Do you remember the first time you intentionally knelt? I don't mean kneeling in jest when begging a sibling or friend for something we desired. No, I mean kneeling because we were either asked to kneel or because we understood on some level that it was the appropriate action to take.
Mine was the first time I received communion in my home congregation after I was baptized at age 23. I remember thinking how odd it felt to undertake what I perceived to be such an intimate act of submission and worship in front of hundreds of people. I still feel odd at times. Communion is intensely personal to me and sometimes I find myself wishing that I could linger at the table a bit longer just to be still before Him as He reaches down to me through His body and blood. Occasionally, I find myself wishing that once I receive communion everyone else would leave so that I could properly go facedown before God in humble worship and thanksgiving.
What causes us to hold back from offering God our "all" in worship? I would suggest that there is a side of us that lives life trying to be accepted by the people around us. In a word - self consciousness. Have you noticed that oftentimes our outward actions are inhibited by the opinions of others? When we live our lives according to others' opinions, our worship ends up being based on what other people want, what they prefer, and what they believe. And so rather than worshiping according to what God wants, what God prefers, and what God believes, our worship can fall woefully short of the honor God deserves.
On our knees before God in intimate prayer and worship on a daily basis is where we receive His good gifts of divine guidance, peace, comfort and instruction. The first time I tried going facedown before the Lord, I waited until I was absolutely alone in the house. I got down and lay on the floor with nose and forehead to the carpet. I tell you, taking that position truly focused my attention on Who I was communicating with. But I felt like I had my back to God. Does that make sense? So I turned over face up, then I felt like I was taking a siesta rather than going before Him in reverence.
I realize that some cannot physically kneel or go facedown before the Lord. Whatever position we take before God, what truly matters is the genuineness of our worship. The position from which we offer Him our worship and prayers is not nearly as important as ensuring that our offering is genunine and for Him alone.
Each day as you go before the Lord in worship and prayer, I pray that God multiples that time of intimacy. In that precious time with Him, we seek the face of the One who created us, the only One who is worthy of our worship, and the One who loves us like no other.
