Come Learn Rest Ministries

How wonderful, how beautiful,
when brothers and sisters get along!
It’s like costly anointing oil
flowing down head and beard,
Flowing down Aaron’s beard,
flowing down the collar of his priestly robes.
It’s like the dew on Mount Hermon
flowing down the slopes of Zion.
Yes, that’s where God commands the blessing,
ordains eternal life.
~Psalm 133:1-3 (MSG)

In other versions of Psalm 131 brothers and sisters getting along is translated dwelling in unity. Having recently fulfilled the role of official front door greeter at church I noticed how wonderful and beautiful it is when brothers and sisters greet one another. What a precious way to begin a worship service.

This active reminder of the unity we share with Christ and others translates into a freer flowing worship. Even though, dwelling in unity costs you and I the right of having our own way, it lavishes upon us the blessing of eternal life with God.

Finally, all of you, have unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly love, a tender heart, and a humble mind.  Do not repay evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary,  bless, for to this you were called, that you may obtain a blessing.  ~1Peter 3:8-9

Thank You, Lord, for commanding blessing.

The Lord has remembered us; he will bless us;
he will bless the house of Israel;
he will bless the house of Aaron;
he will bless those who fear the Lord,
both the small and the great.
~Psalm 115:12-13

Have you ever considered praying for entire households?  Like me are you aware of a household in need of prayer? Several have been on my heart in the past month. I had lunch recently with a family that is without a home but still a household.  I have a friend whose household is full of her late husband’s presence. My niece and nephew-in-law just celebrated their first wedding anniversary and are in the midst of establishing their household.

I pray for these households, but with different words. Like the psalmist these prayers are blessings, perhaps because they are for a group of people not just an individual. Or perhaps I am naturally praying as Jesus sent out his disciples to pray.

And he said to them, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few.
Therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest. Go your way; behold, I am sending you out as lambs in the midst of wolves. Carry no moneybag, no knapsack, no sandals, and greet no one on the road. Whatever house you enter, first say, ‘Peace be to this house!’  ~Luke 10:2-5

Have you ever considered that the Lord blesses your household and mine with peace? I do not think I intentionally have, but I am ready to start as a reminder to bless the households of others and to pray for peace within each home I enter.

Thank You, Lord, for blessing households with peace.