{"id":28412,"date":"2015-11-02T00:15:27","date_gmt":"2015-11-02T05:15:27","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/girlfriendscoffeehour.com\/?p=28412"},"modified":"2015-11-01T16:00:27","modified_gmt":"2015-11-01T21:00:27","slug":"knockin-on-heavens-door","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/girlfriendscoffeehour.com\/wordpress\/2015\/11\/02\/knockin-on-heavens-door\/","title":{"rendered":"Knockin&#8217; On Heaven&#8217;s Door"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><a href=\"http:\/\/girlfriendscoffeehour.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/12\/psalmshymnsspiritualsongskjv.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-16629\" src=\"http:\/\/girlfriendscoffeehour.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/12\/psalmshymnsspiritualsongskjv.jpg\" alt=\"psalmshymnsspiritualsongskjv\" width=\"341\" height=\"200\" srcset=\"https:\/\/girlfriendscoffeehour.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/12\/psalmshymnsspiritualsongskjv.jpg 341w, https:\/\/girlfriendscoffeehour.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/12\/psalmshymnsspiritualsongskjv-300x175.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 341px) 100vw, 341px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #800080;\">In my closet<\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"color: #800080;\">A spot is worn from hours and hours upon my knees<\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"color: #800080;\">I step inside<\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"color: #800080;\">The quiet&#8217;s like a doorway to a world of peace<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #800080;\">One thing I don&#8217;t worry &#8217;bout<\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"color: #800080;\">I can&#8217;t wear my welcome out<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #800080;\">I keep knock, knock<\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"color: #800080;\">Knockin&#8217; on heaven&#8217;s door<\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"color: #800080;\">I keep talk, talk<\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"color: #800080;\">Talkin&#8217; cause your answer, Lord<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #800080;\">Won&#8217;t be stop, stop<\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"color: #800080;\">Stoppin&#8217; so be listening for me<\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"color: #800080;\">I&#8217;m knock, knock<\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"color: #800080;\">Knockin&#8217; on heaven&#8217;s door<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #800080;\">I&#8217;m not a poet<\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"color: #800080;\">No, it&#8217;s not like me to speak in flowery words<\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"color: #800080;\">Not a prophet<\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"color: #800080;\">Not at least in these parts<\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"color: #800080;\">That would be unheard of<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #800080;\">But my heart speaks loud and clear<\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"color: #800080;\">And since my prayers are answered here<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #800080;\">Whisper what you&#8217;re feeling<\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"color: #800080;\">Shout it at the ceiling<\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"color: #800080;\">Nothing&#8217;s gonna fall on deaf ears<\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"color: #800080;\">Ask Him for His mercy<\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"color: #800080;\">Pray away your worries<\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"color: #800080;\">What do you want heaven to hear<\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"color: #800080;\">Bless the world around you<\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"color: #800080;\">Pray His peace surrounds you<\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"color: #800080;\">Thank Him for His favor<\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"color: #800080;\">Simply praise the Savior<\/span><\/p>\n<p><center><iframe loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/hgOqKGJstRo?rel=0\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/center><center><em>Avalon<\/em><br \/>\nWritten by Grant Cunningham &amp; Matt Huesmann<\/center><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"color: #800080;\">* \u00a0 ~ \u00a0 \u2665 \u00a0 ~ \u00a0 \u00a0\u271e \u00a0 \u00a0~ \u00a0 \u2665 \u00a0 ~ \u00a0 *<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">Don\u2019t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything.