"Wait for the LORD; Be strong, and let your heart take courage; yes, wait for the LORD."
--
Psalm 27:14
Let us draw near to God upon our knees; let us wait tirelessly for our God to work in us and transform our souls to be ever more like Christ. We must realize that it will not be easy: Heart work is hard work.
I cannot help but wonder and agonize over the fact that I am so passionless in my faith, lazy in my spiritual disciplines, and unamazed by the mercy and grace of God in providing salvation for sinners. Why? I try so hard at times, but always seem to lose heart and give up. The Christian life seems too hard to live and all I ever seem to obtain is failure.
I read wonderful, inspiring stories about Christians who lived their lives for the Lord--- drinking delightfully from a hidden spring, finding joy that I only dream about, and living as it were in the shadow of heaven. Yes, men and women like Jonathan & Sarah Edwards, George Whitfield, George Muller, Hudson Taylor, A.W. Tozar, John Bunyan, J. C. Ryle, etc. who found sweet delight in the Almighty One and learned the secret of abiding in Christ.
What was their secret? How did they live such godly lives? What did they all have in common that impacted them so tremendously so that their lives still inspire Christians to follow hard after God? All of these Believers lived in different places, had their own unique life circumstances, and had completely different struggles and strengths, but all of them had Christ as their base of commonality. And what is more, they relied upon Christ to work in their hearts and keep their eyes fixed upon Him.
Oh, how they hungered after God deeply---and what did they do? Did they bustle around searching for a way to satisfy their deepest longings in a quick fix sort of way? No, they waited. They waited long agonizing hours for the Lord to meet them---to satisfy their hearts with Himself. They didn't settle for earth's empty pleasures; but, they poured over God's Word by searching intently and digging tirelessly. They prayed, they cried, and of course they waited.
I think we should also note where these Believers labored over God's Word, prayed, and waited. Was it upon their beds as they dozed? In front of the TV or computer? A second before jumping in or out of bed? Once a week at church? No, they were on their knees. However, is the position of kneeling so important, we may wonder. My own conclusion is that kneeling for kneeling sake is no better than not kneeling at all; but, when we kneel before the Lord for Him what sort of attitude are we conveying? Is it not one of total helplessness and submission? Yes, it is. And think for a moment, do we not drop immediately to our knees when hardship and tragedy surround us? This is certainly true, and we should also fall upon our knees when we are going through sun filled valleys to thank the Lord of our souls.
Yes, we should be upon our knees waiting upon our Almighty God everyday that we have the ability to do so. Yes, it may seem hard, but does God not give us breath every day? Blood pumping through our veins? His grace to sustain us every moment? Yes, we should come to meet the Lord daily upon our knees. Not until we do so will we be passionate about God, joyful in God, amazed by God, living for God, waiting upon God, faithful to God, and transformed to be like Him by Him.
Wait upon the Lord upon your knees. Hunger intensely for Him, thirst for Him, and surely He will not leave you empty handed. He will indeed fill your minds, warm your souls, and delight your hearts with Himself.
But remember that it is the heart attitude by which you come to prayer that is most essential. As I said before, kneeling for kneeling sake alone is no better than not kneeling at all. Come to God with complete submission acknowledging Him as the Master and Savior of your souls.
"Prayer will consume sin, or sin will choke prayer."
--
J. C. Ryle
