Why Night and Day? — Part Two September 1, 2008
Posted by Josiah in Prayer Room, The Night Watch.Tags: Acts, Amos, Bible, Blog, David, Day, God, House, Isaiah, James, Jesus, Levite, Night, Nightwatch, Pleasure, Prayer, Prayer Room, Psalms, Roseville, Tabernacle, Worship, Zion
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My first installment in this little double-whammy-post was mostly about the Biblical rationale for having a 24/7 prayer room. In a sentence: we pray night and day to create a place on Earth where God can dwell with us all the time, and to prepare the way for His second coming; fulfilling scriptures in Isaiah, Amos, and Acts, among others.
This post will be more personal; why I pray day and night. If you don’t read my blog on a regular basis (that’s probably most of you), about a month ago I wrote very briefly on the Nightwatch. So, take this post in addition to that one.
Knowing that I am a part of a group that is praying all the time is comforting. When I was at IHOP-KC I was constantly aware of fact that there were people across the parking lot from my apartment praying. All the time. Praying as I slept, praying as I ate, praying as I prayed. Just being a part of that is like nothing I’ve ever done — or felt. The house of prayer here in Roseville is not 24/7 yet, but it will be, and until then I’ll take what I can get.
God’s presence rests in the prayer room. There are times and places when I feel God, and there are those when I don’t; but that doesn’t change the fact that He is here. This is His house (Isaiah 56:7). I want to be here all time — that means night and day — similar to the way David felt in Psalm 27:4.
I can honestly say that worship and prayer is not just my calling; it’s my pleasure. Which is great, because guess what God takes pleasure in? Me, praying and worshiping (Psalm 149). I like it, He likes it, He lives here, I want to stay here… sounds like a recipe for night and day prayer to me. :)
Oh, and let’s not forget my blog’s namesake psalm:
Behold, bless the LORD, all servants of the LORD, who stand by night in the house of the LORD! Lift up your hands in the sanctuary and bless the LORD. May the LORD bless you from Zion, He who made heaven and earth. — Psalm 134
That verse tells me that there is a unique blessing for those set apart to pray in the night; it’s the Nightwatcher’s Psalm.
-J
That was good. You do a lot better writing from your passion than writing a “college essay.” Part One sounded like a checklist that you were just trying to cross off. Of course, it is 3am, I could just be too dang critical. But there you go.