1 Samuel 3:2-4
“One night Eli, whose eyes were becoming so weak that he could barely see, was lying down in his usual place.  The lamp of God had not yet gone out, and Samuel was lying down in the temple of the Lord, where the ark of God was.  Then the Lord called Samuel.  Samuel answered, ‘Here I am.’”

Luke 2:46, 49
“After three days they found [Jesus] in the temple courts, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions…‘Why were you searching for me?’ he asked.  ‘Didn’t you know I had to be in my Father’s house?’”

Psalm 84:1
“How lovely is your dwelling place, O Lord Almighty!  My soul yearns, even faints, for the courts of the Lord; my heart and my flesh cry out for the living God.”

Lord God who dwells with us, you call us into conversation and speak to us as your family.

In your presence we have found our true and lovely home, a home in which we, your children, are reassured by the echoes of our Father’s nearby voice.  With longing we return to the shelter where we will never be forsaken.

Draw us into a place of worship and may our trusting hearts be receptive to you.  Tune our ears to distinguish your words so that we can share your truth with those around us.

In the name of Christ, whose body became the temple through which we can come like children into the presence of God, we submit our prayers in faith.

Listen to ‘Let Me Find Thee’ by Katy Bowser and Kenny Hutson