Day 14: A Dwelling Place for God
Bible passage: Psalm 95:6–8; Matthew 13:53–58; Ephesians 2:19–22
A Town That Missed Him
Today is Tuesday 14th of January 2020. Welcome to Day 14 of our 21 Days of Prayer and Fasting. Two weeks are complete. Today we pray for the presence of God in our community.
Matthew records a sad moment in the life of Jesus. He returned to Nazareth, where He had grown up, and taught in the synagogue. People were amazed, and then they were offended. They knew His family, and they thought they knew all about Him. Matthew tells us that He did only a few miracles there because of their unbelief (Matthew 13:58).
God Himself was standing in their street, and they missed Him.
Making Room for His Presence
Soft Hearts
Psalm 95 calls us to come, to bow down and to kneel before the Lord our Maker, because He is our God and we are the people He watches over (Psalm 95:6–7). Then comes a warning. “If only you would listen to his voice today!” Psalm 95:7 (NLT)
The psalm reminds us of Israel in the wilderness, who hardened their hearts although they had seen everything God had done (Psalm 95:8–9). Familiarity can harden us. We can be around the things of God for years and stop expecting Him to do anything.
Someone to Stand in the Gap
Again and again in Scripture, God looks for a person or a people who will pray for their city. He told Ezekiel that He had looked for someone to stand in the gap in the wall on behalf of the land (Ezekiel 22:30).
He visited Nineveh when its people turned to Him. He moved in power in Jerusalem, in Antioch and in Ephesus. He has not changed. So we are right to ask: why not here, and why not now?
A House Where God Lives
Paul gives us a wonderful picture of the church. We are members of God’s family, built together on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus Himself as the cornerstone. In Him we are being made into a dwelling where God lives by His Spirit (Ephesians 2:19–22).
God does not live in a building made of bricks. He lives in His people. When we carry His presence into our streets, our schools and our workplaces, our community has every opportunity to meet Him.
Praying for Our Community
Three Steps for Today
Ask for a soft heart. Tell God that you do not want to become so used to Him that you stop expecting Him to move.
Pray for your neighbours by name. Think of the homes on either side of yours and across the road. Pray for each household. If you do not know their names, make it your aim to find out.
Pray for the churches. Pray for every church and church leader in Wythenshawe, and for all the ways they show the compassion of Jesus.
Prayer for Today:
Heavenly Father, I lift my neighbours to You. Fill our streets with Your presence, so that people will hear You speak and see You at work in their lives. Keep my heart soft and my faith alive. Make our church a dwelling place for Your Spirit, and lift up Your Son over this community. Why not here, Lord, and why not now? In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Keep going
See every day of this guide on our Prayer & Fasting page.
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