“Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere.” —Ephesians 6:18 NLT
I heard the story of three ministers debating the best posture for prayer.
One minister shared that he felt that the key was in the hands. He always held his hands together and pointed them upward as a symbolic form of worship.
Another minister suggested that real prayer was conducted on one’s knees. That was the only way to really pray.
The third said that they were both wrong. The only position in which to pray was to lie on the floor, flat on your face.
As they were talking, a telephone repairman had been working in the background, listening. Finally, he couldn’t take it any longer. He blurted out, “For me, the most powerful prayer I ever prayed was while I was dangling upside down by my heels from a power pole, 40 feet above the ground!”
Listen: the posture of prayer is not the most important thing.
The main thing is to pray!
- You can pray in any position, at anytime, anywhere.
- You can pray publically, privately, verbally, silently.
- You can be kneeling, standing, sitting, lying down, or even driving.
- You can pray with your eyes open or closed! (Ever make eye contact with someone while praying?)
Sometimes we think that perhaps the Lord will hear our prayers more readily if they are prayed in a church building. But that is not necessarily true.
- Daniel prayed in a lion’s den.
- David prayed in a field.
- Peter prayed on and under the water.
- Jonah’s prayer was heard from the belly of a whale!
It doesn’t matter where you are . . . Just pray!
