by Stacy L. Harp
I was thinking this morning about how I might encourage all of us to be serious about praying for the persecuted saints, as well as just nurturing our prayer life in general and I started to think about kneeling.
I don’t know about you and what church culture you live in, but I can tell you that in Southern California, at least in the churches I’ve attended, kneeling is not done very often. Which got me thinking about why that is. I know in the Catholic church they usually have kneeling boards on the back of pews so that the saints worshipping in the church can easily get down and kneel. But in most Christian churches there is nothing like that.
I also was thinking about how when I was a younger believer how I used to kneel more than I do now, and the reason why was because I had a Catholic background and I thought that was the most acceptable way to address the holy Creator of the world. It was a mandatory sign of respect. However, what I found out from many other believers - as a younger one - is that you can talk to God in pretty much any position. You can stand, you don’t have to close your eyes or bow your head. You can sit in a chair, you can lie flat on your stomach with your face to the ground and you can even do it while driving, cooking, getting ready for work, and yes, even blogging.
All of these other ways to pray I have been told is because we are friends with God, and we have a relationship with Him. So really unless you want to kneel you don’t really have to because it all depends on your relationship with Him.
And I think these things are true, but I also think that in California, and maybe other places in the USA, we really have lost a holy respect and awe of who God really is. So I know for me, one thing I plan on doing more of us humbling myself and praying on my knees because even though God is my friend, Savior and heavenly Father, He is also my Lord and I think He is worthy of my respect, and not because I fear He will rebuke me if I don’t pray on my knees but because I really want my life to be one where I can show Him the respect and fear that is due Him. Afterall, He is the Creator and God of everything and I think it’s a great reminder that I am created to worship Him and Him alone.
I also think that when we all really stop and consider how other religions pray - take Muslims for example - their outward expression of reverence for their god is clearly manifest. Consider the picture to the left taken of Muslims in New York who were kneeling for one of their times of prayer.
How much more so the follower of Jesus Christ. How much more serious is it when we bow before our most High King and glorious God who is the ONLY TRUE GOD.
Would you please join me today, in kneeling before our heavenly Father and giving Him the honor due His name and exercising the humility of heart that He desires in His children.
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