It’s a new year. And I’ll bet like many of you, you are looking at making some changes. It might be diet, exercise, getting organized, or resolving to not binge watch Netflix, Disney+, or YouTube. Whatever it is, you’ve likely got a resolution you’ve contemplated.
Might I suggest one on prayer. So in this short post I’m going to give you 3 ways to engage your whole being in prayer.
Ready? Let’s go!
1. Consider what you want to pray about.
This engages your mind. It is easy to drift off in prayer. Sometimes this is helpful as you let your thoughts go. But don’t you think it would be good to consider what you want to pray about before going to God in prayer?
Paul, in his letter to the Romans encourages them to not be conformed to this world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. (See Romans 12:2) Part of the idea is the setting of one’s mind on truths and not being impacted by whatever the world says. It’s the setting part that I’m interested in here. When you set your mind to do something, you become intentional, and the likelihood of follow through is so much better. So why not set our minds on what we want to pray for before going to God in prayer. It’s ok to make a list. I’m a list guy. I like them. Not everyone is like me. That’s ok…and probably a good thing. But make a list anyway! Your mind adds energy to prayer when you’ve set it on what you want to pray for. This is serious. Think about it. You are about to approach the throne of grace. It would be good to consider what you are going to talk to God about and ask God for.
2. Position your body for prayer.
We are physical beings. And our posture and body position impacts not only how we physically feel about how we think but also how we respond to and perform the activity we are engaged in or will be engaged in. This is easy to see in competitive swimming as swimmers take their mark on the block. But have you ever considered body position for prayer?
I’m going to Luke’s Gospel for this one. In Luke 22:41, Jesus withdraws himself from others (about a stone’s throw away) and kneels down before he begins to pray. Jesus didn’t always kneel down to pray. In this instance he did, along with others. There must be something to kneeling down.
Kneeling down does something to your inner person. Specifically, in attitude. Kneeling down is submission to the one that sits on the throne. It’s yielding your will to his will. We all have ways in which we want to see God work and answer our prayers, but ultimately it’s going to be his will that’s done. Our yielding means peace in return knowing that God is always at work for our good. (See Romans 8:28)
3. Accept the soul restoration.
We live in a fallen world. As such, we feel the impact of it all. We can get dry, weary, and worn. Daily prayer restores our soul. David knew this well when he wrote the 23rd Psalm. Prayer indeed restores our soul. In prayer we seek God. We talk to him. Worship him. Honor him. And pour out our requests, our hurts, our frustrations onto him. He’s big enough to take them. And he’s big enough to restore you while you’re pouring out onto him. It’s in prayer that our body, mind, soul, and spirit are still and know (or rather remember) that he is God. He’s still in control. He’s still working things out (again, see Romans 8:28). He still loves you. He still is for you. You are not forsaken. You are loved.
Restoration is God’s part. Looking at the verse that David writes, it says “He restores my soul” (Psalm 23:3). Restoration is God’s part. But that doesn’t mean you don’t have a responsibility to set your mind, position your body, and accept that restoration. God doesn’t force it on you. He promises it to you.
It’s up to you to accept it.
There it is. Three ways to engage your whole being in prayer. I promised short and short it is. Know that you are loved by a mighty God who’s desire is to just be with you.
So, why not help him with that desire? Go be with him. Make that a resolution for 2021.
Thanks so much for being a part of our BNC Family!
