[Devotional] IN HIS PRESENCE: Your family altar

Read: 2 CHRONICLES 20: 1-13

Meditation verse:

“Now all Judah, with their little ones, their wives, and their children, stood before the Lord” (2 Chronicles 20:13). 

There was an emergency in Judah. The people of Moab, Ammon, and Mount Seir came to battle against Jehoshaphat, king of Judah. When they told the king that a great multitude was coming against him, he feared, and set himself to seek the Lord, and proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah. So, all the cities of Judah gathered to ask help from the Lord. 

I recall reading this passage and pondering over the thirteenth verse: “Now all Judah, with their little ones, their wives, and their children, stood before the Lord”. It had already been mentioned earlier that all Judah gathered to seek the face of God. Why was it important to emphasize the fact that the men, their wives, children, and little ones stood before the Lord? The answer came to me as a revelation. When a man stands before God with his wife and children beside him, God honours that commitment and answers them speedily. Psalm 133 states, “Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity! It is like the precious oil upon the head, running down on the beard, the beard of Aaron, running down on the edge of his garments. It is like the dew of Hermon, descending upon the mountains of Zion; for there the Lord commanded the blessing—Life forevermore”. The picture of the family coming together in unity and fellowship strikes a chord in God’s heart.

The family unit is the smallest church, with the man as the priest. The importance of the family coming together daily to pray cannot be ignored. In the family altar, God is worshipped and glorified, the faith of each member is built up and issues are resolved. “Unless the Lord builds the house, they labour in vain who build it” (Psalm 127:1). A famous quote says: “a family that prays together, stays together”.  By honouring God in the place of your family altar, you are inviting His Lordship over your home and ushering in His presence and in the presence of the Lord, “there is fullness of joy and at His right hand are pleasures forevermore” (Psalm 16:11). Joshua said “…but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord” (Joshua 24:15). Do you have a family altar in your home?

IN HIS PRESENCE is written by Pst (Mrs) Oke Chinye, Founder of The Rock Teaching Ministry (TRTM).

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