Baseball players practice and imagine hitting that home run long before they actually hit one.

Business owners imagine a successful business long before they open their doors for that

business. Little girls sometimes imagine a beautiful wedding before they’re old enough to date!

God gave us the gift of imagination. So, would you join me in a healthy use of that gift as we

imagine what it would be like to be a prayerful part of a praying church?

I believe that when Jesus imagined the church at prayer, He couldn’t imagine a church that

didn’t pray! I think that’s probably why He turned things upside down in the temple and said, “It

is written, my house will be called a house of prayer, but you are making it a den of

thieves!” (Matthew 21:13)

As you look at the church today, hopefully you don’t see that it has become a “den of thieves” –

but what has it become? Has it become a country club of people who all look alike, think alike,

speak alike, dress alike? Or has it become more a picture of heaven – with every tribe, nation,

and tongue represented?

As we imagine the look of a praying church, here is something I hope we will see: a church with

more diversity both of appearance and thought – a little picture of heaven. After this I looked,

and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all

tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb. (Revelation 7:9)

After several visions, Peter finally came to this conclusion: Now I truly understand that God

doesn’t show favoritism, but in every nation the person who fears Him and does what is

right is acceptable to Him. (Acts 10:34-35)

Father, I pray that our church will be a welcoming place. I pray that people of all shades and

tones of color, all nationalities, all languages, will be drawn to this place. In addition to diversity

in appearance, I pray that we welcome those who are on a variety of spots on their spiritual path

– from the sinner who has come as a last resort to the one who is searching for answers -- from

the new believer that is ready to take off on the faith journey to the long-time believer who is

seeking to grow closer to you. Acknowledging that we are all sinners in need of a Savior, I pray

that we humbly accept your grace and willingly dispense that same grace to others. Let our

church be a little bit like heaven. In the strong name of Jesus, I pray. Amen

By Judy Shrout