Oct 27 – EVERYWHERE!

“…the hour is coming when you will neither on this mountain, nor in Jerusalem, worship the Father” (John 4:21).
It is our period in which God can be worshipped from any place. During the days of the Old Testament, there were particular places for worshipping. Some of the Israelites worshipped God in Mount Samaria. Some others worshipped in the temple at Jerusalem. These were their venues of worshipping.
Coming to the New Testament, God did not insist on venues for worshipping. What He insisted on was how one should worship. How should you worship? You have to worship God with Spirit, truth and with all your heart and mind. This is the most important thing.
In the days of the Old Testament, the Israelites gave importance to the temple. They converted the temple at Jerusalem into an idol and thereby left God. As a result, God had to allow its destruction.
Our God does not dwell in the temple built by hands. The Scripture says, “Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?” (I Corinthians 3:16).
You remain as the temple of God. The prayer which emerges from you should be with Spirit and truth. God has given you the freedom to worship Him from any place. Paul the Apostle writes, “I desire therefore that the men pray everywhere, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting” (I Timothy 2:8). Think of the word ‘everywhere.’ How truly the Word of God ‘the time will come for worshipping God everywhere’ is getting fulfilled!
Look at Jesus Christ. He went out and departed to a solitary place and prayed (Mark 1:35). He often withdrew into the wilderness and prayed (Luke 5:16). He went out to the mountain and prayed (Luke 6:12). He prayed earnestly in the Garden of Gethsemane (Luke 22:44).
God desires that you should pray. He expects you to pray with Spirit and truth. Some people bow their heads and pray (Exodus 12:27). Some people raise their hands and pray (Leviticus 9:22, Luke 24:50). Some others look up to heaven and pray (Psalm 25:15, Acts 7:55). Few more people pray, falling on their faces (Genesis 17:3, Luke 17:16).
Dear children of God. Where you pray and in what position you pray are not important. But, what is essential is that you should pray with Spirit, truth and faith. More important is that you should pray with faith and a clean heart.
To meditate: “Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men” (I Timothy 2:1).