Praying with Our Bodies

Presbyterian theologian, Craig Dykstra, has been noted as saying, “You can know things on your knees that you can’t know sitting in a chair.” That is to say, our posture in prayer can make all the difference. Moving around during a prayer or taking on a different posture than the same old heads bowed eyes closed method can help us see things from a different perspective. It may help us to be more open to the world and the needs around us and may help us to be more open to the things that God has to say to us. With this in mind, we might challenge ourselves during this time to expand our prayers in ways that include our whole bodies and may just give us some new perspective. 

As Presbyterians the very title, Praying with Our Bodies, probably makes many of us squirm. For us, prayer often looks the same way each time: we bow our heads and close our eyes, maybe on occasion we clasp our hands together (if we’re praying alongside a small child). For most of “The Frozen Chosen,” prayer is meant to be a quiet, reverent time of speaking to and listening for God.

During this time when so many things are turned on their heads and we as a church are having to learn and adapt to new ways of doing things, I invite you to do the same when it comes to your life of prayer. If so many things are topsy-turvy, we might as well add one more, right? Well, if praying with your whole body isn’t topsy-turvy for a bunch of Presbyterians, then I don’t know what is!

  

There is no right or wrong way to do this, so I hope that you will get creative! If you need a starting point, though, here are some suggestions:

Open yourself up to God – If you need to start slow, this is a great place to begin! Start by just changing up your regular posture. Rather than bowing your head, look up toward the sky with eyes open or shut. Rest your hands in your lap, palms facing up.

Music and a Psalm – Play some soft music in the background (you may even light a candle if you have one). Slowly read a Psalm, or a portion of a Psalm; and let that be your prayer. You may also try doing this with the posture laid out above.

Dance! – Prayer doesn’t always have to be quiet and somber. GASP! I know! Put on some lively music and dance. It might be worship music (you might try Marvelous Light by Ellie Holcomb), and the words can be your prayer; or it might just be a song that you really enjoy (you might try Can’t Stop the Feeling by Justin Timberlake), and your prayer may be a thanksgiving to God for the gift of music and movement.

Take a Walk – Take a walk around your neighborhood. Say a prayer for each thing that you see. As you pass the houses of your neighbors, say a prayer for each family inside. If you pass a school, say a prayer for its students and teachers. Give thanks to God for the trees, the flowers, etc.

Get creative, and share in the comments what kinds of things you've found to be helpful and life-giving. 

Blessings on your prayer journey,

Pastor Sarah