1 Corinthian 3:16-17

Do you not know that you are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in you? ¹⁷If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy that person. For God’s temple is holy, and you are that temple.

When I think about music and its impact on my faith, lots come to mind. Yet, when I think about my life of faith just beginning to become mine, I think of my summer at summer camp, Geneva Hills in Southern Ohio. At camp, we started and ended our day in worship singing the songs of faith that are near and dear to my heart, one such song I hear echoing through the hills is Sanctuary. The words, drawing from Paul’s letter to the church in Corinth, reminds these early Christians the importance of the Holy Spirit’s presence in every heart. The refrain of a longer song Sanctuary is found within our hymnal, Hymn 701, becomes the plea of one’s own heart today. I hear the guitar chords and the voices of my fellow campers at such a special place and at a special time in my life lift up this song as the prayer of our hearts by repeating this refrain over and over. “Lord, prepare me…” may it be one of your prayers as well in this new year.

Prayer

Holy Lord, the simple chords and words speak to our deeper need, we truly wish to live our faith with our whole beings. And to live such faith, we ask you to start with our own hearts, our own bodies. Hear our prayers gracious Lord, whether it’s the first time or the one hundred times we’ve sung the song, Amen.