Jesus said to all the people there, “It is written in the Scriptures, ‘My Temple will be called a house for prayer.‘ But you are changing it into a ‘hideout for robbers.’” (Matthew 21:13)
Jesus cleared the temple of everything that was going on in it that never should have been going on in a holy place. Even if your holy place hasn’t become a marketplace as in Matthew 21, consider how “set apart” as a house of prayer it is.
What is God-honoring about the place in which you worship?
What isn’t God-honoring about the place in which you worship?
Are you personally honoring God in what you say and do, in your attitudes and in your relationships?
Being a house of prayer isn’t just about having a time of prayer. Opening and closing a worship service (or your day) with prayer doesn’t keep everything in between focused on God. Yielding to God every step of the way is the only way to remain focused on God.
Who do you run to when you have a question or problem?
Who gets the glory and thanks when something goes well?
Who sets your to-do list and modifies it as situations change?
Who determines the use of time, energy, and resources?
Who is central to all decisions, actions, and thoughts…not just in theory but in everyday practice?
The holy place isn’t just where you worship with others. You are personally a holy place.
Don’t you know that you are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit lives in you? (1 Corinthians 3:16)
What is robbing you of being a fully-committed house of prayer? How have you replaced God’s will with anything contrary to it? Who are you allowing to occupy time, space, and effort in your life that is reserved for God and God alone?
Jesus does a great job of clearing the junk out of the temple. Invite him to do the same within you.
Such a good word!! It never ceases to amaze me how much God wants to rid us of those thoughts, attitudes, and actions that don’t belong in our lives. The Holy Spirit never ceases His commune with us….EVER. How I long to be consumed with heart and mind of Christ.
Thank you, Leighann. Let’s commit to pursuing AND yielding to God….today, right now, consistently and constantly!
How long does it take to get to that place where very whisper is a question to and direction from God? A lifetime I’m sure. Oh to be so confident in my walk with Christ that ther is no hesitation in whom I turn to in every moment of my waking and sleeping.
Thank you Susan for asking the hard questions.
It is most definitely a process! I think the process takes a lifetime, but it’s important to grow throughout the process. I know that sounds obvious, but I think we can sometimes say “Oh, I hope I have that kind of faith someday” and we don’t intentionally make an effort to do what we can in our “today” in order to grow toward “tomorrow.” God will teach and prepare us where we are. We need to celebrate the small steps in growth and let God build, one step at a time, instead of just expecting a building to suddenly pop up in our lives. Let’s be sure we’re trusting his to build within us TODAY! 🙂 Blessings!
Good one, Susan! (They all are good, but I agree wholeheartedly.)
Thanks, Susan!