On Our Knees
Scripture:
“So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow.” — 1 Corinthians 3:7
Yesterday during our One Day experience with City Gate Lancaster and Simple Church, I was reminded again that ministry is often quiet work. Faithful work. Seed-planting work.
How many times do we share the Word and see little outward response? We smile, serve meals, pray, teach, and love people who may appear unmoved. Sometimes we wonder if anything is reaching their hearts at all.
I remember a young man once asking me, “How do you do it? How can you stand it when no one responds?”
The answer came easily because the Lord had already settled it in my heart long ago: it is not my responsibility to produce the response. My responsibility is obedience.
God is not intimidated by hard hearts, unbelief, addiction, apathy, or people who seem spiritually distant. He is still pursuing them even when we cannot see it.
Yesterday, during our Discovery Bible study on the prodigal son, we talked about all three people in the story: the lost son, the loving father, and the jealous brother. One of our regular attendees — usually very quiet — began opening up. He asked questions. Then he said something beautiful:
“That is me. I am the son who does not realize what I already have with God.”
In that moment, it felt holy. Quietly holy.
Those are the moments that remind us why we keep showing up.
Hudson Taylor once told a young missionary, “If you want to take Henan, you will have to take it on your knees.” That truth still stands today. If we want to see our cities transformed, our streets reached, and hearts awakened, it will not happen through human effort alone. It will happen through prayer.
Prayer softens the ground before the seed is planted.
Yesterday and today were declared national days of prayer, and during our gathering we stopped and prayed for our nation and our city. Maybe that is why the atmosphere felt different. Maybe hearts were softer. Maybe heaven was reminding us again that breakthrough begins on our knees.
If we want to see our city taken for the Kingdom, we must first carry it in prayer.
Prayer
Lord, help me to be faithful even when I cannot see immediate results. Teach me to trust You with every seed planted and every word shared. Give me compassion for hard hearts and perseverance for the long road of ministry. Remind me that transformation belongs to You alone. Make me a person of prayer who carries my city, my neighbors, and Your Kingdom before You daily. Amen.
First published on Substack.
