O LORD, answer me! Answer me so these people will know that you, O LORD, are God and that you have brought them back to yourself. (I Kings 18:37, NLT)
Along the way in the journey of life I have encountered individuals who have extraordinary peace, contentment, and happiness, radiating from the inside-out. These individuals have entered into a deep relationship with God. Most of them have experienced some years of a spiritual drought because they were too busy to take time to pray . . . and then they experienced something so challenging . . . so difficult . . . that nothing and nobody could help them find a portion of peace, contentment or happiness . . . so they turned to God and learned that prayer brought them to Peace . . . Contentment . . . Love.
I have learned these individuals pray face down before God. The point is not the physical position, but that the whole being is fully engaged in prayer, the heart positioned toward God . . . fully devoted.
Elijah prayed with devotion rather than with desperation. Too often prayer comes out of crisis . . . "God do this one thing for me and I am yours." There is no doubt that Elijah had been prepared for the challenge he faced. In other words, previous discussions with God had led him to publically pray with confidence, almost as if to say . . . "I have done as you asked to prepare the people to be ready to see You . . . will you reveal Yourself?"
Surely, Elijah had spent time face down before God . . . in a posture of trust . . . because he had an unquenchable thirst for God . . . knowing God's love to be beyond reason . . . to be an unbounded love . . . that invites humanity into a participative relationship.
Meditate on the words that Daniel hears face down in prayer:
"Don't be afraid," he said, "for you are deeply loved by God. Be at peace; take heart and be strong!" As he spoke these words, I suddenly felt stronger and said to him, "Now you may speak, my lord, for you have strengthened me." (Daniel 10:19, NLT)
Take time to pray face down: engage your whole being with your heart positioned toward God.
Listen . . . become stronger through the revealed love of God . . . receive courage . . . strength . . . peace.
Live in peace, contentment, and yes . . . happiness.
Learning with you to pray face down,
Shalom,
Kerrie
(All devotions written by Kerrie Palmer ©2008 All Rights Reserved)
