It is so good to be praying with you today. We are praying First for all the amazing things God has put in front of us. We're preparing to unleash the gospel in our community on Serve Day. Our incredible youth are heading to New Orleans for their mission trip and the national youth gathering. We're praying for our Sunday services, especially after seeing so many brand new faces last week and new team members stepping up to serve. I’m just so fired up and grateful that you are all covering these huge moments in prayer.
Thinking about all that energy and expectation for what God is doing reminds me of something. Have you ever been to a big sporting event? I mean a really big one, where the energy is just electric. Think about what you see. You see people on their feet, hands in the air after a touchdown, maybe even down on one knee in disbelief after a crazy play. Their bodies are telling the story of what’s happening in their hearts. They’re not thinking, “Okay, now I shall stand to express my excitement.” No! It’s a natural, automatic response. The emotion inside just has to come out.
What if we brought that same energy, that same kind of full-body expression, into our prayer life? Last week we talked about our posture of prayer and how we have to have a humble heart, sometimes I think that translates to being solemn, reserved, we have to hold back. We treat prayer like it’s just a mental activity—something that happens only between our ears. But God designed us as whole people: mind, soul, and body.
And this is where the Apostle Paul’s words help. In Romans 12:1, he says something incredible. He says, “Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship.”
Your bodies. He’s saying that our physical selves are meant to be part of our worship. This isn't just about what we do on a Sunday morning. This applies directly to our prayer life. It’s an invitation to engage not just our minds, but our bodies in a real conversation with God.
So what does that look like? Well, Scripture actually gives us some amazing examples. We see God’s people praying in all kinds of physical postures.
First, there’s kneeling. Philippians 2 tells us that one day, at the name of Jesus, every knee will bow. Kneeling is this powerful, physical way of saying, “God, you are in control. I submit to your authority. I humble myself before you.” When we kneel, it’s not just our knees hitting the floor; it’s a posture that helps our hearts feel that humility and reverence.
Then we see people lifting their hands. In 1 Timothy 2:8, Paul encourages people to lift holy hands in prayer. This is a universal sign of surrender and dependence. It’s like saying, “God, I give up trying to do this on my own,” or “I’m open to whatever you have for me,” or simply, “You are worthy of all my praise!” It physically opens us up to Him.
And sometimes, the right posture is just standing. In 2 Chronicles 20, we see the people of Israel standing before the Lord as they seek His help. They were standing at attention, ready to hear from their Commander. It’s a posture of respect, readiness, and expectant faith.
Now, let’s be clear: these aren’t required rituals or some magic formula. God hears you whether you’re running on a treadmill or curled up in a chair. But these postures are God-given tools to help connect our outer self with our inner heart.
So here’s my challenge for us as we go into our prayer time. Let’s practice praying with our whole being. Don’t just think your prayers; live them. Try matching a physical posture to that inner attitude.