I recently uploaded this video to Youtube and someone made this comment that I thought was interesting:
User: Didn’t Jesus pray putting his head on the ground ? Just a question
My response: You know, that’s an interesting question. I don’t recall anytime in scripture where it says Jesus prayed with his head to the ground. I do know, however, that the Jewish people would often pray towards Jerusalem because that’s where the temple of God was.
Here’s how the rest of the conversation went:
@-user
2 days ago
@fritzsocialmedia I just looked it up and it says (matthew 26:36-46) if this is the way he prayed why are the current christians not doing the same
@fritzsocialmedia
1 day ago
I don’t think our bodily posture identifies us as a follower of Christ. Rather the posture of our heart. “Worship in spirit and truth”
@-user
1 day ago
@fritzsocialmedia I mean If one of the people that god loved bowed down to him as a way of praying and showing submission shouldn’t we do as he did it’s like him guiding us and we’re just saying I like this but my way is better so ok
So what do you think? Do you think we can conclude from this verse that the proper posture for prayer is on one’s face?
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Matthew 26 was a time of extreme circumstances. I doubt that this is how Jesus normally prayed. If it was important then I think the Bible would have made that clear. Without a commandment to pray in a certain position it would seem that it’s ok to pray however we feel lead in the Spirit. I think it’s far more important that we pray instead of exactly which position. I pray when I’m driving sometimes. Not going to close my eyes or fold my hands.
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When He prayed His high priestly prayer in John 17, Jesus lifted his eyes toward heaven, which is an entirely different posture. Unless commanded, Jesus’ postures in prayer are not considered prescriptive.
More importantly, we should consider the posture of our heart when we pray. I’ll admit I often throw prayers toward heaven without examining my heart first.
And then there’s the Lord’s prayer, which is how Jesus taught his disciples to pray and which we can benefit from modeling after.
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Not to mention that right there in Mark it talks about when one stands to pray.
There are tons of examples of postures while praying… Daniel comes to mind… praying at his window.
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A humble heart is constantly bent toward God while in prayer, is it not?
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As of myself I pray while standing or sitting in a waiting line, or driving my car, etc etc…In my war room I sit down, or kneel, or kneel on bedside. During bedtime simpy lay down in bed and pray. TO GOD BE ALL GLORY.
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I really do think it is all a matter of the posture of one’s heart.
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