INTERIOR CASTLE

This devotion feels like a way to enter St. Theresa of Avila's interior castle- only faster.

And in these times, it feels like we do not have the luxury of moving slowly.

The world needs spiritual warriors- men and women, who know Christ deeply and personally.

I have found no better way to begin developing that relationship than by welcoming the Divine House Guest, just as Abraham and Sarah welcomed the Lord into their home.

GRATITUDE

I thank God for this devotion. I thank God for the holy friendship He gave me with Paul, Andy and Molly.

Because of this devotion I now enter church differently- with reverence and intentionality, knowing that I am walking into a place where God Himself dwells. Like Aaron after he spoke to Moses.

The Church, the Mass is no longer common but intentional, mystical and real. It is the place where we hold Mama Mary's hand during the Crucifixion, where Our Lord feeds us with His own Body. Thank you Holy Spirit. Thank you Father. Thank you Lord Jesus. Thank you, Mama Mary. Thank you, St. Joseph. Thank you to all the Saints. And thank you to my Guardian Angel who is always with me. Thank you, Paul and Molly.

What an incredible gift- to develop a relationship with Christ so quickly in a time when the world desperately needs spiritual warriors to fight the good fight against the powers of evil.

Deo Gratias.

All Glory to God.

-David