Some places become sacred because of what God has done there or how we have experienced God's grace. There's one detail in today's reading that reminds us of these places.
In 2 Chronicles 20, God's people faced an uphill battle against their enemies. What I love about King Jehoshaphat gathering all the people to pray is that he didn't begin with the problem. There wouldn't have been anything wrong with that. And he doesn't ignore what's before them. But he began by remembering who God is and has always been.
The text says that Jehoshaphat stood before the new court, presumably the great court where prayers could be offered (2 Chronicles 6). Standing in that new court seemed to focus his attention first on God's faithfulness before he was overwhelmed with the trouble ahead.
Maybe you have a place like that. It could be a particular pew in your church or a worn recliner where your Bible rests right beside it. Have you ever cried your heart out on your porch or found peace in a hospital chapel?
Kitchens, shorelines, and retreat centers can all be sacred places.
Of course, the place itself doesn't have the power. God does. But these places remind us that we are not the first people to need God's help. Others have stood where we now stand. One thought I like to remind myself of in uncertain times is that it's just "my turn." Many other people have prayed through their uncertainty, trusted God through their fear, and discovered that God's faithfulness is sure and true.
Do you have a "new court," a place that connects your memories to God's faithfulness? Return there when you can. Let it remind you that God heard your prayers yesterday and is still listening today.
Stay blessed...john
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