Kneeling in prayer - June 26

Today’s Readings: AM Psalm 107:33-43, 108:1-6(7-13); PM Psalm 33 1 Samuel 9:15-10:1; Acts 7:30-43; Luke 22:39-51

While at Camp McDowell for this session with rising 8th and 9th graders, the theme is “Since I Laid My Burdens Down”…exploring the life we lead as we carry around our burdens. We are naming some of those worries and stresses in our lives. We are learning ways to put those burdens down through prayer to God and practices to bring us stillness and a sense of calm. We are dreaming about what the fullness of life looks like when we put some of those burdens down. We are challenging ourselves to show respect and kindness to ourselves and to others, even when there are hard things we carry around. It is heavy and holy work that these campers and their counselors are doing to look at and put down their burdens. As these young people are maturing in their bodies and in their lives of faith, the program team is knitting together skits, activities, and scripture references to support this arc of learning.

One of the first nights here in “God’s Backyard”, I pondered and prayed about the many stresses swirling about – those named and unnamed. I felt the fearful weight of those worries…the heft of the reality that goes along with unearthing the burdens around us. I felt that I needed get down on my knees (kneeler or no kneeler) to pray. I prayed through fears and concerns, with my head bowed low. The weight was too much for me to resolve, so through prayer I tried to relinquish those worries to God.

As I read about the mercies of the Lord in good and bad times in Psalm 107, these verses jump out at me:

Yet when they were diminished and brought low,
through stress of adversity and sorrow,
He lifted up the poor out of misery
and multiplied their families like flocks of sheep.  (Psalm 107:39, 41)

The words from Luke 22 resonate, as well, as Jesus and the disciples are facing the heavy burden that the Son of Man will be capture, tried, and put to death. The earthly ministry they have experienced to date will be ending. Jesus acknowledges to his friends that things are hard, and then moves a short distance away (a stone’s throw), kneels on the ground, and prays to God.

I believe there are times when it helps to get down on our knees - especially when we feel “diminished and brought low through the stress of adversity and sorrow”. We see it modeled in Jesus’ ministry. Maybe you have experienced it, too.

God is present with us and ready to greet our joys and sorrows…so, let’s lay some of our burdens down this day.

-- Katherine+

Questions for Reflection

Think about a time you've gotten on your knees in prayer. What is meaningful about that posture?

Daily Challenge

Take time today to ponder how changing your posture affects your prayer life. If kneeling is hard for you, think about a mindset that is akin to moving your body into a prayerful posture. Try praying on your knees to unload a burden from your shoulders.