Day 42: Kneel

I remember going to church with school friends and seeing padded boards hinged at the bottom of pews. I was told that they were for prayer. It was new to me. Later in high school, I was visiting an older small congregation in the country, and I would see several of the men take a knee when the prayer was starting. In my youth, I thought “that’s kind of neat”. For many years they were just experiences of youth that you file away. Now I find that my prayers are better when I kneel. It started at a time when things in life were a burden I was unable to carry. I was overcome with worry and fatigue. I was beat down enough that I went to my knees.

As I study, I come to find those feelings reflected in scripture. In 1 Peter 4:7, we are to watch unto prayer that the coming end of all things should make us serious and prayerful. In 2 Chronicles 6:13, Solomon kneeled down before the whole assembly of Israel to pray. Daniel, in Daniel 6:10, continued to go into his house and kneel and pray after Darius signed the interdict. In Acts 7:60, Stephen while being stoned kneeled down and asked for forgiveness for those stoning him. In Acts 9:40, Peter kneeled down while healing Tabitha. Jesus, in the garden, kneeled in prayer preparing for His death (Luke 22:41). It appears that kneeling in prayer was a common practice. I know it has become part of my life in worship to the King of Kings and Lord of Lords.

“O come let us worship and bow down, let us kneel before the LORD our maker.” (Psalms 95:6)

Written by James Whiteaker, an elder at Mt. Juliet

# posted by JP @ 12:01 AM on Saturday, December 25, 2010

Comments:

How true. For the last two months I have prayed like this, almost without realizing what was happening. One morning I walked into the living room and found my wife, prostrate in prayer also. I think for me, it was a realization of how big my task how is and how little I am.

# posted by

The Fowler Family : December 26, 2010 at 1:26 PM

I'll never forget a particularly awful day at the beginning of my journey as a single mom. I walked into an empty house, directly into my kitchen and I fell to my knees. I remember crying & praying in my kitchen floor "Lord, I don't know what to pray for."
Then, God gave me immediate peace and comfort with this thought; "I already know what you need."

# posted by

A. Moore : December 29, 2010 at 4:21 PM

Last night we were sitting at the kitchen table talking. A guest mentioned how he appreciated the opportunity to pray on his knees. Immediately Emilie spoke up and said, "Mr James Whiteaker has a great post about that you ought to read." And before she even said I was thinking the same thing. Thanks for the instruction.

Also from previous posts - Annette and Amy, You are such great blessings to your physical family and to the Lord's family. With these posts I am reminded of peeling the layers back to see deeper into a person's life. To have the heart that both of you ladies have - that you natural cry would be to God, you fall before Him - That is deep inner layer that makes you such a great blessing. Thanks James for the post and other for the comments. I am deeply encouraged! To God be the glory!

# posted by

David R. Shannon : January 1, 2011 at 1:22 PM



Day 42: Kneel I remember going to church with school friends and seeing padded boards hinged at the bottom of pews. I was told that they were for prayer. It was new to me. Later in high school, I was visiting an older small congregation in the country, and I would see several of the men take a knee when the prayer was starting. In my youth, I thought “that’s kind of neat”. For many years they were just experiences of youth that you file away. Now I find that my prayers are better when I kneel. It started at a time when things in life were a burden I was unable to carry. I was overcome with worry and fatigue. I was beat down enough that I went to my knees. As I study, I come to find those feelings reflected in scripture. In 1 Peter 4:7, we are to watch unto prayer that the coming end of all things should make us serious and prayerful. In 2 Chronicles 6:13, Solomon kneeled down before the whole assembly of Israel to pray. Daniel, in Daniel 6:10, continued to go into his house and kneel and pray after Darius signed the interdict. In Acts 7:60, Stephen while being stoned kneeled down and asked for forgiveness for those stoning him. In Acts 9:40, Peter kneeled down while healing Tabitha. Jesus, in the garden, kneeled in prayer preparing for His death (Luke 22:41). It appears that kneeling in prayer was a common practice. I know it has become part of my life in worship to the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. “O come let us worship and bow down, let us kneel before the LORD our maker.” (Psalms 95:6) Written by James Whiteaker, an elder at Mt. Juliet # posted by JP @ 12:01 AM on Saturday, December 25, 2010 Comments: How true. For the last two months I have prayed like this, almost without realizing what was happening. One morning I walked into the living room and found my wife, prostrate in prayer also. I think for me, it was a realization of how big my task how is and how little I am. # posted by The Fowler Family : December 26, 2010 at 1:26 PM I'll never forget a particularly awful day at the beginning of my journey as a single mom. I walked into an empty house, directly into my kitchen and I fell to my knees. I remember crying & praying in my kitchen floor "Lord, I don't know what to pray for." Then, God gave me immediate peace and comfort with this thought; "I already know what you need." # posted by A. Moore : December 29, 2010 at 4:21 PM Last night we were sitting at the kitchen table talking. A guest mentioned how he appreciated the opportunity to pray on his knees. Immediately Emilie spoke up and said, "Mr James Whiteaker has a great post about that you ought to read." And before she even said I was thinking the same thing. Thanks for the instruction. Also from previous posts - Annette and Amy, You are such great blessings to your physical family and to the Lord's family. With these posts I am reminded of peeling the layers back to see deeper into a person's life. To have the heart that both of you ladies have - that you natural cry would be to God, you fall before Him - That is deep inner layer that makes you such a great blessing. Thanks James for the post and other for the comments. I am deeply encouraged! To God be the glory! # posted by David R. Shannon : January 1, 2011 at 1:22 PM Post a Comment << Home	Mt. Juliet Church of Christ 1940 N. Mt. Juliet Road P.O.Box 248 Mt.Juliet, TN 37122-0248 (615)758-2274 Fax:615-754-2351 Email Worship Services: Sunday Early Worship: 8AM Sunday Bible Study: 9:15AM Sunday Late Worship: 10:15AM Night Worship: 6PM Wednesday Bible Study: 7PM Past Archives: November 2010 December 2010

Day 42: Kneel

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