When you think of prayer, what image comes to mind? Is it someone you know? Maybe you think of a movie like “It’s a Wonderful Life” where the main character George Bailey prays a “ditch prayer” after realizing $8,000 was misplaced (“ditch prayers” were introduced here).
What Is Prayer?
As followers of Jesus, we are called to pray to our Heavenly Father (Matthew 6:5-13). But what is prayer? Prayer is communication between you and God. As in any other relationship, particularly intimate relationships, communication is key (And by the way, intimate does not automatically mean sexual. I feel compelled to make that distinction given the world’s push to sexualize everything). God wants a relationship with us; prayer is one of the keys to achieving that. And before that begins to sound like a chore, I quickly acknowledge the privilege of praying to God. It is a privilege to have access to the One who knew me before I grew in my mama’s womb. It is a privilege to have access to the Creator of the universe. His glory is too awesome for us to witness, and we have certainly done absolutely nothing to earn the honor of communicating with God….yet that access is granted because of what Jesus did on the cross. Jesus died, and at that moment, the temple curtain was torn in two from top to bottom (Matthew 27:50-51), signifying our ability to access God. The barrier between God and people was removed.
How to Pray
There are no specific words that must be used while praying. The prayer that Jesus taught his disciples is a great model, but are not the only words to say. Pray as if you’re having a conversation with someone in front of you. I grin, imagining this to be easier for some than others. As with any new thing, it may feel foreign and we can fumble with it. There may even be some self-consciousness. I felt this awkwardness and persistently pushed through until the new thing was no longer new.
Postures as You Pray
Physical Posture
The image of someone kneeling, holding their hands together, bowing their heads, and closing their eyes is the image many people have of prayer. This physical posture is fine. You could pray like that, but you could also pray standing up, eyes open, looking at a sunrise. The point is there is no required physical posture, or place for that matter, for prayer. That being said, there have been times that I felt compelled, out of reverence to God, to kneel and bow with my face to the floor. For me, the physical posture of submission mirrored my spirit and my heart at that moment. I don’t have to put my face to the floor for my heart to surrender, but I can and do sometimes.
Spiritual Posture
There is also a spiritual posture. In other words, think about who you are talking to. God is your friend, but He is not your buddy from work or the gym. God not only knows your thoughts and all that you have said and done; God knows your heart. There is nothing you can hide from God. You can put up a front or facade with your friend, but not with God.
Your spiritual posture is the acknowledgment that you are communicating with God, Creator of heaven and earth, all-knowing, all-powerful, always present, perfect, good, sovereign, just, and holy. God is Holy. Can sinners and broken people even fathom God’s holiness? The fact that God loves you and wants a relationship with you, in all of your brokenness and imperfection, should speak volumes of God’s profound love and mercy. Your spiritual posture with God should employ the respect and reverence He commands. I am not saying to be timid or sheepish; you can be honest and raw and still be respectful.
How have you prayed? Has that changed since you started praying?
Next time, we will touch on aspects of prayer, and the acronym ACTS.