¹How lovely is your dwelling place,
O LORD of hosts!
²My soul longs, indeed it faints
for the courts of the LORD;
my heart and my flesh sing for joy
to the living God.
³Even the sparrow finds a home,
and the swallow a nest for herself,
where she may lay her young,at your altars, O LORD of hosts,
my King and my God.
⁴Happy are those who live in your house,
ever singing your praise.
Selah
⁵Happy are those whose strength is in you,
in whose heart are the highways to Zion.
⁶As they go through the valley of Baca
they make it a place of springs;
the early rain also covers it with pools.
⁷They go from strength to strength;
the God of gods will be seen in Zion.
⁸O LORD God of hosts, hear my prayer;
give ear, O God of Jacob!
Selah
⁹Behold our shield, O God;
look on the face of your anointed.
¹⁰For a day in your courts is better
than a thousand elsewhere.
I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God
than live in the tents of wickedness.
¹¹For the LORD God is a sun and shield;
he bestows favor and honor.
No good thing does the LORD withhold
from those who walk uprightly.
¹²O LORD of hosts,
happy is everyone who trusts in you.

• Light a candle to remember Christ’s presence with you.
• Sit five to fifteen minutes in silent meditation paying close attention to the deep breath.
• Better is one day in the house of the Lord than thousands elsewhere.
• Imagine one day in the house of the Lord.
• Where are you?
• Who is with you?
• What do you see?
• What do you hear?
• What do you smell?
• What do you feel?
• Stay as long as you desire and be filled with the goodness of God.
• How will you carry the house of the Lord with you?
• What is God’s message for you?
• Give thanks to God for this time in prayer and for any new insights you have received.
• Share as you feel led in the reply box below.