Unfiltered Christian Podcast
Welcome to "Unfiltered Christian," a podcast where faith meets authenticity. Join me as we share the raw and real experiences of our Christian journey, navigating the highs and lows of life. Through heartfelt testimonials and candid conversations, we'll explore the challenges and triumphs of living a life of faith. Whether you're struggling or soaring, this podcast aims to uplift, encourage, and remind you that you're never alone in your walk with Christ. Tune in for genuine insights, relatable stories, and a community of believers striving to grow together.
Unfiltered Christian Podcast
Ep 21 - Why Do We Kneel and Close Our Eyes?
We explore the origins and personal meanings behind common prayer postures and habits, discovering that Scripture shows multiple ways to approach God in prayer, from kneeling to standing to lying prostrate.
• Different prayer positions throughout Scripture including Solomon kneeling with open hands, Daniel praying on his knees three times daily, and Jesus both kneeling and falling on his face
• The personal prayer journeys of both hosts, from praying in bed to pacing while praying to eventually kneeling
• How closing your eyes helps eliminate distractions and focus on spiritual connection
• The revelation that some people connect better through movement, like pacing in kitchens or praying while driving
• The importance of honest, vulnerable communication with God regardless of physical posture
• Understanding that while God knows our thoughts, He waits for us to bring our concerns to Him
• Finding your own personal prayer style that fosters the deepest connection with God
• The balance between reverence in posture and complete honesty in prayer content
May this conversation bless you and help you discover your own meaningful way to connect with our Heavenly Father, who cares more about your heart than your physical position.
Thank you for Listening
To ask us a question email us @ unfilteredchristian1@gmail.com
Hey Saints, and welcome back to the Unfiltered Christian Podcast.
Speaker 2:I'm Cece and I'm Shay and today is my question.
Speaker 1:So, shay, I don't know if you ever thought about this, but why do you kneel and close your eyes when you pray?
Speaker 2:It seems like the yeah, because I'm thinking the Bible doesn't. Does the Bible tell you to kneel and pray? I mean, isn't there parts of the Bible? I feel like the Bible doesn't. Does the Bible tell you to kneel and pray? I mean, isn't there parts of the Bible? I feel like, didn't Jesus do that? Didn't he kneel when he prayed to God? I'm thinking I'm like is that where it originates from? But I feel like before I didn't use to kneel.
Speaker 2:When I first started praying, I found it easier to walk around because I focused better that way. But I always closed my eyes because I always felt like that gave me more focus. I feel like that's the correct thing to do. When your eyes are open, because you're not praying to someone that's in front of you or you're not speaking to someone that's directly in front of you where you would give them eye contact, it feels like a deeper connection. When you close your eyes, because I feel like that way you're more in tune with the spirit, because you're connecting with the spirit. So I feel like when your eyes are closed, you're you've cut yourself off from the world, you've cut yourself off from what's in front of you, like when your eyes is open. I know some people that pray with their eyes open, like they don't feel like they need to close their eyes, but for me, it's like I could be looking at the pattern of my bed sheet or the trees outside. Yeah, you're distracted, and the whole point of prayer is for you to have a fully focused mind on Yahweh, like that's the whole point. So when your eyes are closed, it is better. I will say, though, my eyes is open in the morning because I'm so sleepy that I could actually fall asleep. So in the morning, it helps me to stay awake. If I'm praying before 10 o'clock or before nine o'clock in the morning, which most of the time is after six. Yeah, I need to keep my eyes open, honey, because my head will be dropping.
Speaker 2:I'll even forget what part I was up to, but the kneeling part. To me, it was the only word I can use, which I don't really know how to explain. This word is reverence. When you kneel, it brings more humility, because who else would you kneel to than our creator? And it's like it only seems correct to kneel to him to. It shows your respect towards him, it shows your humility, it shows how much you love him, um, and it just only seems right like it. Just I don't know it. Just that also makes me feel like I'm connecting to the lord of all lords, the king of all kings, and he deserves that. No one else deserves for me to put my knees down on the ground done to him, and I feel like I feel more connected to him even more through kneeling and just really, yeah, I don't know, there's just something about that that just draws you in and you just feel so much closer by that action of kneeling.
