It Doesn’t Matter How You Pray
Anna Stodolak gives us today’s devo on the matter of prayer. Well done Anna, Ty.
How do you pray? Do you pray sitting in a chair, standing on your feet, in motion, down on your knees, bowing down, hands up, or lying down? What matters isn’t the position you choose, but the honesty you bring.
If you sit: Nehemiah 1:4 "When I heard these things, I sat down and wept. For God of heaven"
Sitting signals a moment where life stops and attention turns fully to God.
Sitting to pray can reflect:
A desire to slow down
A need for comfort
A moment of reflection
A posture of humility without strain
If you stand: Mark 11:25 "And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive them, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins"
Standing symbolizes respect before God, readiness to act, alertness, attention, and confidence. In approaching God, standing equals a posture of readiness and openness before God.
If you walk: Luke 24:32 "They asked each other, Were our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the open road and opened the Scriptures to us?"
Even though the disciples weren't formally praying, several elements mirror what many people experience during prayerful walking. Walking prayer often involves Scripture meditation.
Kneeling: Psalm 95:6 " Come, let us bow down in worship, let us kneel before the Lord our Maker"
This verse connects kneeling with worship and reverence. Kneeling isn't commanded as the only posture for prayer. but is portrayed as a meaningful expression.
If you bow down: "Chronicles 29:20 "So they all praised the Lord, the God of their ancestors; they bowed down, prostrating themselves before the Lord and the king"
Bowing down is a physical expression of deep reverence, humility, and submission. It expresses trust and allegiance, placing oneself under God's authority willingly and wholeheartedly.
Hands Up in Worship: Psalm 134:2 "Lift up your hands in the sanctuary, and bless the Lord"
In ancient Israel, lifting hands was a gesture of openness, surrender, and blessing. It symbolized reaching towards God, acknowledging dependance, and offering praise. They engaged, not just with words or thoughts, but with the body itself.
Lying down: Psalm 4:4 "Mediate in your heart upon your bed, and be still"
Lying down or falling prostrate is a biblical posture of humility, grief, or deep reverence.
God meets people exactly where they are whether energized, exhausted, grieving, hopeful, confused, or steady because the point of prayer has never been about performing for Him. It’s about bringing your real self into His presence. When Scripture talks about prayer, the emphasis is consistently on the heart’s posture, not the body’s posture. Kneeling, standing, lying down, or praying on a walk can all be meaningful, but none of them make a prayer more or less acceptable. What matters is honesty, humility, and the willingness to turn toward God in whatever condition you’re in.
Make it a Telltale Tuesday! God is good….