Isaiah 56:7: “Even them I will bring to My holy mountain, / And make them joyful in My house of prayer. / Their burnt offerings and their sacrifices / Will be accepted on My altar; / For My house shall be called a house of prayer for all nations.”

September 19th, 2024 by Pastor Ed in devotional

This verse is a familiar one because Jesus quoted it as he drove the corrupt moneychangers and dishonest sacrificial-animal traffickers out the temple: “It is written, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer,’ but you have made it a ‘den of thieves'” (Matt. 21:13­). The commercialism in God’s house was frustrating believers’ attempts to worship, creating a roadblock or wall, separating them from an encounter with the living God. The merchants took the focus off of worshiping God in truth and spirit by abusing and ripping the worshipers off. We must be careful that our lives and actions never become a roadblock to others. We are all supposed to be living examples of God’s character. When someone does not know God, they get their impression of who He is by how we live. That is why it is so important for us to walk the walk, if we are in fact, talking the talk.

God’s house is a house of prayer. Prayer is simply talking to God. It’s not a one-sided speech, but a two-sided conversation. Prayer may be the most powerful tool we have been given by our heavenly Father. Far too often we rely on our personal efforts to accomplish a work for God, only coming to God in prayer after we fall flat on our face. How much less painful and more efficient it would be if we would just first start with prayer. Over and over again we are told that God resists the proud and self-sufficient, but draws near to the humble, honest, needy follower. Our admission of empty weakness seems to make room for His power and grace.

The old story, “In A Mysterious Way,” by Harriet A. Cheever, tells of a lawyer who came back to his client to tell him that he could not bring a suit against an elderly couple that would cost them their home. When asked by his client if the old couple had frightened him off or begged to have their home spared, he said no, that before they knew he was there he had overheard them talking. “I stepped into the little hall, and through a crack in the door I saw on the bed an old woman. She said: `Come, Father, now begin. I’m all ready.’ Down on his knees by her side went the old white-haired man. First he reminded God that they were still His submissive children, and that whatever He saw fit to bring upon them they would accept. It would be hard for them to be homeless in their old age. How different it would have been if at least one of their boys had been spared. Then he quoted several promises assuring the safety of those who put their trust in God. Last of all he prayed for God’s blessing on those who were demanding justice.” “Afraid to defeat the old man’s prayer?” asked the client. “You couldn’t defeat that prayer!” said the lawyer, “My mother used to sing, `God moves in a mysterious way.'” “Well, my mother used to sing that, too,” said the client. “You can call in the morning and tell them that the claim has been met.”

“LORD, we pray, asking You to direct our walk this day as we seek to serve You and Your Kingdom.”