Face down in the dirt kinda prayers...
Humbling yourself before God is no laughing matter
“As the music went on, he came up to the altar. After a minute, he got on his knees.
Then, he laid down on his stomach, face down, palms raised up.
And I could hear him sobbing and praying for God to work in his life.”
These are my own words, but they are based on a much shorter version of a story told by an alumni, a friend, from my alma mater.
And I think about this story a lot.
If I am being honest…
…I don’t think I have ever truly prostrated myself before God.
At least, not like this guy did.
And that friend of mine, when he shared that story, it was while he speaking during one of our chapel services. And he got down on his face, just as the youth worker did in his story.
And he delivered the next part of that sermon from the floor.
…
And there is something powerful about making yourself that vulnerable, humbling yourself that much, because you are walking into the presence of The Holy One.
The Most Other. And The One Who Loves Us More Than Anyone Else.
And, yes, I wrote those as titles of God.
On purpose.
Because God is both. And both are true and good and terrifying and awesome.
God is more “good” than we can ever imagine. But loves us more deeply than we can ever fathom.
And…sometimes it’s good to put your face in the dirt and acknowledge that you are in prayer with The Holy One, the one who we say, “May your name be kept holy.”
My prayer for today
Our Father, may your name be kept holy. And may we remember the mystery of your Otherness and Love. Amen.
Remember
The posture of your heart and your physical posture sometimes need to be aligned. I am going to prostrate myself before God right now after I finish writing this. And I hope your prayers will join mine.