Focus

As you quiet yourself for this brief time, be willing to be open to God in whatever way that may take place.

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Read

Psalm 122 (NRSV)

I was glad when they said to me,
“Let us go to the house of the LORD!”
Our feet are standing
within your gates, O Jerusalem.

Jerusalem—built as a city
that is bound firmly together.
To it the tribes go up,
the tribes of the LORD,
as was decreed for Israel,
to give thanks to the name of the LORD.
For there the thrones for judgment were set up,
the thrones of the house of David.

Pray for the peace of Jerusalem:
“May they prosper who love you.
Peace be within your walls,
and security within your towers.”
For the sake of my relatives and friends
I will say, “Peace be within you.”
For the sake of the house of the LORD our God,
I will seek your good.

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Reflect

Psalm 122:1 is the first Bible verse I learned. It’s still a favorite, especially when I see children run down the church aisles to participate in worship or eagerly gather for youth activities. How happy they are to be in the house of God where they are accepted and invited to draw near to the Source of love and life. How joyful to come to know God’s presence through loving communion with one another! And how amazing to know that Jesus has opened the way for all of God’s children to dwell in God’s house wherever we are.

Jesus brings the kingdom of God to be within and among us! We are invited dwell in the house of God whenever or wherever we worship God in spirit and truth, which should be everywhere and at all times. So let us eagerly go to the house of the Lord daily and worship there. May the peace of Christ live within our hearts, minds, and lives as we dwell together in God’s house, starting here and now, and lasting forever!

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Pray

Holy God, thank you for calling us to your dwelling place. Thank you for coming into our dwelling place! Thank you for Jesus who brings these together so that we can worship you in spirit and truth in all we do. Show us how to do that. Lead us daily in the way of true and living worship. Help us to dwell together in peace with you and with one another. We ask this in the name of Jesus our Lord. Amen.

Go with God.