Speaker 1:For me personally, okay, and like before your walk got serious, what did you used to do?
Speaker 2:yeah, that's what I'm saying. I used to walk around because I found it easier I'd paste basically in my room or wherever I'm praying. I used to. I did used to close my eyes, but I used to paste around because I felt like I struggle to stay still. That's always been a thing for me Physically. I've always struggled to physically stay still, like in any situation, even at church. I still struggle to sit still. That's just always been a thing for me. So when I used to pray like that, I felt like my prayers were really deep, like at the beginning of my walk when I kneeled. I didn't feel like I was connecting.
Speaker 2:But, then, when I had my moments where I was pasting, I felt like I could express more, like I was getting more out, and I feel like last year maybe, like a year ago, I had to do that because I felt like I needed that, I needed that deepness for me. So, like that's how I feel, like I'm really connected, where I'm getting everything out, where I'm being more vulnerable, like walking. That's why you know, like you hear about some people that go on walks in the morning to have their worship time Like I get it because you feel like there's something about that movement that helps your brain to just I don't know, I can't describe it. It just helps you to get things out out. I feel like the reason why I don't do it as much anymore is because I feel like I'm not being respectful and I feel like it's respectful for me to kneel.
Speaker 1:That's why I don't do it anymore, okay that's interesting, yeah, but do you still feel like? Either way, your prayer will be heard?
Speaker 2:yeah, okay, I do. I do feel either way, my prayer be heard. I feel like. I feel like I feel like it's more to do with me being able to be more honest. Yeah, and I feel like I express more when I'm pasting, when I'm walking. I feel like I'm much more honest that I'm, you know. I mean, I get it all out. I'm very just, I just give him everything. Yeah, I feel like I somehow my brain is flowing more to tell him more, like the same way that I would tell my friends everything. I feel like everything just comes out the way it needs to come out, like I'm very honest, I'm very humble, I'm just, like you know, lord. This is how I feel and you know it. Just, it just all comes out, all the stuff I can't think about when I'm kneeling. It just comes out when I'm pasting. That's the difference.
Speaker 1:But either way I feel like yeah, but I know he's hearing my prayer.
Speaker 2:Either way, I think for me.
Speaker 1:Um, I uh growing up in a church of England church, um, when we knew but I can't remember kneeling at home other than at my, my great aunt's house like, oh, we used to be kneeling for time by my knees, and she was older. As I said, she's my great aunt, but we were young. I don't know how she managed, but my knees used to be my kneecaps, used to be hurting oh yeah. I'm thinking when is she gonna finish?
Speaker 2:especially if you're not kneeling on anything soft.
Speaker 1:It's like you're feeling the indentation kneeling by the bed the bed like before we used to go to bed, or in the morning, it was when she used to say prayer time. It was torture, because our knees was killing us. So, and then I guess in the Church of England church you've got the little cushion thing.
Speaker 2:Right.
Speaker 1:But Church of England churches prayers are not that long unless it's well I know every Church of England church is different, so in the church is different, so in in our church when it was easter, the prayers used to be longer but we was just excited to be kneeling on the cushion and the cushion.
Speaker 1:Yeah, I remember that floor yeah but I guess, being at home, we just always like closed our eyes when we prayed. Yeah, and when I say at home, I don't even mean my household, I'm talking about my other family house. I don't really see my mom pray, to be honest unless it was yeah, like, unless it was christmas.
Speaker 1:Um, when we're praying before we eat, wow I actually learned it from my other family members yeah, rather than my mom. And then I I never really questioned why we kneeled, it was just you just do it. And then so when I thought about it the other day, I was thinking like why do we do these things? It's because we're told, but nobody explains like why. It's just like close your eye, like as a child. Close your eyes, we're praying, we're praying, close your eyes, like you know, but we don't know why you're doing something. And then I started to question it like why do we close our eyes? Or why do we kneel? Because not everybody kneels.
Speaker 1:But there was yeah people close their eyes and then I remember, like one time I had my eyes open and someone's like, oh you're, it's disrespectful to have your eyes open. I was thinking how, um, and as of recently I don't really close my eyes anymore um and I don't kneel.
