I made a statement at work a couple of weeks ago that I spent more time on my knees in 2020 then I think I have my entire life combined. True, but sad, but convicting. Thirteen days in, 2021 doesn’t look to be any different. In fact, my knee time in 2021 could quite possibly surpass my knee time in 2020, and it should.
Each passing year, despite the circumstances of the world, the happenings in our country, the motion of our own little tiny universes, our knee time should increase. As we grow in our relationship with Jesus and persist in living in His presence, our communication with Him should increase exponentially. Frankly, He should at some point be all consuming. In fact, I(we) should have the consciousness of His Presence even when I(we) don’t hear His voice. Chew on that a minute. We don’t need to hear His voice to know He is present, to sense His presence, to experience His presence, to be in His presence. We need only persist.
One day Jesus told His disciples a story to illustrate their need for constant prayer and to show them that they must never give up. Luke 18:1
How much clearer could it be? The need for constant prayer is so important that Jesus told them a story to convince them. Read it in Luke 18, it’s a beautiful illustration of persistence in prayer. We know, of course, that we are to persist in all our prayers, but the way in which it is used here is prayer for deliverance, rescue, salvation, in times of trial. It means simply, as 1 Thessalonians tells us “Keep on praying.” It doesn’t mean we have to pray harder or pray longer, it means we keep our requests before God continually, confident that He will answer.
Some of you may have read the other day in Jesus Calling:
When you bring Me prayer requests, lay out your concerns before Me. Speak to Me candidly; pour out your heart. Then thank Me for the answer that I have set into motion long before you can discern the results. When your requests come to mind again, continue to thank Me for the answers that are on the way. If you keep on stating your concerns to Me, you will live in a state of tension. When you thank me for how I am answering your prayers, your mind-set becomes much more positive. Thankful prayers keep your focus on My Presence and My promises.
Sarah Young
So, in 2021 we pray for deliverance from the times of trial – physical, mental and mostly spiritual — knowing that Jesus will surely answer, because He said He would, and in this day and age, as in days and ages past, His Word is the only thing we can count on as true.
Devote yourselves to prayer with an alert mind and a thankful heart.
Colossians 4:2
So with persistence we devote ourselves to prayer, and enter into the sweet presence continually, with a thankful heart, a heart of praise. We know that praise always precedes the miracle, and answered prayers are miracles – salvation, healing, comforting – miracles because they are only answers that God can give. For that we are thankful.
Sweet hour of prayer
Sweet hour of prayer
That calls me from a world of care
And bids me at my Father’s throne
Make all my wants and wishes known
In seasons of distress and grief
My soul has often found relief
And oft escaped the tempter’s snare
By Thy return, sweet hour of prayer
Sweet hour of prayer
Sweet hour of prayer
The joys I feel, the bliss I share
Of those whose anxious spirits burn
With strong desires for Thy return
With such I hasten to the place
Where God my Savior shows His face
And gladly take my station there
And wait for Thee, sweet hour of prayer
Sweet hour of prayer
Sweet hour of prayer
And wait for Thee
Sweet hour of prayer