We just want a little recharge, rejuvenate time....R and R!
What I have learned in my relationship with my Dear Friend is that regardless of ME time....is the need for KNEE TIME!
The need for me to be on my KNEES with my Dear Friend!
Jesus Himself had Knee Time with His Father...our Father, so should we do any less?
Luke 22:41 He withdrew about a stone’s throw beyond them, knelt down and prayed, 42 “Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done.”
It was a moment of totally surrendering to the will of the Father. I believe that on our knees we are humble, surrendered to our Maker.
Our time in prayer needs to stem from our humility before God. One of my favorite sections of scripture comes from Philippians 2
Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, 4 not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.
5 In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus:
6 Who, being in very nature God,
did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage;
7 rather, he made himself nothing
by taking the very nature of a servant,
being made in human likeness.
8 And being found in appearance as a man,
he humbled himself
by becoming obedient to death—
even death on a cross!
did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage;
7 rather, he made himself nothing
by taking the very nature of a servant,
being made in human likeness.
8 And being found in appearance as a man,
he humbled himself
by becoming obedient to death—
even death on a cross!
9 Therefore God exalted him to the highest place
and gave him the name that is above every name,
10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
11 and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father.
and gave him the name that is above every name,
10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
11 and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father.
To me this says it all! We MUST be humble in our relationships, before our God. And it says that "at the name of JESUS every knee shall bow"! not just here, but in heaven...even the heavenly beings will take a knee before Christ!
The more humble we are, the more things will be as God would have them be.
Now I don't think that every time we pray we must be on our knees because we are called to pray with out ceasing;
1 Thessalonians 5:16 Rejoice always, 17 pray continually, 18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.
But I do believe that at some point our prayer life requires us to humble ourselves before the Throne of our God. It has an affect on our hearts, on our spirits. It changes our perspective.
** a side note.....for those of you saying "well that is all well and fine, but my knees, (back, hips etc) don't work the way they used to." I understand physical limitations. But if you can sit in a chair maybe you can put your head down, lay it right on the table. IF you are confined to bed ...maybe you can be face down for a time, on your stomach. If not, remember that this is more about the attitude of your heart than the location of your body.
Your spirit must be humble before your God. Putting away all selfish desires, all things that clutter our mind and soul.
Ephesians 4:30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 31 Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. 32 Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.
If you aren't sure if anything is in your way of humbling yourself before God, ASK!
Psalm 139
23 Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts.
24 See if there is any offensive way in me,
and lead me in the way everlasting
24 See if there is any offensive way in me,
and lead me in the way everlasting
James 4:"10 Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up." (I would encourage you to read all of James 4 )
In the old testament there were times when people would fall prostrate on the ground before the awesome power of God.
1 Kings 18:
38 Then the fire of the Lord fell and burned up the sacrifice, the wood, the stones and the soil, and also licked up the water in the trench.
39 When all the people saw this, they fell prostrate and cried, “The Lord—he is God! The Lord—he is God!”
Oh that we would be so humbled and overcome by God's awesomeness and power and authority that we fall on our faces before Him!
Paul's prayer for the people of Ephesus, is my prayer for you today!
Ephesians 3
14 For this reason I kneel before the Father, 15 from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name. 16 I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, 18 may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, 19 and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.
20 Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, 21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.
and AMEN!
1 Kings 18:
38 Then the fire of the Lord fell and burned up the sacrifice, the wood, the stones and the soil, and also licked up the water in the trench.
39 When all the people saw this, they fell prostrate and cried, “The Lord—he is God! The Lord—he is God!”
Oh that we would be so humbled and overcome by God's awesomeness and power and authority that we fall on our faces before Him!
Paul's prayer for the people of Ephesus, is my prayer for you today!
Ephesians 3
14 For this reason I kneel before the Father, 15 from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name. 16 I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, 18 may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, 19 and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.
20 Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, 21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.
and AMEN!
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