Over the years I’ve found that posture is remarkably significant in prayer. Our attitude is impacted by the way we arrange our person. There is a significant difference between a prayer offered from the comfort of a seat and a prayer offered face down on the floor. There is an attitude that results from being on your knees. There is honor that is communicated in the removing of your shoes. Let me take a moment to share just a bit of my experience to help you see what I mean.
There is something conversational and missional in prayer while walking. I often engage God in questions while walking or work through frustrations. Walking invigorates the conversation and reminds me that God is not static but is always moving forward.
This is actually my least favorite position for prayer. I try to use it only for short conversations or group conversations.
I actually have a pad in my office because I can’t maintain this posture for long without it, but this is one of my favorites. The posture of kneeling reminds me that I’m his servant and a child in his family. It softens my heart and increases my focus on listening.
There are times as God is engaging me in certain conversations that he will ask me to remove my shoes. These are moments when I am acutely aware of his presence. The posture calls me to physically acknowledge him and his greatness. It is a physical act of honor in the conversation. I never initiate this but he will often call me to it.
This is my favorite posture in prayer. Whether I’m on my knees with my face to the floor, or lying flat on the floor, this posture produces in my heart a true sense of hopelessness without him and his love. This is the way I want to live my life, and as I go to my face, I’m able to bring my attitude in line with what I believe is truth. I first began practicing this frequently after learning that Martin Luther would spend hours on his face with his arms wide like on a cross before God. I began to do the same. For me it is the posture of death I die so you can live. I have nothing without you.
Maybe you are familiar with all of the postures described above or maybe just a few. I encourage you to experiment. See if maybe your posture is more meaningful in your conversation than you think. Go to your knees, take a walk, engage God in FaceTime if you will, and see how it impacts your heart.
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