<br \/>\nTell God what you need, and thank Him for all he has done.<br \/>\nPhilippians 4:6 NLT<\/p>\n<p>This verse is one of my life verses. \u00a0It was one of my grandmother&#8217;s favorites. It saw our youngest daughter through times of trouble in high school and she often included it in her email signature. \u00a0It is multiple life lessons wrapped up in one concise verse&#8212;applicable anytime, anywhere. \u00a0<span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><em>Prayer is a power tool in our toolbox of life.<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n<p>I hold conversations with God throughout the day. \u00a0But, after seeing the movie &#8220;War Room&#8221;, I wondered if my prayers could be more&#8212;if I could be a prayer warrior like Miss Clara. \u00a0This song reminds us of three things we can do to make our prayers more fervent and earnest. \u00a0As I started searching for Scriptures on prayer I found the same 3 lessons.<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">Prayer requires<em><strong><span style=\"color: #800080;\"> P<\/span><\/strong><\/em>ersistence, <em><span style=\"color: #800080;\"><strong>P<\/strong><\/span><\/em>articipation, <em><strong><span style=\"color: #800080;\">P<\/span><\/strong><\/em>rivacy<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><strong><em><span style=\"color: #800080; text-decoration: underline;\">P<\/span><\/em>ersistence<\/strong><\/span><br \/>\nIn Luke 11:9 (AMP) Jesus calls us to be persistent.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">&#8220;So I say to you, Ask and keep on asking and it shall be given you;<br \/>\nseek and keep on seeking and you shall find;<br \/>\nknock and keep on knocking and the door shall be opened to you.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>Sometimes prayer isn&#8217;t a &#8220;one and done&#8221; kind of thing. \u00a0If we don&#8217;t get an answer, Jesus reminds us to keep asking until we do.<\/p>\n<p>1 Thessalonians 5:17 AMP reiterates this &#8211; &#8220;be unceasing and persistent in prayer&#8221;. \u00a0Effective prayers require persistence. \u00a0So &#8220;<span style=\"color: #800080;\"><em>keep knock, knock, knockin&#8217; on heaven&#8217;s door&#8230;<\/em><\/span>&#8220;.<\/p>\n<p><strong><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">Active <em><span style=\"color: #800080; text-decoration: underline;\">P<\/span><\/em>articipation<\/span><\/strong><br \/>\nMatthew 26:41 AMP tells us,<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">Keep actively watching and praying<br \/>\nthat you may not come into temptation;<br \/>\nthe spirit is willing, but the body is weak.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>We need to be aware when we pray, blocking out distractions. Have you ever been talking to someone and realized they were not giving you their full attention? Annoying, isn&#8217;t it? Imagine how God feels when we pray like that. 1 Timothy 2:8 AMP gives us instructions on how to be actively involved in our prayers.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">Therefore I want the men in every place to pray,<br \/>\nlifting up holy hands, without anger and disputing<br \/>\nor quarreling or doubt [in their mind].<\/p>\n<p>(As I read that verse an image of hands lifted in surrender, palms outstretched to God came to mind). \u00a0Exodus 9:29 NLT gives us an example of Moses doing this: &#8220;\u201cAs soon as I leave the city, I will lift(stretch out, spread out) my hands and pray to the Lord.&#8221; \u00a0Prayer requires active participation, mentally as well as physically. \u00a0So &#8220;<span style=\"color: #800080;\"><em>keep knock, knock, knockin&#8217; on heaven&#8217;s door..<\/em><\/span>.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><strong><span style=\"color: #800080; text-decoration: underline;\"><em>P<\/em><\/span>rivacy<\/strong><\/span><br \/>\nMatthew 6:6 HCSB is a well known verse instructing us to pray in private:<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">But when you pray, go into your private room,<br \/>\nshut your door, and pray to your Father who is in secret.<br \/>\nAnd your Father who sees in secret will reward you.<\/p>\n<p>Continuing in verses 5 and 7 are additional reasons why we are to pray privately.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">Whenever you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites,<br \/>\nbecause they love to pray standing in the synagogues<br \/>\nand on the street corners to be seen by people.<br \/>\nI assure you: They\u2019ve got their reward!<br \/>\nWhen you pray, don\u2019t babble like the idolaters,<br \/>\nsince they imagine they\u2019ll be heard for their many words.