June 24, 2026 – Daily Devotional
these I will bring to my holy mountain
and give them joy in my house of prayer.
Their burnt offerings and sacrifices
will be accepted on my altar;
for my house will be called
a house of prayer for all nations.” -Isaiah 56:7
Each summer, I am blessed to participate in Youth Force. Youth Force is a mission experience for our middle- and high-school students. They spend an entire week working on homes, restoring them, so that the homeowners have a better living environment. They complete tasks such as installing insulation and siding, building wheelchair ramps, and even installing new roofs when called for. It is amazing to see the work they accomplish by the end of the week. It is equally exciting to see the joy of the homeowners who have received such a gift.
This past week, while I was at Youth Force, I was reminded of something else that brought joy to my heart during the event. Each night, the students and adults of Youth Force gather for worship. On Wednesday night of worship, we are joined by the homeowners’ families. It is a powerful experience as we all come together to worship. This past week, we were blessed to have every homeowner join us for dinner and worship. It was a beautiful picture of God’s kingdom. At the end of worship, each homeowner was surrounded by the group that was working on their house. They took time to pray for their homeowner and their family. As I stood in the middle of that room, I looked around at 150 youth and adults holding hands and praying. I knew, as I looked around, I was seeing God’s kingdom on earth, just as it is in heaven.
At the end of the 23rd Psalm, the psalmist reminds us of the hope we have as God’s people. We are told that we, “Shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever.” What a joy to know that we will always have shelter from the harsh elements of this world. But have you ever asked what takes place in the house of the Lord? One element that is made clear in the scriptures is that the house of God will be “A house of prayer for all.” (Isaiah 56:7) This phrase is repeated several times in the scriptures and even quoted by Jesus after he clears the temple. Prayer is a core practice in the house of God.
We are blessed with the gift of prayer. It is an opportunity to converse with God. It is an intimate dialogue with the one who leads us to green pastures, still waters, and through the valley of the shadow of death. Because the shepherd is always close to us, we should be people who take full advantage of the gift of prayer. It is an opportunity to connect our lives with the One who loves us all. I want to encourage you to pray today. Take your worries, problems, fears, and joys to the shepherd. It is in prayer that your life is met by goodness and mercy.
-Keith King, Pastor of Worship
