I am just reading a book about prayer and the writer talks about how often he prayed kneeling on the hard basement. I mean what is this good for? I really don't understand it. Does God want us to chasten ourselves?
Are my prayers more powerful when I have pain kneeling on a hard basement and when my knees ache? Does this please God?
This reminds me of eastern religions where the people think they have to punish themselves. I really cannot understand it why God would be pleased with pain.
Posted by: akabezalel
Praying on your knees is a physical symbol of submission. You do not have to be on your knees to have a submissive heart toward God when you pray. You do not have to be on your face before God in prayer or bow in His Presence either. I think you will find though that you will feel within yourself the compelling need to do these symbolic acts at different times in your prayer life.
It is difficult to stand in the Presence of God.
God does not look on the body when we pray, He looks at your heart. I can pray sitting here at my computer and God will hear me if I have humbled my heart into submission to Him and asked for his forgiveness and mercy. Our flesh cannot enter His presence, only our spirits, the heart of our being, can enter the Throne room in prayer.
Sometimes we self-mortify in order to force ourselves into a preconcieved mould. In other words we make ourselves miserable in order to meet God in our own righteousness and on our own terms...
This is not to take away what this man learned by his act of submission. God covers us in His Grace when we do something like this. You only have to ask yourself if you are falling down, kneeling, bowing or whatever, in order to worship God or because you want to look "holy" to those around you...
Let me tell you a secret.....
If you are asking yourself that question then you are not doing it because the Presence of God compells it.
You are doing it in your own strength and self-righteousness.
Posted by: angelofthelord
I know we are suppose to, anyway that is how i was brought up, but since this past July I have had a problem getting down on both knees. Last July was blotted up over 100 pounds of water retention and since losing the water, I have found it next to impossible to kneel. When I do get down on them I need help up.
Posted by: Frederik
Quote:
Originally Posted by akabezalel
Let me tell you a secret.....
If you are asking yourself that question then you are not doing it because the Presence of God compells it.
You are doing it in your own strength and self-righteousness.
Presence of God?
I have never felt his presence.
Posted by: StarChilde
It has to do with submission, and showing yourself as submitted to God. I do agree with Carol, in that a submissive heart is what is most important. I have even fell face first to the ground, in submitting myself in prayer to God... did that make Him hear my prayers more? NO... but He knew my heart was in it, and that is the most important thing here... from the heart.
Prostrate PROS'TRATE, a. [L. prostratus, from prosterno, to lay flat; pro and sterno.] 1. Lying at length, or with the body extended on the ground or other surface. Groveling and prostrate on yon lake of fire. 2. Lying at mercy, as a supplicant. 3. Lying in the posture of humility of adoration. PROS'TRATE, v.t. To lay flat; to throw down; as, to prostrate the body; to prostrate trees or plants. 1. To throw down; to overthrow; to demolish; to ruin; as, to prostrate a village; to prostrate a government; to prostrate law or justice; to prostrate the honor of a nation. 2. To prostrate one's self, to throw one's self down or to fall in humility or adoration. 3. To bow in humble reverence. 4. To sink totally; to reduce; as, to prostrate strength.
Posted by: akabezalel
Your time is coming Fredrik!
You keep seeking, keep asking, keep looking for God and His answers because He will not disappoint you.
Your time to come into the Presence is coming and you will know beyond shadow of doubt that He is there and He is real and He Loves YOU!
When you do have this experience you will not worry about whether you are standing, kneeling or prostrate because it will not matter to you any longer.
