Three Postures of Prayer
Brother Lawrence described how he considered himself “before God, whom I behold as my king.” (The Practice of the Presence of God, Second Letter, pp38-39)
As Subject
the Posture: kneeling, prostrate
“I consider myself as the most wretched of men, full of sores and corruption, and who has committed all sorts of crimes against his King. Touched with a sensible regret, I confess to Him all my wickedness, I ask his forgiveness, I abandon myself in His hands that He may do what He pleases with me. The King, full of mercy and goodness, very far from chastising me, embrace me with love, makes me eat at His table, serves me with His own hands, gives me the key of His treasures; He converses and delights Himself with me incessantly, in a thousand and thousand ways, and treats me in all respects as His favorite…”
Kneeling or prostrate we pray: “As your Subject, redeem me – and converse with me as friend.”
As Son
the Posture: embracing, leaning, expressing need (Ignatius, the “prayer of embrace”)
“My most useful method is this simple attention, and such a general passionate regard for God, to whom I find myself often attached with greater sweetness and delight than that of an infant at the mother’s breast; so that, if I dare use the expression, I should choose to call this state the bosom of God, for the inexpressible sweetness which I taste and experience there.”
Embracing, leaning we pray: “As your Son, embrace and nurture me.”
As Stone
the Posture: sitting, desiring change and transformation
“As for my set hours of prayer, they are only a continuation of the same exercise. Sometimes I consider myself there as a stone; presenting myself thus before God, I desire Him to form His perfect image in my soul, and make me entirely like Himself.”
Sitting, we pray: “As your Stone, form me into Your image.”
For Worship
Singing
Read from Practice
Give reflections above
Read Isaiah 6
Silent prayer: kneeling, prostrate, standing
Sing, “Holy, holy …”
Read Psalm 131
Refer to “the prayer of embrace” (Jim Devereux)
Sing
Read Isaiah 46:8
Sitting prayer: “present ourselves”
Sing: “Change my life, O Lord”