With all the new homes being built around us, we can regularly see and be reminded how a house is constructed. We can witness the foundation being laid and the walls being raised and all the other aspects of a dwelling that make it a secure structure. If there is not careful attention given to each aspect of a house in its construction, then it will not stand the test of time. There are some houses that have been standing for a very long time that remain sturdy because they are well built. Jesus, in Matthew 21:13 quotes Old Testament Scripture from Isaiah when He speaks about the temple: “My house will be called a house of prayer…” It is God’s intention that when His people gather together for worship that prayer is a central part of our activity. Our opportunities to pray are not reserved to when we gather for worship in our churches. We can turn to God in prayer wherever we are and know that the prayers we pray are part of building a sturdy structure that will stand the test of time. Eventually, the temple in Jerusalem was destroyed, but the prayers that had been faithfully offered up to God could never be torn down. Likewise for us, if our lives are building a house of prayer through our daily praise and petitions presented to God, that is something that can never be destroyed. Each week when we participate in our WEDNESDAY PRAYER TOGETHER, we are choosing to build a lasting house of prayer. Please plan to join us tomorrow for this set aside time of prayer at 1 pm.
Trusting God to build a strong and lasting structure that draws attention to Him through the prayers that we pray, Pastor Lola
Our God we thank You for this gift of prayer. Thank You that we can come with our honest thoughts and feelings. We come recognizing how much we need You. We want to build a sturdy house of prayer. We pray for our lives to be focused consistently on praying for Your will in all things. Thank You God that when we choose to commit ourselves to prayer that this is an indestructible structure. Please keep revealing to us the power of prayer. We pray for Your grace to bring our true selves into the light of Your Presence. It is clear to us that every day we need You to help us in answering the question, “What would Jesus do”? We also seek Your Divine help in living the answer to that question. In particular this week, we are praying for our words to be the words that Jesus would speak. Please guard us against a quick response that has not been prayed over and surrendered to You. We pray to be set free from self absorption that leads us to respond with defensiveness or anger instead of compassion. We see potential for our words to bring healing and understanding and we pray for us to choose those words that do reflect the love of Jesus. When we are tired, please guard us against speaking words that we later regret. We are asking for the wisdom to know when not to speak. When our words are spoken out of resentment, we pray that You will do Your work of transformation to change that attitude. And God when we find that we are feeling sorry for ourselves, we pray to move from that dwelling place to live instead in a house of prayer. Thank You for the firm foundation of Your Son Jesus. Thank You for walls built with the outpouring of Your love for us our love for You and our constant dependence on You. Thank You for a roof of Your mercy to cover us and everyone for whom we pray. When the outcome of our prayers is not that for which we hoped, we pray that we will not give up on utilizing this gift of prayer. We pray that we will not abandon construction of a house of prayer. Where other pursuits draw us away from this essential commitment to pray, we are asking You God to clear away whatever interferes with You having first place in our lives and in the words that we speak. We offer our prayers now for those who are facing difficulties and disappointments. We pray that our prayers will support their faith in You and that the house of prayer being built will be strong and enduring. All of this we commit to you in prayer in Jesus’ Name, AMEN.