Many years ago, a friend told me an extraordinary story about her father. He lived in a small town in central Idaho. My friend and her three sons were visiting him on a warm summer day. One of her sons happened to be outside his grandfather’s bedroom window and could hear him talking. Out of curiosity, he raised up on his toes and peaked into the window to see who his grandfather was talking to. With amazement, he saw him down on his knees, pouring his heart out to God in prayer. 

My friend told me how this left an indelible impression upon her son, one of deep love for his grandfather and for the obvious love of prayer he had. This godly man died shortly after this. I never forgot this story. It’s such a humbling reminder of our need to commune with our Lord. Was he pouring his heart out for his grandsons? Or was there some other heavy burden on his heart that led him to drop to his knees and talk to his Heavenly Father? We will never know. What we do know is that this dear gentleman felt the urgent need to talk to his God on his knees. His grandson just happened to get a glimpse through a window of his grandfather communing with his God in a very personal way.

Are there times in your life when you feel the need to drop to your knees in urgent prayer? Urgent prayer can occur when life throws us curve balls. Sometimes they come hard and fast, seemingly out of nowhere, and leave us quite shaken. We live in an ever-changing world that can leave us uncertain and frightened for our future and the future of our children and grandchildren. We feel content and in control when our life is smooth and predictable, but what about when life or the world is suddenly chaotic, confusing, and uncertain? Is our first instinct to find our own answers, solve the problem ourselves, or drop to our knees in prayer? I confess I often resort to the first two options. Then out of despair and weariness, I finally drop to my knees in prayer.

Last week we saw the words of Jesus in John 16:24 where He said, “Until now you have asked for nothing in My name; ask and you will receive, so that your joy may be made full.”

God desires us to have fullness of joy. When our minds race with uncertainty, fear, and confusion, we need to pray fervently. When our lives are in upheaval or the world is in upheaval, we need to worship through prayer and petition. Our world is certainly in a time of great upheaval.

“If Bible Christianity is to survive the present world upheaval, we shall need to have a fresh revelation of the greatness and the beauty of Jesus.... He alone can raise our cold hearts to rapture and restore again the art of true worship.”—A.W. Tozer

Here are a few scriptures to glimpse into for encouragement to pray that, as Tozer says, give us “a fresh revelation of the greatness and beauty of Jesus...”

“Give ear to my prayer, O God; And do not hide Yourself from my supplication.” Psalms 55:1-2

“Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be known to God.” Philippians 4:6

“Rejoice always; pray without ceasing; in everything give thanks; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

“The Lord has heard my supplication, The Lord receives my prayer.” Psalms 6:9

“I pray that your love may abound still more and more in real knowledge and all discernment, so that you may approve the things that are excellent, in order to be sincere and blameless until the day of Christ.” Philippians 1:9

“Splendor and majesty are before Him, strength and beauty are in His sanctuary.” Psalms 96:6

“You alone are the Lord. You have made the heavens, The heaven of heavens with all their host, The earth and all that is on it, The seas and all that is in them. You give life to all of them And the heavenly host bows down before You.” Nehemiah 9:6

Looking into the window of these rich biblical truths, I reacquaint myself with His majesty, promises, and assurances. With bated breath, I rise up on my toes, so to speak, and glimpse into the power and spender of our Lord. I come away with a refreshed soul, renewed hope, and courage to face whatever has burdened my heart.