Prayer is conversation with God, which is especially important when you’re building the house of prayer.
In life, we like to talk about the things that please us. It might be a good movie, a festive meal, or a special person or relationship, but the reality is the same—where there’s joy, the praise is natural, even effortless.
Affection leads to worship, because we naturally praise what delights us.
And while there is much joy to be found on earth, there’s nothing more pleasing than the Lord. Knowing Him and being in His presence is our ultimate delight, as David expressed in Psalm 16:11: “In Your presence is fullness of joy; at Your right hand are pleasures forevermore,” words he wrote looking ahead to the day when he would be fully with the Lord.
David also wrote Psalm 27:4, “One thing I have desired of the Lord, that will I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord, and to inquire in His temple.”
Here, he’s describing worship and prayer. It started with dwelling in God’s house, spending time with the Lord. Time with God in worship, prayer, and Scripture study reveals His beauty. Jesus’ beauty includes His power, mercy, wisdom, goodness, salvation, and plan to manifest His kingdom “on earth as it is in heaven” (Matthew 6:10).
The longer David dwelt in the Lord’s presence, the more he saw of His beauty. This prompted him to ask more questions, to know God better, and to understand what He desired on earth.
As the return of Christ nears, God is raising up people with a heart like David’s. David established singers and musicians around the ark of the covenant in Jerusalem to praise God day and night (1 Chronicles 23:5; 25:7). He also drafted plans for the first temple, plans to build a house for God’s glory (2 Samuel 7; 1 Chronicles 28).
David “served the purpose of God in his own generation,” and it can be the same for us as we follow in his footsteps (Acts 13:36, ESV).
Since we have the full revelation of Scripture, including Isaiah and Revelation, we can learn even more about the eternal reality.
Isaiah 6 and Revelation 4 tell us that in heaven, God is being worshiped continually, with the living creatures and the twenty-four elders praising Him day and night (Isaiah 6:1–6; Revelation 4:8–11). He is worthy, because He is holy, and one day all the world will know.
In Isaiah 56:7, God says that His house “shall be called a house of prayer for all nations.” Jesus, the son of David, quoted this same verse when He cleansed the temple of the money changers (Mark 11:15–17).
There is great zeal in God’s heart to be worshiped by people who love Him like David did. All around the world, men and women are learning to delight in Him and to long to see Jesus worshiped continually, “on earth as it is in heaven.”
The modern house of prayer reality is not limited to one expression, but many are combining prayer and worship, helping people find enjoyable prayer and fellowship with God.
As God raises up lovesick worshipers, ones who are consumed with Jesus’ beauty, the incense of prayer is arising globally (Revelation 5:8). And this scent will continue to reach God’s throne, accumulating in the golden bowls, until Jesus comes to make things “on earth as it is in heaven.”
What is your part in building the house of prayer?
