Looking Back

August 1932

Our Attitude During Prayer

A Correspondent writes:

“Surely we ought to observe, quite naturally, an attitude which reflects a spirit of adoration and respectfulness when we exercise our privilege of prayer.

“Our prayers in Church are usually long, and it is necessary that the attitude adopted be one which can be maintained, hence I suppose our practice of remaining in our seats. But if we do not provide ourselves with a hassock and kneel, or do not lean forward on the book-board, we may prevent those behind us from doing so. Some not only retain their sitting position but remain with one leg thrown over the other knee, and some pray with their hands in their pockets. Quite unconsciously there is a good deal of disrespect in our attitude during prayer.

“We would not dream of addressing King George while we lounged in our seats, or of addressing the King’s representative in the General Assembly in a disrespectful manner, yet some of us venture to do so when we address the King of Kings.

“It is possible to pray in any attitude, but when we assemble ourselves together in church and engage in public worship of God, we should not allow ourselves to forget that there is a respectfulness due to God in the manner in which we offer our prayers.

“Perhaps it might be added that since in many of our churches we now repeat together The Lord’s Prayer, there would be a great advantage in avoiding the confusion which often arises, as if we had an authoritative usage as between the words ‘trespasses’ and ‘debts’. “

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