The House of Prayer

Artist: Meg Cheug

Passing by a tiny house, evening-stars came out to shine, my heart was touched by what I heard as I listened to these compelling words…
Such conviction hit my soul
They were calm and reassuring, yet courageous and bold
I stopped and I listened to this heart whose words were powerful and carefree…
If I didn’t know better, I’d say she was praying for me…

“Holy God and Holy Ghost show me Jesus, in him there is no fear
He lives and moves and intercedes and wipes away all tears…
Let me live in such a way that others want to know
Who and why I love and preach and where I need to go,
To hear about the one who came, lived and died and rose; the one I’ve come to realize O how he loves me so…
Make me a house of prayer, Lord, let your presence dwell in me
To seek you with all my heart, so that you will always be…
All I ever want and all I’ll ever need…
Teach me to love as you love, to be gracious and kind, open my understanding, open my heart and mind
To see and live in such a way that will draw others to the divine…
May my motivation be, to see others come to thee…to let go of all the thrills and frills this ole world tries to fill yet leaves us, lost and empty…
I pray for guidance and peace, for all humanity…that only comes from knowing you, Lord Jesus, I pray for all to be set free…
Draw, by your Holy Spirit, each person you’ve designed, to come into your kingdom, open the eyes that are blind…
Open the deaf ears, so they can hear, your Spirit compelling them to come,
And drink of the living waters, Holy Father don’t let them succumb
To the enemy of their souls…burn up all the dross, with your Holy Ghost and fire…this is my prayer O God give us a supernatural desire…
A house of prayer I want to be, Lord here my cry and answer me…
Give them a heart of flesh, take the stone and roll it away…
By your holy power, open their hearts today
Send your light and flood their tomb
So that darkness cannot stay…
Make me a house of prayer, O God…where your presence securely dwells
Where goodness and mercy and love and grace spring up from your living well…
To taste and see that you are good in this house of prayer we’ll be fed…
From your heavenly table, Lord, give us our daily bread…
Come, all ye who labor and are heavy burdened and I will give you rest…leave all your burdens at the door come now and be blessed… come to this house of prayer I implore you, knock upon the door, for the one who lives within this house, is waiting patiently for you there.
Lord, make this house, a house of prayer!”

~Marla Shaw O’Neill January 1, 2020

Isaiah 56:7 New American Standard Bible (NASB)
Even those I will bring to My holy mountain
And make them joyful in My house of prayer.
Their burnt offerings and their sacrifices will be acceptable on My altar;
For My house will be called a house of prayer for all the peoples.”

Matthew 21:13 New International Version (NIV) “It is written,” he said to them, “‘My house will be called a house of prayer,’ but you are making it ‘a den of robbers.’”