Today marks the end of summer vacations (Yes that is an “s” at the end of vacation. We Shuffs love summer time!) and the beginning of a new school year for me. Pre-planning will begin this morning. That means that routine will be back in my life.
What is the typical morning routine for me? I’ll wake up anywhere between 5:00-5:30am, pray in bed before I even get up to do anything else, wash my face, brush my teeth, take my medicine, pray again for God for to open my eyes, mind and heart to His word, get busy reading God’s Word, and start journaling. All this is done before anyone wakes up. Ahhh, silent time with just God.
This morning when I read the words in Ezra 9:5b-6a, “I fell on my knees with my hands spread out to the LORD my God. Then I prayed this prayer”, I felt God reminding me to do this myself. I’m no scholar on the various positions of praying. You can pray with your eyes open (Please do so when you are driving.), eyes closed, standing, sitting, while doing an activity, etc. Prayer is you talking to God anytime and anyplace. But there, for me, is just something about praying prostrate. What’s that? According to the dictionary it means, “lying prone or stretched out with the face downward, e.g. in worship or submission”.
There have been times in my life when I have felt pressed to pray in this position. I can honestly say that during those times, I truly have felt closeness to God and a humbling of myself beyond. I was in total submission to Him.
So what did I do when I felt God reminding me to do the same today? I obeyed. I got my pillow on the ground and laid it all down before my Heavenly Father. I talked to Him about this day, my life, each member of my family, the new school year, my co-workers, my friend Laura, my students whom I haven’t even laid eyes on yet, etc. I gave it all to God. I pray that He will use me to be effective for His glory.
Here are a few bible verse that mention praying prostrate:
Matthew 26:30, “Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed…” (Jesus did it.)
Numbers 16:22, “But Moses and Aaron fell face down on the ground.”
Numbers 20:6, “Moses and Aaron turned away from the people and went to the entrance of the Tabernacle,where they fell face down on the ground. Then the glorious presence of the Lord appeared to them,”
Joshua 5:14, “Joshua fell with his face to the ground in reverence.”
Revelation 7:11, “And all the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living beings. And they fell before the throne with their faces to the ground and worshiped God.”
Yes, it sounds like some pretty important people in the bible did the same thing. Hey, you know what? You are pretty important yourself. If you feel led to go beyond the normal position for prayer and lay prostrate before God, go for it. I would like to encourage you to do so. Lay it all out for God, your body position and your thoughts.
Blessings to you! Gotta go to work now.
| August 13, “Walking in the Word” |