Facts About Prayer

Basics of PrayerPrayer provides immediate access to GodTo all true Christians, prayer meansinstant access to God. Paul affirmed thistruth in Ephesians 2:18 – “For throughhim we both have access by one Spiritunto the Father” (cf. Romans 5:2).Likewise, Hebrews 4:16 declares, “Let ustherefore come boldly unto the throne ofgrace, that we may obtain mercy, and findgrace to help in time of need.” Christianscan have boldness in the fact that they canhave access to God’s gracious throne anytime they need His help.All those who have been reconciledto God through Christ can have theassurance that God is ever ready to heartheir prayers. In fact, because God isomnipresent (God is everywhere regardlessof time or circumstances) and omniscient(God is all-knowing), He not only hearsprayer immediately but even knows thecontent of prayer before it is formulatedby the one praying. Isaiah 65:24 says,“And it shall come to pass, that beforethey call, I will answer; and while they areyet speaking, I will hear.” Psalm 145:18promises, “The LORD is nigh unto allthem that call upon him, to all that callupon him in truth” (cf. Psalms 50:15; 91:15).Prayer is independent of ritualistic posture and activitiesThe Bible records God’s people prayingin various physical positions. Prayingin various circumstances necessitatesdifferent postures. In the Bible, peopleprayed standing (Genesis. 24:12-14),lifting up their hands (1 Timothy 2:8),sitting (Judges 20:26, 2 Samuel 7:18),kneeling (Daniel 6:10; Mark 1:40),looking upward (John 17:1), bowingdown (Exodus 34:8), placing their headsbetween their knees (1 Kings 18:42),lying down on their bed (Psalms 4:4;63:6), bowing on their bed (1 Kings 1:47),pounding on their breasts (Luke 18:13),facing the temple (Daniel 6:10), andprostrating (Mark 14:35; Revelation 7:11).The above brief review indicates that inthe Bible, there is not a particular postureof prayer. Postures are important onlyto the extent that they are the externalexpression of reverence, inner feelingsand commitment to the Lord. No singleposture is able to express all feelings of thepraying man. Hence, we find in Scripturea diversity of options and possibilities.One should adopt his posture of prayerin a reverential manner. Our posture inprayer should be the reflection of ourhearts, whether it be hearts overwhelmedwith the cares of life, hearts overawed bythe majesty of God or hearts hushed inhumble obedience to God.Above all, the Bible emphasizes theposture of the heart more than theexternal posture. Isaiah 29:13 admonishesus: “Wherefore the Lord said, Forasmuchas this people draw near me with theirmouth, and with their lips do honour me,but have removed their heart far from me,and their fear toward me is taught by theprecept of men.” Jesus also warned againstthe hypocritical prayer postures – “Andwhen thou prayest, thou shalt not be asthe hypocrites are: for they love to praystanding in the synagogues and in thecorners of the streets, that they may beseen of men. Verily I say unto you, Theyhave their reward” (Matthew 6:5).Bible Witness 17