Speaker 1:I think it's depending on what it is. I think, like if I'm praying about my sins, I will kneel. But you see that pasting thing. I thought it was just me, because whenever I'm praying I pray more, better when I add my prayer, my prayer point, because you know, everyone says they've got a prayer place. Mine is the kitchen. I'll be pasting back and forth in the kitchen. Like it's my prayer room. Like there's something about the kitchen. Like when I walk around in any parts of the house, it's not the same.
Speaker 2:Same yeah, yeah, yeah.
Speaker 1:But in the kitchen is my thing, where my eyes are, my eyes are open and I am just going back and forth and and it's just that the thing that you talk about, that whole connection is like wow, and you know, and I don't know if you feel this way, I think it's just me personally but sometimes, you know, when we, when I don't know if you ever used to go prayer meeting on a Wednesday, but sometimes when I used to go prayer meeting, I had my eyes open because I didn't feel connected. So we, even though we're holding hands and everybody's praying, I just didn't feel a part of, because it's just different.
Speaker 2:I have that. I've had that experience in situations where we've had those kind of circle of prayer things where you're holding hands and very rarely I felt connected. I think there's only one time I felt connected and it was like when we had our new year's um thing and it was like there was like the what. That's the one time I actually did that whole group thing that actually felt connected in that prayer. But other than that I don't really feel connected. When they say like, oh, you know praying to or whatever, I don't really do you know what I mean? I don't really get that feeling like that. To be honest, I feel you with that one. Do you know what?
Speaker 2:The other thing I did used to do, actually early on my walk before the pasting, actually was, I used to pray in bed. That was my very early, early time and it didn't. I feel like you go through stages and that was in the mornings. Was it in the mornings? Yeah, I feel like it was mainly in the mornings, but that's because I wasn't used to getting up earlier to make that time to pray. So that's when I really started my journey very early, where it's like, okay, you have to intentionally now wake up earlier to pray, so it was like earlier, earlier, earlier because I woke up earlier to like, do other things, so I need to wake up earlier than that to pray and then do those things yeah um, and I was like, oh, this is a lot on my body.
Speaker 2:Like you know, I never used to wake up those times. I used to pray and I used to sit up and pray in bed and I didn't feel guilty at that time. So my journey has progressed from that time, but I used to feel fine praying in bed, like I still used to feel connected with God. I still used to feel like he's hearing me and I would still sing, I would still pray, I would still read my devotional do all in bed. Either way. Those were like freezing, cold winter mornings where I was just like, oh my gosh, like how could I come out this bed, like the heater's not on? Um? And these are the times I lived at home where, like, I couldn't just go turn on the heater. Like my mom had a time frame where she would turn it on, so like, yeah, my bed was warm, you know. So I prayed in bed. It just felt a little bit easier, whereas now, where I'm in my own space, still it's freezing. When I get up, I'm like I don't care how cold it is, because you know my mindset's different now. Like you know, the Lord is there for me wherever, like whenever, and the least I can do is get my behind out of bed and kneel and pray. Do you know what I'm saying? Yeah, that's good. So I just I'm like, yeah, let's find the robe, let's find whatever to be warm and the heat will heat you or you are pursued. You know Like I get back into bed to read, but to pray, yes, I do come out of bed, I force myself. I'm like you're coming out of bed and it's so funny now, because all of my son's life all he's known is to kneel, to pray. Okay, so now when we pray in the evenings.
Speaker 2:He blew my mind a few weeks ago not very long ago, I'm saying like maybe two or three weeks ago and then he said to me can we get into into the position of prayer? I was like sorry, I was thinking, wow, even for him, because he'll kneel, him, he'll, he'll, he'll pray in bed in the evenings, but he'll kneel in bed. And it blew my mind that my five-year-old is telling me let's get into the position of prayer. I was like, whoa, it was beautiful and amazing all at once. And, yeah, everyone, everyone has their own ways. I completely agree with that. You know, I always wanted to be that person that got up in the morning, though, and went for those morning walks and prayed in the mornings. Yeah, I'm sorry, honey, I can't do that them two celsius. I can't do that in those minus twos, honey.
