Bow Down

Oh come, let us worship and bow down; let us kneel before the LORD, our Maker! For he is our God, and we are the people of his pasture, and the sheep of his hand. Psalm 95:6-7

Humble yourself under the mighty hand of God, and He will lift you up in due time. I Peter 5:6

Dear friends,

When was the last time you bowed before the Lord? Have you ever laid fully prostrate in contrition before Him? Why are we reluctant to honor God with physical acts of respect? Even at my advanced age I want to express my absolute resignation to Him. Oh, I’m real clear of His love and affection for me. We’ve walked together a long, long time. I know He hears me, even when I’m praying while doing my dishes. But He is the great I AM. Yahweh. El Shaddai. When I kneel, my heart softens. I better sense His glory. Bent knee also spurs surrender. He has all of me, body, mind and spirit.

Do you remember the story of Judas facilitating Jesus’ arrest? Brother John reports: 3 So Judas, having procured a band of soldiers and some officers from the chief priests and the Pharisees, went there with lanterns and torches and weapons. 4 Then Jesus, knowing all that would happen to him, came forward and said to them, “Whom do you seek?” 5 They answered him, “Jesus of Nazareth.” Jesus said to them, “I am he.” … 6 When Jesus said to them, “I am he,” they drew back and fell to the ground. (John 18:3-6) Why do you think they all crumbled to the ground like a well-choreographed musical? Do you think they were suddenly overcome with fatigue? Maybe they’d just been to the local Dairy Queen and low blood sugar hit them all at one time. I don’t think so. They fell because they were struck by the glory of God. So when we come before our Father, shall we not kneel before the LORD, our Maker?

I listened to a sermon recently by Brother Davit Platt. If you’ve not heard him on your fancy phone you’re surely missing some spirit-stirring. He was speaking at a conference in front of thousands of brothers and sisters, preparing to pray. But before he did, he admonished the crowd something like this: “In a large gathering like this it’s easy for our minds to wander. To allow our thoughts to leave this room and return to issues we committed to leave outside. To check our phones for messages. For those who skipped breakfast you may be dreaming about lunch about now. (Honestly, I’m not certain he actually said that. I think I made that part up…) But remember, we are going before God, maker of heaven and earth. We will petition Him to speak to each of us. To change our hearts. To stir us up to love and good deeds. He will hear our plea and answer our supplication. Honor and revere this moment, church. We are coming before the Lord God Almighty.”

Now saints, you surely don’t need to have to be in a room full of folks for your Father to listen. That same God to Whom Moses had to climb a mountain to have a conversation welcomes your prayers any time, at all times. But remember, He IS the same God. Do you recall from Exodus 19 that Mount Sinai was wrapped in smoke because the LORD revealed His glory by descending on it in fire? Remember when He opened the Red Sea for the Israelites passing, then zipped it back up right over the Pharaoh and his boys? It is the same God whose words, “I AM He,” caused those soldiers collapse to the ground.”

So when you are in a private place and have the privilege, bow down. It heightens humility.

Live Well,

Grace