DAY 15

DAY 15: The Power of ‘Knocking in Prayer’ 

As we enter our final week, we are going to move from the prayer of petition (asking) and the prayer of devotion (seeking) to look at the prayer of intercession – that is, we will be exploring what it means for us to ‘knock’ in a way that doors will be opened. Intercessory prayer can be described as when we petition the Lord on behalf of others and it is a wonderful privilege. As one writer puts it, “when we engage in intercessory prayer, we are loving others on the basis of heaven’s resources. Prayer is heaven’s highest security clearance – free access to stroll right into the heavenly vault, gather up whatever we can carry, and hand it out to the world.” How wonderful to be reminded of the rights that we have as children of God, to have direct access into the throne room of heaven to pray and stand in the gap on behalf of others, “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.” Luke 11:9-10. Through intercessory prayer, doors (both literally and metaphorically) can be opened, and Jesus is the ultimate ‘door-opener’, ‘These are the words of him [Jesus] who is holy and true, who holds the key of David. What he opens no one can shut, and what he shuts no one can open… See I have placed before you an open door that no one can shut.’ Revelation 3:7-8. What’s even more amazing, though, is that Jesus wants to involve us in partnering with Him in intercessory prayer, to see doors opened. This exhortation and promise makes this clear in our key text, “Knock and keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you…and to the one who keeps on knocking [persistently], the door will be opened.” Luke 11:9-10 (AMP). There is something about persistent prayer that pleases our heavenly Father, as it demonstrates our faith in His faithfulness. So, let’s put God’s Word to work and start knocking!