Speaker 1:Oh no, it's too dark, and oh, I don't know when I open my eyes in bed, I say a prayer. So I'm still laying down. Like from the moment I open my eyes, I know that my attention could just go left at any guarantee it's true moment, so the moment I open my eyes. I thank the lord for waking me up and then I will do another prayer later on.
Speaker 1:Yeah, yeah because I'm just like, let me, let me just give thanks, because my, I could have opened my eyes and be blind or whatever. Do you know what I mean? I just give him that reverence. And it's so interesting because I you know me I always think way outside of the box, because I think to myself. Sometimes people say you have to kneel to be heard or do this or do that, but then you just realise that there is no right way or wrong way, as long as you have that relationship with the father, because you know, like, when you're leaving the door, you will be standing up. Do you know what I mean? And everyone has different relationships with God where they can connect. Because when I'm vexed, I drive and pray like that is I have. I get in the car, be in silence and I'm driving. I don't know how I'm driving so calmly, but I'll be like, literally like whether it be shouting or whatever thank god it's not rage driving.
Speaker 1:Oh yeah, no it's not, but it's my it's. There's something about driving and when I'm hurt that just calms me. That's interesting and it's always been my thing like, no matter what time of night. It could be 3amm if I cannot rest and I'm like and I try to pray and I really can't paste up and down in the kitchen because I because with me I don't talk I don't pray in my head when I'm pasting I'm talking out loud.
Speaker 1:Yes, so it's like when I'm in my car, people might think I'm just on the phone, so it's just easier for me. And there's numerous times where I've done it, and even though some people talk about my safety and stuff. But I just need that, that peace at that time, and driving is my thing it just sounds like you need to be outside.
Speaker 2:That's just what it is. You need to be outside, you need to be in fresh air, you need that space, you need, you need to be out of your environment.
Speaker 1:Basically yeah, but I'm not walking, though it has to be driving, no no, no, but either way, I still take it.
Speaker 2:It's still fresh air. Honey, you're outside, I still take it. I'm just saying you need to be, you're outside. You're not in a building, you've come out. Do you know what I mean? You, I feel like that's what it is. You just you need that fresh, open space in a sense, like if it makes sense I think in my head it makes sense, yeah, it's like you just need to be out. You need to be out, you need to be in that space, which is your space. Do you know what? I just I love that. Hearing you say that just made me like smile, because I just think, like I love the fact that everyone has their own way to connect with Yahweh, like I love that that's what he wants. He wants us all to have our own individual ways. Like there's no like from this conversation. I just feel like there's no specific right way or wrong way as long as you're speaking to him.
Speaker 2:There is something about that praying out loud thing I have to pray out loud, that whole praying in your head thing. That does not work for me. Not me, honey. I'll be thinking about the, the school run, the food shopping, the. What do I have to do at work? No, that does not work for me, and even when I'm praying out loud, I can still be distracted. So, either way, it's important for me to pray out loud. So that pacing thing and speaking out loud is very important for me. Like that praying in the head thing, nah, nah, nah. That is the one thing that doesn't work well for me. Like even when, like, I'm at church and I'm needing to pray and they say to pray, I still have to whisper. Okay, I cannot just be in my head. No, I know already that that's a no-go I still have to whisper, I still have to move my lips. Like I have to feel like I'm intentionally getting those words out. Yeah, it feels like I'm holding something in, like it's still not coming out by me. Praying in my head.
Speaker 1:So I started researching. Like kneeling was an ancient practice, it symbolizes humility, submission and reverence as you were saying. And then I was looking for like examples in the Bible of where ever somebody kneeled or their positioning, Because obviously when you go to different churches and you go visiting different denominations and they, like a lot of people, sometimes open their hands to pray as well ah, yes and um, the first person that I've found.
Speaker 1:Well, obviously there's jesus, but solomon is in second chronicles 6, verses 12 to 13, um, and he was at the temple. Then solomon stood before the altar of the lord in the presence of all assembly of israel and spread it, spread out his hands towards the heavens, and he knelt on his knees in the presence of all the assembly of israel and spread out his hands towards the heavens and I mean so that's why, like some people get the um when they're praying they have their hands open open sometimes.
