What's Your Position in Prayer?

by an Old Disciple

Variety the Spice of Life

My title is a play on words; I purposely used the little preposition in rather than on. The question is not seeking your intellectual opinion On prayer but your literal physical position IN prayer. This may sound like a novelty question, but it is much more serious than some may imagine.

From its inception, Christianity has had those who emphasized external, religious rituals over internal, spiritual substance. So much so, that if one did not adhere to these dogmatist’s rules and regulations, they were considered anathema. Protocol is a must if you’re to live among these traditionalists in peace.

Bible Christians would have a difficult time today fitting into these die-hard’s systematic regulations. True, many saints of the scriptures knelt when they prayed; Jesus, those in Mary’s house, and Paul, to name a few. But don’t attempt to make this the lone way. If you do, you will come up looking silly and embarrassed, with egg on your face.

Here is a partial list of some “square pegs” that would not fit into the round holes of these ritualists’ culture. Paul prayed in a fetal position. Hezekiah prayed in bed.  Elisha walked to and fro.  Jesus stood.  Daniel lay prostrate.  David sat before the Lord. And never forget the thief who prayed while nailed to across! From these, we find prayer is a heart attitude, not a physical position. I know a godly woman who prays from her wheelchair! God’s only requirement is that we bow the knees of our heart.

That greatly used Evangelist, school president, and practical philosopher, Dr. Bob Jones Sr., who mightily influenced my life said: “I’ve always been a man on the go. I pray sitting in my train compartment as I travel to a meeting, while shaving, and as I walk across campus to speak at chapel. But I have always had the attitude that I thought I would die if God didn’t bless me.”

"Pray as you can, and don't try to pray as you can't."~ J.I. Packard 

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