Monday, December 8, 2014 Psalm
122
Andy Kramer
Psalm 122 begins with, “I was glad when they said to me, ‘Let
us go to the house of the Lord.’" During my teenage years I know there were many
times when I was unwillingly dragged to church, but even during those years, I
believe I was glad to go to church on Christmas Eve. As long as I can remember,
the Christmas Eve church service has always been one of my favorite
services. It is a service filled with anticipation. As a child,
Christmas Eve service meant we were just one night away from Santa coming and
all the presents that would be under the Christmas tree the next morning.
As a college student and young adult, it meant reconnecting with friends and
family that I haven't seen in a long time and returning to that
"comfortable" place of worship that I grew up in. One of my
favorite moments through all the years and still today is when the lights are
lowered and we sing Silent Night with just candles lighting up the
sanctuary. What is amazing is regardless of where I go to worship on
Christmas Eve – my childhood church in Pennsylvania, one of the churches where my
dad has lead worship over the last ten years, a church in West Virginia with my
sister or at Westminster - the tradition of Silent Night sung by candlelight is
a constant. There is a peacefulness that is usually felt during this
tradition. Maybe the joy of singing Silent Night is knowing that at that
particular moment, I am at peace and can feel the love of God.
I believe this is the kind of peace the psalmist is praying for in Psalm 122, that everything would be still and we could feel God's presence. What is interesting is who the psalmist is praying for. Sure he prays for his friends and family, but he also prays for an entire city, his city, and prays for peace within the city. I must confess that this is a prayer that I rarely pray. How great would it be if the peace that we experience on Christmas Eve could be shared throughout the city of Nashville and not just on Christmas Eve, but throughout the year? I think Psalm 122 is calling us to pray for our city. And beyond that, I feel that we are called to act on that prayer and find ways to share this peace and God's love with the people of this city.
Prayer: Loving God, thank you for your love and peace. Help us to take that love and peace and share it with people we meet. Amen.
I believe this is the kind of peace the psalmist is praying for in Psalm 122, that everything would be still and we could feel God's presence. What is interesting is who the psalmist is praying for. Sure he prays for his friends and family, but he also prays for an entire city, his city, and prays for peace within the city. I must confess that this is a prayer that I rarely pray. How great would it be if the peace that we experience on Christmas Eve could be shared throughout the city of Nashville and not just on Christmas Eve, but throughout the year? I think Psalm 122 is calling us to pray for our city. And beyond that, I feel that we are called to act on that prayer and find ways to share this peace and God's love with the people of this city.
Prayer: Loving God, thank you for your love and peace. Help us to take that love and peace and share it with people we meet. Amen.
Daily Challenge: Pray for your city and look for opportunities to help share God's love and bring peace to a stranger.
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