Your Favorite Prayer Posture

 

         Prayer postures. Been thinking more about that lately.

When I reflect on my childhood, I can visualize Mama faithfully kneeling by her bed after breakfast, door ajar. I now wonder if she left the door open in hopes that I would see and model her prayer life.

Daddy, on the other hand, prayed in solitude, either in his home office or I suspect on the long morning walks he routinely took around our mountain. I chuckle now, but I sometimes wonder if he was talking to the Lord in the bathroom at times. For Daddy, prayer truly was a continual conversation with Jesus.

Bible characters prayed in a variety of ways, too. I think of Abraham who enjoyed such a rich friendship with God that he walked and talked with the pre-incarnate Christ (Genesis, chapter 18). Consider Daniel who in Jewish fashion, prayed three times a day while kneeling before an open window which faced his beloved Jerusalem (Daniel 6:10). And David, shepherd boy turned king, who wrote and gifted us beautiful, meaningful poetic prayers and praises, many of which I suspect he penned with back braced against an olive tree while gazing at God’s creation (see the Psalms). Later, Jesus models a lifestyle of prayer with frequent trips to the mountains for alone time with His Father (i.e. Luke 6:12). At Lazarus’ tomb, He lifts His eyes toward heaven and talks with His Father in the hearing of the mourners (John 11:41-42). Paul writes that he bows his knees to the Father of the Lord Jesus Christ (Ephesians 3:14). To Timothy, he exhorts all men to pray, lifting holy hands (1 Timothy 2:8).

Prayer posture is not the emphasis of Scripture, however. Heart posture is. Clean hands and a pure heart are prerequisites to engaging God in the holy of holies, which was made possible through Christ’s atoning work on the cross (Psalm 24:3-4; 1 John 2:2). Praise the Lord for that torn veil that provides 24/7 access into the very throne room of God (Hebrews 10:20).

Prayer posture can vary according to individual preferences. If I come with respect, awe, and wonder before God, I may do so with any posture.

At times, I like to kneel and gaze up through the window at the sky. In my mind’s eye, I’m kneeling at Jesus’ feet, holding His hand as I look into His gentle, reassuring eyes. At other times, I like to write out my prayers and praises in my journal. One of my favorite prayer postures is talking to Jesus while walking or jumping on the rebounder which, yep, faces the window. I wonder if Enoch who enjoyed such intimate fellowship with God also liked to literally walk and talk with Him, and one day just kept right on walking into heaven. Sometimes, I stand in front of the window, raise my arms in prayer and praise to my Father. On rare occasion, I lie prostrate on the floor, arms outstretched, but not that often, since I don’t like the way the carpet smells or the kink I get in my neck. Hey, that’s just me.  😊 Sometimes, I sit down at the piano and pour my heart out to Him through music. Still other times I type out email prayers to encourage others. And I join in corporate prayer with other ladies (that’s you gals!). So many possibilities!

Perhaps you’ve read this or a version of this: The story is told of a man who placed a chair by his sick bed. Day after day, he imagined Jesus sitting in that chair while the two of them talked together. One person who didn’t know of his practice thought he was talking out of his head (think Hannah in the O.T. whose mouth moved in prayer but with no sound. Eli thought she was drunk!). One day, the man’s caregiver approached his bedside. The man’s body still lay in the bed, but his head rested in the chair. He was dead. But oh, so very alive in Jesus, as he possibly laid his head in Jesus’ lap, then was safely ushered to heaven.

Yes, indeed, so many ways to pray.

What’s one of your favorite prayer postures?

How does this posture help you sense the reality of God’s presence?

Share your thoughts in the comment box below to encourage others.