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">Prayer isn&#8217;t for show or about maintaining a reputation. \u00a0Prayer is about communicating with God. \u00a0Job 16:17 NLT reminds us our prayers are to be pure. Exodus 8:29 and 9:29 say that Moses &#8220;went out&#8221; from the Pharaoh before praying. Numerous times Jesus prayed in private: &#8220;&#8230;He went off to the mountain to pray,&#8221; (Luke 6:12 NASB) and\u00a0&#8220;&#8230; as He was alone praying, that His disciples joined Him,&#8221; (Luke 9:18 NKJV).<\/p>\n<p>Praying privately keeps us focused on Who we are talking to and what we are praying about. \u00a0I want to have &#8220;&#8230;<span style=\"color: #800080;\"><em>in my closet a spot is worn from hours and hours upon my knees<\/em><\/span>&#8220;. \u00a0I want to be that kind of prayer warrior, don&#8217;t you?<\/p>\n<p>Praying in private also gives us the opportunity to &#8220;hear&#8221; God&#8217;s reply. \u00a0And I don&#8217;t want to miss that. \u00a0So &#8220;<em><span style=\"color: #800080;\">keep talk, talk, talkin&#8217; cause Your answer, Lord&#8230;<\/span><\/em>&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>Our prayers can bring us peace, intercede on the behalf of others, provide comfort, make our requests known and give us the chance to express our gratefulness to God. \u00a0I want my earnest, fervent prayers to &#8220;availeth much&#8221;\u00a0(James 5:16 KJV). \u00a0To paraphrase Philippians 4:6&#8230;<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Comic Sans MS', sans-serif;\">Ask Him for His mercy<\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-family: 'Comic Sans MS', sans-serif;\">Pray away your worries<\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-family: 'Comic Sans MS', sans-serif;\">Bless the world around you<\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-family: 'Comic Sans MS', sans-serif;\">Pray His peace surrounds you<\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-family: 'Comic Sans MS', sans-serif;\">Thank Him for His favor<\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-family: 'Comic Sans MS', sans-serif;\">Simply praise the Savior<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Comic Sans MS', sans-serif;\"><strong>Because that is what prayer is really all about, isn&#8217;t it?<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>In my closet A spot is worn from hours and hours upon my knees I step inside The quiet&#8217;s like a doorway to a world of peace One thing I don&#8217;t worry &#8217;bout I can&#8217;t wear my welcome out I keep knock, knock Knockin&#8217; on heaven&#8217;s door I keep talk, talk Talkin&#8217; cause your answer, [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":164,"featured_media":16629,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[4937],"tags":[9622,9623,9365,5889,9619,9620,9621,663,8968,2233,9624,4932],"class_list":["post-28412","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-psalms-hymns-and-spiritual-songs","tag-1-timothy-28","tag-actively-participating-in-prayer","tag-avalon","tag-cynda-cottrill","tag-james-516","tag-knock-knock-knockin-on-heavens-door","tag-matthew-2641","tag-matthew-6","tag-persistence-in-prayer","tag-philippians-46","tag-praying-in-private-girlfriends-coffee-hour","tag-psalms-hymns-spiritual-songs","entry"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/girlfriendscoffeehour.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/12\/psalmshymnsspiritualsongskjv.jpg","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p39pHp-7og","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_likes_enabled":false,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/girlfriendscoffeehour.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/28412","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/girlfriendscoffeehour.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/girlfriendscoffeehour.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/girlfriendscoffeehour.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/164"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/girlfriendscoffeehour.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=28412"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/girlfriendscoffeehour.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/28412\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":28414,"href":"https:\/\/girlfriendscoffeehour.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/28412\/revisions\/28414"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/girlfriendscoffeehour.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/16629"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/girlfriendscoffeehour.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=28412"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/girlfriendscoffeehour.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=28412"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/girlfriendscoffeehour.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=28412"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}