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Praying Outside the Comfort Zone
By Marc | December 16, 2007
This update is short and (hopefully) sweet.
Growing up, prayer was something with your head bowed and hands either folded or pressed together. That’s the way it was, and it’s what most people consider "how it’s done".
It wasn’t until I was an adult, actually just a few years ago, that I noticed people praying with arms out, palms up, head towards the sky. I thought this looked silly and seemed sort of show-offish and greedy (like gimme gimme gimme your blessings, Lord), so when I finally, honestly came to Christ, I kept my old ways of prayer.
Last year, at a Promise Keepers rally in Des Moines, the men were called upon to lift their hands in worship. I went along with it, but felt very uncomfortable about the whole thing. There was, though, a mild sense of calm as well. I didn’t try this again until just a few weeks ago.
Praying that way (palms up, arms outstretched) is something I’m still uncomfortable doing and will take some time to adjust to, but I’m starting to see why people do this and why it’s beneficial.
When you keep your head low and your hands together, you are closing yourself off in a way. You build an imaginary shell around yourself with your body focused inward. You are keeping yourself inconspicuous and that feels comfortable. For all anyone can tell, you might be doing something else besides praying: sleeping, daydreaming, figuring out what to have for lunch, etc.
But when you place palms facing upward with arms out, you are opening yourself up. You are totally exposed to all around you. You are out of your armor, out of your comfort zone. This isn’t for show and isn’t for self, it’s telling God, "Here I am, Lord. All I am and all I have are Yours. If You’ve got a blessing, rain it down. If You’ve got something bad for me, rain it down." You’re not just in your prayer cocoon, keeping yourself protected. You’re spread out on the floor, naked and defenseless.
You’re outside your comfort zone. God likes to push us outside our comfort zones. If we don’t go outside, we don’t grow. We are stagnant and unwilling to change.
I still pray with my head down (as a sign of reverence), and only sometimes with hands out. I’m slowly walking outside the boundaries of my zone, but I still feel very uncomfortable.
Because your love is better than life, my lips will glorify you.
I will praise you as long as I live, and in your name I will lift up my hands. – Psalm 63:3-4
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