Speaker 1:I pray like that too. Yeah, do you know what? It's just so amazing like there is no wrong way or right way as we're saying it was just like where does it come from? But it's about how you feel and then there was Daniel in Daniel 6 10. He got on his knees three times a day and prayed and gave thanks before his god, as he's done previously and then there was jesus in luke 22, 41, and he withdrew from them a stone throat and knelt down and prayed yes, I knew that jesus did it.
Speaker 2:It's like I'm questioning myself like did he? I'm like I'm sure I heard I read something that jesus also knelt and prayed yeah, um, do me a favor and find mark 11, verses 25.
Speaker 1:I didn't find that one mark 11, verses 25 go down there oh because in matthew matthew 26, verses 39 um, he went a little further and fell on his face and prayed. So you got people who lay straight straight.
Speaker 2:Yes, yes, yeah, there is people that do that. Yeah, I do that some, not all the time, but sometimes when I'm, depends on the where I'm, where I'm praying or kneeling on or leaning on or whatever it is. When I pray with my son, like when I'm in his room and I kneel in his room, sometimes I lean on my face. So it all depends, right. But Mark, chapter 11, verses 25, says and this is Jesus speaking, because it's in red and whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him.
Speaker 1:That your father in heaven may also forgive you your trespasses so here we could see standing laying face flat, having your arms open, kneeling, so it. So it just shows there's different ways of praying.
Speaker 2:There's different ways to connect. I see a lot of people do that actually, like when they lift their hands to pray. I do that in worship, like if I'm really connected to worship and I'm just feeling the Holy Spirit. Like I feel like raising my hands when I'm singing and my eyes close, like I really feel connected. That's the times when I feel like raising my hands. It's never really during prayer, but it's during worship. That's excellent.
Speaker 2:It's excellent that I feel like that's something gifted to us from the Lord, that we have different ways we can connect with him, because everyone's an individual and it's just great to know that. Um, because everyone's an individual and it's just great to know that, um, he, he allows that. You know that it shows the character of our god that he's not just like yeah, this is the only way to speak to me, this is the only thing you can do. Yeah, um, it really shows who he is by allowing us to have all these different ways that we can speak to him and I also feel like he's aware that everybody has a disability.
Speaker 1:So not everybody can kneel, not everybody can stand.
Speaker 2:That's actually true. Never thought of that.
Speaker 1:So he's opened the door for us, no matter what.
Speaker 2:So no excuses, no excuses, no excuses, honey yeah.
Speaker 1:The only one thing that I couldn't find is um closing your eyes, ah I couldn't find any scripture about closing your eyes, and I guess, again, not everybody can see um, but that's true, though I haven't heard that in the bible. That's true. I think it is a way like people just close their eyes to avoid distraction. Reverence humility right.
Speaker 1:It's their personal um preference. Whether you open your eyes or close them, like, your prayer will be heard. Um, because I know that we live in a world where you're you're told that if you don't do this, then you know the lord is not gonna hear you, and sometimes you just feel. But I feel more comfortable with my eyes open, whether you, wherever you are, with your walk. It doesn't mean that it's like shay's spoke about, like you know, starting to pray from her bed and now she kneels, the lord still hears her. Do you get what I'm saying?
Speaker 1:um, sometimes people could say things to you and make you feel bad or guilty for not doing it their way, but that's why I wanted to read out the different verses to show that you can be laying down, you can kneel down, you can open your arms, because that's what it says in the bible, that's what is written, that's not what so-and-so said. Um, and then like when? Um, when I was the reason why I asked you about do you feel like god still hears you? Um, as we could see through the different positions that, yes, he still hears us, regardless of our posture. The key is our heart. Seniority can never get that word, that word right, rather than the physical position. Jesus often spoke to us about the attitude of our heart in prayer in um matthew 6, verses um, 5 and 6.
Speaker 1:If you find john 4, 24. I should have had these all already, honey. But you know this is unfiltered and this is real life that's all right, I'll find matthew 6, matthew 6, verses 5 and 6, just in case for those who do not have a bible, and, if you can find john 4, verses 24 right here so um matthew 6, verses 5 and 6, says and when you pray, you shall not be like the other hypocrites, for they love to pray, standing in the synagogues and on the corners of the street that they may be seen by men.
