The Power of Our Body Posture
By kneeling or bowing before Jesus, I acknowledge that He is worthy of honor and praise. I communicate to Him that I am unreservedly His servant.
Communication experts tell us that body posture speaks volumes. For instance, standing with our arms crossed while speaking with someone is like erecting a barrier. It says we’ve closed ourselves off to him. Repetitive body movements such as drumming our fingers on the table betray boredom or fatigue. A shoulder shrug means the person with whom we’re speaking doesn’t understand what we’ve said or asked.
Body posture says it all.
So what might this posture say?
“Come, let us worship and bow down. Let us kneel before the LORD our maker, for he is our God. We are the people he watches over, the flock under his care” (Psalm 95:6-7 NLT).
Some mornings during my quiet time with Jesus, I envision Him as a king sitting on His throne. He invites me into His presence, and I accept. But His splendor is so overwhelming that I cannot stand or sit before Him. Instead, I literally kneel or bow with my face to the floor.
I might have approached my quiet time filled with a sense of rush: Do it quickly and get on with the day. I may have come with hesitancy because I’m feeling convicted about a sin I’m too ashamed to confess. Perhaps I arrived distracted by worries about one of my kids. But everything changes when I assume that body posture.
By kneeling or bowing before Jesus, I acknowledge that He is worthy of honor and praise. I communicate to Him that I am unreservedly His servant and here to do His bidding.
As I demonstrate my desire to surrender myself completely to Him, I become more keenly aware of His presence and beauty. I’m more able to release my to-do list, my guilt, and my worries to Him. I feel enveloped by His love, embraced by His mercy, and engaged in a relationship that words cannot adequately describe.
There’s power in our body posture
Perhaps that’s why Scripture invites us to bow down and worship before the LORD. Doing so not only communicates honor for Him, but it changes us from the inside out.
How about you?
What body posture helps you experience God in a meaningful way?
Photo credit: http://art.thewalters.org/detail/12881/woman-kneeling-in-prayer-2/
Know you are loved,
Grace
Looking for hope? Want to move from fear to freedom? Desiring to expand your relationship with God? See my store for books and other products.
Available wherever Christian books are sold or purchase autographed copies on my website.
I agree, Grace……when I go to God in prayer on my knees I feel close to him and he indeed does lift my burdens and worries and cares. It is unlike any other prayer anywhere else and with anyone else.
Grace, This was a powerful reminder about the attitudes of prayer. I find it so easy to fall asleep if I stay in one position very long that I often intentionally move around as I pray aloud–and during my daily activities, I intentionally pray around as I move around. Your post challenged me to also bow and pray more, as an indication of an attitude toward God, and not judge myself too harshly if that prayer is short and ended by sleep instead of an “amen.” It might take practice!
I know what you mean about having to move around to stay alert! I’m that way as well. I track lots of steps on my FitBit 🙂
Hi Marge. For years, when my knees were really painful, I couldn’t assume this posture and I missed it. I’m grateful to be able to do it again. Works for me. Glad you enjoy it too!
I must admit, I have often thought of when Jesus said to his disciples, “Can’t you even pray with me for one hour”? without falling asleep. Well, I don’t know honestly how Jesus did it, because when I do kneel to pray, I also feel very sleepy. When you know you can jump into bed instead of staying and praying on knees, it’s not that easy to stay. Often, I pray as much as possible on my knees and then lie down and begin to pray in the Spirit. I find that is much more profitable, and if I do fall asleep, I believe the Lord knows my heart’s intent. He knows us.
But I have always loved kneeling down before the Father.