Tim Muelhoff | Olivia Blinn/THE CHIMES
In “The Screwtape Letters,” C.S. Lewis exposes us to a strategy used by demons to blind us to the reality of what prayer is — communication with God. Wormwood, a senior devil training a junior tempter, suggests the following tactic:
“At the very least, they [Christians] can be persuaded that the bodily position makes no difference to their prayers; for they constantly forget, what you must always remember, that they are animals and that whatever their bodies do affects their souls.”
Intentional conversation and posture
As modern Christians I believe we have sorely neglected the role of the body in our spiritual lives. We think that the position of our body has little to do with the vibrancy of our prayers. Lately, I’ve slipped into the habit of praying while driving to campus, taking a walk or sitting on the couch with feet kicked up drinking my morning coffee. While intellectually I believe I’m conversing with God, my casual posture suggests otherwise. Would I sit slouched on a couch if talking with president Barry Corey or a respected scholar? What if Screwtape’s assessment is correct and my distracted prayers are the result of not engaging my body?
In order to add vitality to my prayers, I’ve decided to make a change. Lately, I’ve been praying while standing with arms raised while in the privacy of my office or home. My decision to pray with arms raised is motivated by Paul’s instruction to Timothy that believers should intercede for kings and people of authority by “lifting holy hands” (1 Timothy 2:8).
Inspired by literature
My decision to stand was also prompted after I again watched the end of the 1962 classic, “To Kill a Mockingbird.” Atticus Finch, played by Gregory Peck, is a Depression-era attorney defending a black man accused of rape in the then deeply racist South. To no one’s surprise, an all-white jury convicts. As a dejected Finch leaves the courthouse, a group of African-Americans stand as he passes. Everyone stands silently, except Finch’s daughter, who remains seated. An elderly black man leans over and whispers to the girl, “Stand up, Jean Louise. Your father is passing by.” They stood in awe of Finch’s courage and dignity. Does God deserve any less? I decided to stand while praying as recognition of my awe toward a righteous and courageous God.
Does God hear me any better by my standing with arms raised? No. But I became more attentive to what I am doing. In my communication courses, I tell students that the goal of a good communicator is mindfulness. Mindfulness is being fully present in the moment. I find that standing with arms raised helps me to be mindful that I’m communicating with a God who deserves my attention and respect.
Finding balance in prayer life
As I’ve pursued this new approach to prayer I need to be careful not to overreact. Praying in my car or while on an exercise bike is not wrong. After all, Paul himself exhorted us to, “pray continually” (1 Thessalonians 5:17). However, if all I’m doing is praying while I’m doing other things, then my prayer life is unbalanced.
It’s great that my wife and I can grab quick times of conversation during a hectic day. But if that’s all we do, then it becomes a negative. We must cultivate times when the television is off, kids are off doing homework upstairs and we can have uninterrupted times of fellowship. The same is true of our communication with God. There are times when I need to close out the world and give the majestic king my full attention and be fully present in the moment. Praying with arms raised is one small step in cultivating spiritual mindfulness.
