Posture Optional

I am guessing that it has been a while since you have seen someone kneel in prayer during a church service - unless you are Catholic. I grew up in a small congregations and their were a couple men that I remember kneeling when they prayed. One of them was brother Billingsley. He was in his late 70’s and when called on to pray (very spontaneous, no prior warning) you could hear him making his way to one knee on those hard wood floors between creaky old wood pews. Though the building was small, it was still hard to hear the prayer, but no one complained. Everyone respected brother Billingsley's walk with the Lord. It was not an uncommon site back then to see men go to their knee(s) in prayer. A while back we were given that option during prayer and I moved from my seat to kneel while we were led in prayer. When I took my seat again beside my grand son Lukas he ask me, "Papa, what were you doing?" After I explained that I was praying, I reflected on how much we have lost in not continuing the tradition of kneeling to pray. The Bible is filled with examples of people kneeling or prostrating themselves before the Lord in prayer. And yet today it has become odd and even weird to see. I know that the important posture takes place in the heart. I know that you don’t "have" to kneel to prayer. I led prayer at Madison Sunday and gave permission for it to be "posture optional." Our seating is not conducive to allow allot of people to kneel, but when the opportunity is given, there are always folks from all over the building that will kneel. When you picture people from the scripture praying, what posture do you see? Sometimes it is stated, other times not, but for the most part I see them either kneeling or prostrated before God. These are postures of respect, submission, awe and humility. As I reflect back on my grand son’s question above, I also see them as postures that teach those qualities by example. I tend to think that one day when we see Jesus and the Father face to face, it will not be "posture optional". In the presence of Holiness I will fall down and get just as close to the ground as possible. "In a loud voice they sang: "Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise!" Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all that is in them, singing: "To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be praise and honor and glory and power, for ever and ever!" The four living creatures said, "Amen," and the elders fell down and worshipped". Rev. 5:12-14 NIV