The Kneeling Times
Peter Neilson
April 21, 2026
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Listen to this daily worship
Psalm 116: 1-4, 12-19 (NIV-UK)
1 I love the Lord, for he heard my voice;
he heard my cry for mercy.
2 Because he turned his ear to me,
I will call on him as long as I live.3 The cords of death entangled me,
the anguish of the grave came over me;
I was overcome by distress and sorrow.
4 Then I called on the name of the Lord:
‘Lord, save me!’
12 What shall I return to the Lord
for all his goodness to me?13 I will lift up the cup of salvation
and call on the name of the Lord.
14 I will fulfil my vows to the Lord
in the presence of all his people.15 Precious in the sight of the Lord
is the death of his faithful servants.
16 Truly I am your servant, Lord;
I serve you just as my mother did;
you have freed me from my chains.17 I will sacrifice a thank-offering to you
and call on the name of the Lord.
18 I will fulfil my vows to the Lord
in the presence of all his people,
19 in the courts of the house of the Lord –
in your midst, Jerusalem.Praise the Lord.
“I will fulfil my vows to the Lord in the presence of all his people.”
If you have been close to death and come through to live another day, then you will know how the Psalmist feels. When we emerge from that fragile place, there is an overwhelming sense of the grace of God that has held his grip on us. The instinctive response is gratitude.
Thankfulness translates into vows, deep choices that orientate our whole being in a particular direction. On three occasions, I have knelt to take vows.
The first was kneeling at my wedding when I made a vow to “promise and covenant” myself to my wife. By the grace of God, that vow holds good 56 years later – a grace not given to all. My second occasion was over 50 years ago kneeling while presbyters laid their hands on me ordaining me into the ministry of Word and Sacrament. The third was just before Easter this year when I knelt before a cross taking vows as a member of the Celtic-inspired Community of Aidan and Hilda.
Each day is a day to kneel in gratitude for the gift of life. Each day is a day to kneel and offer that life afresh to the Lord.
Prayer:
On my knees, I look up with gratitude into the face of our God.
On my knees, I look in with sorrow at my failure to love.
On my knees, I look out with anger at the unnecessary suffering of too many.
On my knees, I look around with prayerful blessings on those I know.
On my knees, I look up with faith that Jesus hears my wordless prayers. AMEN
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