Directing Our Hearts to God

2 Thess. 3:5

The Bible teaches us that prayer is to be a very important part of our relationship with God.  One can hardly read about a righteous man or woman who did not pray frequently.  Abraham, Moses and Joshua are all mentioned as praying.  Saul, David, Solomon and Hezekiah prayed as kings of Israel.  All of the prophets prayed.  Hannah, Job, Ezra and Nehemiah prayed.  The apostles prayed.  Stephen, Cornelius, Paul and Silas prayed.  Jesus prayed and taught His disciples to pray.  Certainly we not only have a right to pray but an obligation to do so.

The Bible teaches us not only that we should pray but how we are to pray.  Our prayers must be offered in faith (Mt. 21:22; Jas. 1:6; Heb. 10:22).  We must pray, not only from the heart but with our whole heart (Jer. 29:13; Lam. 3:41; Ps. 119:58).  We are to pray with humility and with holiness (2 Chr. 7:14; 1 Tim. 2:8).

And what is to be our posture when we pray?  The Bible teaches us there are many acceptable postures for prayer.  We may pray standing or kneeling (1 Ki. 8:22; Mk. 11:25; 2 Ch. 6:13; Lk. 22:41; Acts 20:36).  It is also appropriate to pray bowing down or lying face down (Ps. 95:6; Num. 16:22; 1 Ch 21:16; Mt. 26:39).  A more careful study of prayer postures would reveal that our body’s posture in prayer is closely related to our heart’s condition when we pray. When Moses prayed for God to spare Israel he often prostrated himself.  But, when Solomon dedicated the temple, he stood with his hands spread out toward heaven.  No one particular way of positioning oneself is preferable over another but any are acceptable when we follow our hearts in this matter, so long as we remember that prayer is worship and must be done in truth as well as in spirit (Jn. 4:24).

The right time for prayer is anytime (1 Thess. 5:17).  The right place is everyplace (1 Tim. 2:8).  The right reason is in everything we do (Phil. 4:6).  If our heart is right and our lives acceptable our prayers go up as a memorial to God.  There are times when we simply do not have the words to express what is in our hearts and when that is the case The Spirit of God intercedes for us (Rom. 8:26).  Have you prayed today?

 

Yours in Christ,

Thomas Sneed

Pond Church of Christ