Posture in Praying
Prayer Series Part 4 – Posture in Praying.
Many still believe that a specific position should be done when praying. However, many also believe that the correct position in praying can get God’s attention and answer the prayer sooner than later.
(Go back to read Part 3: Act of Submission and Dependency)
God will answer our prayers.
It could be A No, and it could be a very pleasant Yes. Yet it could come later, or God has a better way. No answer is good for us. We may not want the No answer, but God has a better Yes for us. God will respond to everyone either in a quick No or a quicker. Yes, but it will always be on His time and not ours.
The reason for the delay is not because God did it so. It falls on our end and our fault for not having enough patience. Our fault for not understanding the grace of Christ is sufficient enough to overcome all obstacles during times of weakness and hardships.
God is love, and He does not need to prove that, but we have to prove our side. We have to prove that we are worthy of being loved by Him. How? Do we have to go to church (building) to seek and fellowship with Him? Is it necessary? How do we make our relationship with Him grow? Do we have to pray because it is our responsibility or an obligation? Do we need a third party to help us get the attention of God, like a priest or a minister, praying to a statue of a saint for help?
Many believers believe praying and using the name of the Virgin Mary is a compelling way and the right way to reach God to hear our prayers faster.
Is it the right way?
Praying in a particular position, praying with intercession, praying in a congregation, and even praying in our own or rented House does not matter. Our God is not demanding something from us that we cannot keep.
God is a Spirit and must be worshiped in Spirit, and we can talk to Him through our hearts. We can say that the mind is used for thinking and reasoning, but when a pure heart speaks, the mouth delivers in silence or a loud voice, and it speaks the truth. Whatever is in your heart, the mouth speaks! And through the ear, the mind listened, what the eyes see the mind envision.
God knows how humans deal with an obligation, which is why it is not an obligation but a responsibility. Jesus Christ taught us that prayer is not something we do when we feel like doing it.
It is a God-given responsibility; Luke 18:1- Jesus told his disciple in the parable that they should always pray and not give up. In comparison, Paul said Christians should Devote themselves to prayer with an alert mind and a thankful heart.- Colossians 4:2; Paul added to pray without ceasing, which means to pray constantly. God uses prayer to instruct and give us blessings Matthew 7:7 (Ask and it will be given to you).
Hard work is one way to please God but a person not helping those in need, even though they can help, is a sin. Slothfulness is a sin. So when given responsibility and because of laziness, we sometimes do not do it. We are then held liable for a sin against God, and this sin separates us from the love of God. We can be part of the obligation to help if we can, not only because we are Christian but by representing the image and likeness of God.
The obligation does not mean we are morally or ethically liable. We become liable when we make a commitment or vow to God. Our freedom of will is not a good excuse for not being accountable, but our obligation becomes a responsibility. It is our obligation as a whole to make this earth a joyful and loving place to live, not only a responsibility of the few.
An obligation is a mandate to do something that does not connote any moral or ethical dimension.
Kneeling, sitting, standing, raising your hands, clasping your hand, and any position you are comfortable with do not matter. Praying is not being treated as a sacrificial act, but as honoring God’s goodness and faithfulness, requesting God a favor, thanking Him for what He has done, and asking forgiveness for a sin, we may have committed.
For we all sinned and fell short of the Glory of God. What is important is the condition of our soGloryat our heart is without blemish and attuned to God. God loves fellowshipping with His children. Jesus prayed in different postures, sitting, standing, and kneeling, while Moses often fell on his face to pray, and King David sat before the LORD and prayed.
Prayer can be done in the institutional church where God is being honored.
Paul mentioned Philemon’s House in the Temple in Matthew 21:13. We will expand our knowledge in the House of prayer, referencing the Old and New Testament for more clarity. Houses and other places are used to pray, worship, and fellowship with the LORD.
Wherever we are, we can seek God’s face. Whatever we are doing, we can call on His name, no days or nights, no mornings or afternoons; He will always listen to us.
As we wake up for a new day, we wake up with Him, and we must allow our mind to flow firstly to thank Him for a refreshing body and a renewed spirit, and when we retire for the day of work, we must give Him thanks for the guidance and for keeping us safe the entire day. Then, before going to bed for a restful night, we must confess and ask for forgiveness.
If we say that we have not sinned, we are deceiving ourselves, and the truth is not in us. We must make it a habit to pray before any meal, thanking God for what He has provided us, and pray before we lay down to bed and utter this in peace “I will lie down and sleep, for you alone, Lord, make me dwell in safety”—Psalm4:8.
When we pray from the heart, we pray in the Spirit and not on our own but with the help of the Holy Spirit. Jude 20 said this way; “But you, dear friends, by building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit.” Praying is the ultimate way to get in touch with God; through His word, He can communicate back with us—The Bible.
The flesh only reaches praying in a moment when there is fear of uncertainties, in such situations as civil unrest, insecurity, lies dominating our daily lives from influential people in the government and wealthy people that control the industries, the written and broadcast media, the economy and rampant corruption by the powerful.
There will be many stressful days and nights, and our only way out is to speak to God and ask for help. In that situation, who else can we turn to when there is nobody else we can trust? Some people sacrificed their lives for others but not being known to.
God is our fortress and to grow with Him is to develop our relationship through prayers and love by speaking to Him heart to heart. The will of God is to love one another. We pleased Him, and we make ourselves happy. The power of prayer can lead us to knowledge and understanding of Him.
We will know Him better, and it may give us the Spirit of discernment that may culminate in the wisdom of godly accomplishments. There is power in prayer, and there is also the power of love. This power should not be used more than what it is meant for. We cannot use prayer to do harm or curse someone, nor do we not pray because we want to request something for our benefit.
We pray because we want to feel His presence, the joy that His Spirit brings to our souls, the love that refreshes our hearts, and the life that the Spirit gives. But, when it comes to the power of love, it comes in two different directions without the leading of the Holy Spirit. Otherwise, it may go the wrong way.
God is a Spirit but has a heart that grieves when we do evil things. We cannot see Him, yet we can feel His presence; we cannot touch Him, and yet He can touch us. When we sing His love songs, He sings with us, we feel His presence, and sometimes when we inhale deeply, we smell the sweet aroma of His breath. That’s how our Lord God manifests His love to us.
Oh, LORD, you are lovely, magnificent in every way. When I smile, I know you are smiling at me because you made me from your image and likeness, and I know that you want me to be happy. That is why when you made me, you made me with a smiling face—A smile To God is the Glory.
Continue to Read Part 5: Answered Prayer
Part 1: Power of Prayers
PGlory: An Act of Obedience
Part 3: Act of Submission and Dependency
Part 4: Posture in Praying
Part 5: Answered Prayer
Part 6: House of Prayer
Part 7: In Jesus’ Name