Prayer Postures

There’s something to be said about the postures we take in prayer…

As much as the posture of my heart matters, I’ve been discovering that the posture of my physical body can greatly influence my prayer life as well!

Whether I need to be moving around (dancing it out or pacing back and forth) or staying very still in soaking mode or laying prostrate on the ground, these postures often help me express my needs and prayers in ways that words simply can’t.

And sometimes the words are missing and feel inadequate for sharing what’s going on in my heart and mind. In these moments, not only does a physical form of prayer help, having the words written out for me also helps.

The following three prayers have been composed by written by the folks at Infinitum and have become pillars in my prayer life.

S U R R E N D E R
Hands Up
(Romans 12:1-2)

I choose to hold up my hands as a symbol of surrender.
My life is not about me,
I surrender to your Lordship.
I surrender my preferences, prejudices and position to you.
My fears, finances, friends and family to you.

G E N E R O S I T Y
Hands Out
(Romans 12:3-8)

I choose to hold out my hands as symbol of generosity.
What I have is not mine.
I am only a steward of all that you have given me.
I want to mirror the way that you opened your hand to us and lavished your love and life upon us.
I want to live an open-handed life in a closed fist culture.

M I S S I O N
Hands Forward
(Romans 12:9-18)

I choose to hold my hands forward as a symbol of mission.
I want to live for something greater than me.
I want to embrace your kingdom mission.
I want to embrace and welcome your mission to the lost, last, least and lonely – the poor powerless, privileged and persecuted.