The How of Prayer

After twelve years in our current home, LeAnn and I made the monumental decision... to finally replace the toilet bowl seat in our master bathroom. Both the seat and lid had been slowly deteriorating on the front edge for many months, so we decided to put the old seat out of its misery and make the most boring of all adulthood purchases.

After letting the new seat sit on the living room floor for a couple of weeks, I finally got around to installing it. But as I unwrapped the plastic and took the seat out of its cardboard holder, I realized there were no installation instructions. Even though I joke I am the world's "unhandiest" man, I thankfully knew what to do. But what if I had never installed a toilet seat before? I could imagine someone looking at it with just a slight bit of confusion, asking, "So, how do I do this?"

The Final Question

Today, we conclude our Investigating Prayer blog series. Thus far, we have used the journalist's set of questions (Who, What, Where, When, & Why) to probe The Lord's Prayer. While these previous questions have hopefully been helpful, they still don't get to the most important question: how do you actually do this thing called prayer? Just as someone might know what a toilet seat is, and even where it goes and who it is for, they still need to know how to actually put the thing on the toilet so that it doesn't slip off on the first sitting.

I realize that I just preached about this exact topic back on Feb 9. Therefore, I am not going to rehash the content of that sermon. (If you missed that "How to Pray" sermon, I'd recommend giving it a listen.) Rather, as we consider yet again "how to pray," I want to consider some "postures" of prayer, both the "physical" postures Scripture talks about as well as the "heart" postures we should bring before God's throne.

Heart Postures

1. Humility

As we saw in The Where of Prayer post, Jesus invites us in Matthew 6:6 to pray to our Heavenly Father in the "secret" place. His point isn't that prayer can't be done in public. He simply warns us to not make our prayer for show.

But it isn't just before other humans for whom some Christians will put on a prayer show. We sometimes can think we need to put on a show for God. But God doesn't want a show - He wants you. So humble yourself before the God of the universe and bring your requests before Him.

2. Transparency

As we approach the All-Powerful God with a humble heart, we should also know He is an All-Knowing God. As Jesus says in Matthew 6:8...

"...your Father knows what you need before you ask him." (Matthew 6:8b, ESV)

So there is no reason to try to pretend you are better than you are. So bring everything before Him: your worries, your sin, your failings, your fears... all of it.

Physical Postures

1. Kneeling/Bowing

Because we are to approach God with a heart posture of humility, it would make sense that Scripture gives us several verses about the humble physical posture of kneeling in prayer. For instance:

• In 1 Kings 8, as King Solomon dedicated the temple to God, he knelt before the altar in prayer as an act of humble submission.
• In the book of Daniel, we see Daniel bowing in prayer three times per day.
• In the book of Acts, we see several of the disciples and apostles bow in prayer, sometimes together.

I would encourage you to practice the posture of kneeling, because one day "every knee will bow" before God (Isaiah 45:23, Romans 14:11, Philippians 2:10) so go ahead and get in some practice!

2. Standing

Interestingly enough, as much as bowing is a sign of humility, standing can be a sign of respect. Just as the audience stands when the bride walks down the aisle toward her groom, Scripture shows us people standing during prayer out of respect for God and His sovereign power.

• Again in 1 Kings 8, before he bows at the altar at the dedication of the temple, King Solomon first stood before the altar and gave the first portion of his prayer from a standing posture.
• In 1 Chronicles 23, one of the instructions given to the priests (the tribe of Levi) was to stand every morning in prayer, giving thanks to God.
• It was quite common for the Jewish people to stand in prayer, like the judgmental Pharisee in Luke 18:11.

3. Prostrating

Prostration is the ultimate sign of humility. The person who is lying flat before the Lord is, in a sense, putting themselves at the mercy of a Just God.

• In Deuteronomy 9:18, we see Moses admitting to lying prostrate before the Lord for 40 days and nights because of his remorse over the sin of the ancient Israelites
• Ezra the priest did much the same in Ezra 10:1, mourning the sin of his people.
• And when John saw Jesus in Revelation 1:17, he immediately fell prostrate before the Son of God.

4. Hands Outstretched

And lastly, I want to point out that outstretched hands aren't just something to be done while singing and surrendering before God. It can also be a physical posture indicating surrender and openness during your times of prayer.

• Once again, in 1 Kings 8, both as King Solomon prayed while on his knees and when he stood, he stretched out his hands before God.
• In fact, men are instructed in 1 Timothy 2:8 to lift "holy hands" in prayer (but this doesn't mean women can't do the same!)

Conclusion

As you pray later today, whether before a meal, before bed, or after reading your Bible, consider incorporating one of these physical postures as you also include the right heart postures. But whether you kneel, stand, lay down, or sit in your chair, enjoy the honor and privilege of praying to your Heavenly Father!