Hear from Heaven

2 Chronicles 6:20-21

“May your eyes be open toward this temple day and night, this place of which you said you would put your Name there. May you hear the prayer your servant prays toward this place. 21 Hear the supplications of your servant and of your people Israel when they pray toward this place. Hear from heaven, your dwelling place; and when you hear, forgive.”

Once Solomon had completed the Temple, there was a big dedication ceremony. After blessing the entire assembly of Israel, Solomon turned back to the altar of the Lord in the Temple, spread out his hands, and prayed his own prayer of dedication (see 2 Chronicles 6 for full text).

Today’s passage is just one of the powerfully anointed parts of his prayer, but this section is key for us today. As Christians, we benefit from Jesus tearing down the vail of separation from God through His death and resurrection. We do not go to a particular place like a Temple where God dwells on Earth to offer our prayers through a priest. No, we are the temple!

As New Testament Christians, we are the very dwelling place of God on Earth through His Holy Spirit who resides in us. See 1 Corinthians 6:19. Similar to this passage, we know God’s eyes are always open towards us because all of Heaven is attracted to the Spirit of Christ within us. When we lift our voices to Him, with repentant, humble hearts, we know He hears us (1 John 3:21-22):

“Dear friends, if our hearts do not condemn us, we have confidence before God 22 and receive from him anything we ask, because we keep his commands and do what pleases him.”

TODAY’S CHALLENGE:

Tell the Father how thankful you are to be His dwelling place on Earth by His Holy Spirit.

Dive Deeper: Study 2 Chronicles 6; 1 Corinthians 6:19; 1 John 3:21-22.