ON MY KNEES

Come, let us worship and bow down. 

Let us kneel before the Lord our maker,”  -  Psalm 95:6

 

     Around the room, each one of these women of hope, was on her knees in prayer. I had asked each one to picture herself literally kneeling at the feet of the King who had given her life...who had crowned her with grace. And I knew without a doubt that Your presence was so very real and so very "big" in that moment as each one brought her needs, her gratitude, and her worship to You in their quietness. Through the words of the song playing in the background, Your voice beckoned each heart, "Beloved. . . Love of My life, look in My eyes. There you will find what you need. . ." 

     I couldn't help but remember all those stories of those strong, courageous, broken women who fell on their knees before You when You walked among us. I remember the bleeding woman who fell on her knees, content just to touch the hem of Your garment. You restored not only her health but also her soul and her place in society. The "sinful woman" fell at your feet as she poured perfume over your feet and dried them with her grateful tears. You saw her contrite heart and gave her forgiveness. The persistent faith-strong Gentile woman humbly fell at Your feet begging for mercy so that You would heal her tormented daughter. "Even the dogs are allowed to eat the scraps. . ." You healed her daughter simply because her faith was so great. I thought of Mary of Bethany as she sat at your feet hanging on Your every word and as she fell down before You in grief and desperation because You weren't there when her brother died. Little did she know Your glory would soon be revealed when you called Lazarus forth from the grave. With tears, I remember Your mother Mary as she knelt beside the manger where You lay so sweetly and then again as she knelt before You at the foot of the cross where you died--purely in love and surrender of her precious Son. 
    I looked again at these women around me kneeling in prayer, some with tears staining their cheeks and some with palms turned upward toward heaven, receiving Your priceless grace. "All of us living all for You," and on our knees, we honor You with open hands and exposed hearts.  We imagined You, the King, as You stepped down from Your throne, knelt down beside us, wrapping Your loving arms around us. You came down to meet us right at our very need. . . Oh, the power and sweetness of Your presence.  
     I know their stories and I've seen how they've grown. My breath catches in my chest in awe of how You work in the lives of those who surrender their lives so completely to You. Breathless, I remember how You have worked in mine, leading me down every byway and restless trail to where I am in this moment. I am utterly and gratefully amazed. In the every day as we come to You in hurried prayer, we forget. But in the beauty of this moment, we realize there's something special about coming to You on our knees. As we kneel down in worship of who You are, You gently lift us up to walk in the purpose You have given. And we are so abundantly blessed and awed by Your beautiful grace. 

"When I think of all this, I fall to my knees and pray to the Father, the Creator of everything in heaven and on earth.  I pray that from His glorious, unlimited resources He will empower you with inner strength through His Spirit.  Then Christ will make His home in your hearts as you trust in Him. . ."  - Ephesians 3:14-17 

Annie Downs, I can't even begin to thank you for sharing your heart through "Perfectly Unique: Praising God from Head to Foot." Though you targeted the hearts of young "girls of grace," you have pierced the hearts of these women of HOPE as we have learned how to glorify God with our bodies from head to toe. The truths you've shared resonate with women of all ages. I'm not sure exactly how God led me to find your book at Dayspring and to randomly order it. Or for me to stop and read this book among the many among my "to read" stacks. And who would have believed God would choose your book to guide me as I taught these women to purposefully devote each and every part of their bodies to God's glory, except for God's perfectly designed plan. He was leading me to what these women (ages 20's - 70's) needed most. I've never had a series of lesson so tremendously impact these women of HOPE, and we aren't even finished with it yet! Never underestimate the message God has given you. He is using you to reach ALL generations, for we truly are ALL God's Girls of Grace.

Song quoted is "Beloved" by Tenth Avenue North.