A group of preachers sat a table in a local coffee shop discussing prayer. Eventually the conversation turned to the best posture for prayer.  These respected gospel preachers narrowed their discussion to what they considered the three best postures and were debating which of these three was best.

1. Praying with hands folded and eyes closed. This they determined helped the petitioner close out the distractions around them and focus solely on God.
2. Laying face down on the ground before God who is Sovereign and Omnipotent. This they determined was a posture of humility.
3. On ones knees with hands lifted to the Father. This they admitted was at least partially in agreement with the Apostle Paul who instructed men to lift hoy hands in prayer.

As they continued to debate a voice from above spoke, “Excuse me.”

They looked up to see an electrician on a ladder changing a light fixture over the table next to them.

“I could not help but hear your discussion.  I just wanted to say that the best posture that impacted my prayer was hanging upside down when my foot was caught on the top of a 24′ extension ladder.”

Prayer.

A petition to God.

A statement of praise to the Creator.

An avenue of expressing gratitude to our Sustainer and Savior.

In a recent look through Psalms I found a prayer that grabbed hold of me. One I need to express for my own. Maybe you can identify with David’s petition like I do.

“O LORD, I call upon you; hasten to me! Give ear to my voice when I call to you! Let my prayer be counted as incense before you, and the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice! Set a guard, O LORD, over my mouth; keep watch over the door of my lips! Do not let my heart incline to any evil, to busy myself with wicked deeds in company with men who work iniquity, and let me not eat of their delicacies! Let a righteous man strike me—it is a kindness; let him rebuke me—it is oil for my head; let my head not refuse it. . . . . .” (Psalms 141:1-5)

Take these phrases to heart:

• I call upon You, hasten to me!
• Let my prayer be counted as incense.
• My lifting hands as  . . . sacrifice.
• Set a guard . . . over my mouth; keep watch over . . . my lips!
• Do not let my heart incline to any evil . . . wicked deeds . . . company with  . . .  iniquity
• Let me not taste their delicacies.
• Let a righteous man strike me / rebuke me – that is kindness and oil for my head.

Let me rephrase, “Father, hear my prayer, I call myself by Your name, I am Your child. Let my prayer be a refreshing scent and my life a sacrifice. Help me keep my mouth shut and not say what I should not. Help me keep my heart from worldliness, keep me from even tasting evil, I fear one taste may send me the wrong direction. Help me listen to those who would correct me and keep me from wrong, I know they want what is best for me and are acting out of love and friendship. In Jesus’ name.”

-Scott