God Is Really Among You

One of the striking verses in 1 Corinthians 14 is 14:25. Paul writes that an unbeliever should be able to leave an assembly of Christians with a clear sense that God was with those people in that place during that time of worship. I think there should be a beatitude saying, "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for God, for when they are in the assembly of God's children, God will join them." I think I could find the verses to make that beatitude come to life. We know that it is true.

Here in the heart of Austin, we have a hunger in our hearts for God. God is willing to join us as the Spirit within our hearts as he indwells us and among us as we gather as the temple of God. We are going to practice inviting God to join us. We are going to invite and welcome the Holy Spirit into our worship assembly. This Sunday we will pray the following prayer together as we begin our time of gathered worship:

Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful and kindle in them the fire of your love. Send forth your Spirit and they shall be created. And you shall renew the face of the earth. O God, who by the light of the Holy Spirit did instruct the hearts of the faithful, grant that by the same Holy Spirit we may be truly wise and every enjoy your consolations. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

We always worship with Holy Spirit present. He cannot be absent from the children of God. Still we will be blessed as we openly and intentionally ask the Holy Spirit to come among us and as we lay aside all impediments to his ability to transform our hearts and wills. May we and those who are visiting leave saying, "God is really among you!"

This prayer is not a bad prayer to pray as we start our day—any day.

God bless us all.