The most universally practiced yet least understood of human experiences, prayer is one of the great mysteries of the Messianic / Christian faith. Its simplest definition is communication with YHVH. Yet so often we approach prayer like a one-way telephone conversation, forgetting that YHVH also wants to speak to us. And how do we pray-on our knees or standing; silently or out loud; alone or with others; by rote or spontaneously? And does prayer really induce our Father to manipulate events or otherwise act on our behalf? Although the Bible does not take up these and other questions directly, prayer appears on nearly every page as the very essence of a faith relationship with the living Creator. Simple enough for a child to understand and yet so profound we spend a lifetime plumbing its depths, prayer assumes that it is possible for us to have an intimate relationship with a Great God who hears, cares and is able to act.
Praying Psalm 15
May I worship in Your sanctuary, Adonai? May I enter Your presence on Your Holy Hill? I am trying to lead a blameless live and do what is right in Your sight, speaking the truth from a sincere heart. I refuse to gossip or harm my neighbours or speak evil of my friends. I despise flagrant sinners and honour the faithful followers of You my Adonai and I try to keep my promises even when it hurts. I lend money without charging interest and I cannot be bribed to lie about the innocent. Let me stand firm forever in Your Name, amein.
Must we kneel in prayer?
The tradition of kneeling as we pray is a way of putting our bodies in a supplicating position, honouring the Most Powerful, Most High, Most Loving and Best Promise Keeper. But do we always have to kneel when we pray? There is biblical tradition behind kneeling, of course. Take the words of the Psalm, “O come, let us worship and bow down, let us kneel before the Lord our Maker” (Psalm 95:6). In the Gospel of Luke, we observe how Yeshua on the night before His Crucifixion, went up to the Mount of Olives with the disciples, withdrew from them and knelt down and prayed (Luke 22:41) If Yeshua knelt, that’s surely good enough for us. Except as I look at the biblical sources -- and mostly in the Gospels -- I keep seeing other options. Yeshua stood and prayed when He blessed the loaves and the fishes and handed them to the disciples. And when He welcomed the children, saying, “Let the little children come to me,” He laid His hands on all of them, blessing them. Clearly standing. Take the disciples at the Last Supper. As they gathered in the upper room, seeing Yeshua bless and break a loaf of bread and say, “Take, eat; this is My Body,” they were sitting at the table (possibly lying next to it as was the ancient custom). At any rate, not kneeling. I think all of this should remind us to pray in whatever way is appropriate for the moment. Putting yourself physically into a position that goes with the prayer --- like Jesus on the Mount of Olives. Or other situations:
Sitting next to a sick person’s bed: --- I too have sat next to sick people’s beds, praying out loud, not even knowing if my words are heard. But the closeness of whom I’m praying for adds to the power. And how grateful sometimes are the sick to hear such prayers.
Stand, walk or dancing in prayer: --- We are large prayer groups sometimes and serving ourselves in open kitchen, next to a swimming pool or barbeque or doing a prayer walk. Some were ready to eat, some were still filling up their plates, some look after the barbeque or some are jumping, dancing and walking. We all sing praises when a prayer is said out loud and we confirm words being said and when we stand we only bow our heads. Everything we do is done prayerfully.
Lying down: --- There are times I simply want to take in as much as possible the world YHVH gave us. l lie on my back outside, gazing up at the heavens, filled with wonder. Then at night as I fall asleep lying in bed, I will picture Father smiling at me.
Raising your hands: --- When the Spirit moves us in a service, indeed we raise our hands. We reach up to the heavens. “So I will bless You as long as I live,” says Psalm 63:4, “I will lift up my hands and call on Your Name.” More poignantly, you might be reaching out your hands in an expression of need and desperation, your body mirroring your prayer. “I stretch out my hands to You; my soul thirsts for You like a parched land” (Psalm 143:6). God made us, body and soul. And when you can, use your body in a way that amplifies a prayer.
Amein?
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please pray that the Almighty Father would help me to relieve my depression and anxiety so I can serve Him faithfully without fear thank you so much --- Lance P
Please say a special prayer of protection for me at my job. I have encountered this season 3 really bad customers who tried to get me to lose my job over the smallest little thing. Please say a special pray for protection over me while I am at work this season and supervisor common favour with my bosses including better performance in sales when I go back to work a week from now. I want to be employed by them once again next season when the time comes. May God bless you! --- Patrick
Please pray for my mental health --- Sara
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Please keep my daughter Gina, in your prayers. She has a large cyst on each of her ovaries. I THANK YOU ALL SO VERY MUCH. May Our Precious Lord Bless You & Your Families. --- Mom
My husband Michael is suffering from a mental problem that came on very suddenly and he is completely disoriented. Please pray for his recovery. Thank you sincerely. ---- Lorraine
Lord please touch April and Shayla’s mom and dad and Cynthia brothers refuge stuff. Please pray that Jesus will be with me. God help me. Thank you Jesus for everything --- Todd
Praying the blood of Yeshua, YHVH’s protection, favour, and divine intervention for Leland’s freedom and mental health rehab. Praying for Gods angels to intervene and for a miracle breakthrough blessing to prevail in Leland’s favour. Thank you for keeping Leland in prayer. --- Lj
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