Speaker 1:Surely, I say unto you, they have their reward. But when you pray, go into your room and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father, who is in a secret. You have shut your door, pray to your father who is in a secret place, and your father, who sees in secret, will reward you. So it just shows you. It's not about being seen or being dramatic, it's just about you and your father having that conversation he cares about what is in your heart very true.
Speaker 2:And john, chapter 4, verses 24, says this is also jesus speaking, because it's in red. God is spirit and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth. And that reminds me of what I was saying, where I feel like I'm connecting with the spirit, because we know that when I close my eyes but, funny enough, as I was, as we were just talking, I was thinking when I paste, I don't close my eyes were just talking, I was thinking when I paste, I don't close my eyes. Obviously, you need to see, but it's the fact that, um, I feel like I'm able to focus more on what I'm saying, that I don't actually feel like I need to close my eyes. So I don't know if that's you, because if you're in a certain space, you can close your eyes because you're pasting just in one area, so you can, but for me I don't, because I'm able to really get out everything.
Speaker 1:I need to say that I don't actually, yeah, it doesn't feel like I have to in that time I think through my pasting, you're so connected with what you're saying that it's like the holy spirit's guarding your footsteps to go back and forth right because you don't pay you, you don't really pay attention to what you're doing.
Speaker 2:Yeah, literally you don't. Yeah, it's like you're not here. Yeah, you're actually in the spirit, with the spirit kind of thing there's just something about it but yeah, it's just, yeah, there's just something about for real, you don't, you don't notice, you're like oh yeah I think my favorite verse is um first testalonians 5, verses 17, when it says pray without season.
Speaker 1:And I think when I'm in my car I pray without season. I let the Lord know everything. I do not. I tell him my feelings, how I feel.
Speaker 2:It's unfiltered.
Speaker 1:Yes, literally, and sometimes I'm crying, I don't even know how I'm seeing the road. The Holy Spirit is guiding, because that's when I feel like yeah and I feel at peace. I feel like my kitchen is for people, like when I'm praying for somebody's chains to be broken.
Speaker 2:That is when I'm like in the kitchen, like going back and forth so the cause for yourself yeah that's funny, it's really interesting. There's a place for others and there's a place for you, and I would.
Speaker 1:I would say, when I'm hurt, like if I'm praying about, like I don't know, like I want a job or I want I could do that in the kitchen, but when I'm hurt, or somebody's hurt me, or like that type of feeling or rage is the car that is linked to your emotions is the car yeah, it's all your emotions basically yeah wow, that's really interesting.
Speaker 1:That is really interesting I tried to have my little room, um, like war room, um, but I had to kneel and it. Yeah that the little room that I feel. Actually I'm not gonna lie my nail room um, for those that don't know, I'm a beautician my nail room sometimes with certain things. I could go in there and sit and pray or kneel and pray um, but again my, my knees are not caught out.
Speaker 2:Maybe I don't kneel enough knees are like, oh, we weren't ready yeah, like they'd be rocking back and forth.
Speaker 1:And even if I sit on my legs, that I if I sit on my legs, that I prefer to sit on my legs and pray rather than kneel standing up, but it makes me realize how weighty I am. Yeah, like me that feels like I don't have weight. My knees feels it feels it?
Speaker 2:yeah, yeah, because your whole body has just gone down, isn't it? Yeah, I've got a prayer pillow. So I've got a prayer pillow. It's literally been my prayer pillow from the very beginning. When we have family worship, my son steals that one, so I have to find another one, because he loves my prayer pillow, but I've had it forever. My mum gave it to me years ago, years and years ago, I think. She gave it to me for Valentine's Day, actually, and it's a red, heart-shaped.
Speaker 2:It's funny how today's Valentine's Day, but this will probably come in March, but yeah, yeah today's Valentine's Day and yeah, I've got this red heart shaped pillow that's just perfect for my knees because it's big enough and literally that is my prayer pillow. It's been my prayer pillow for the whole seven odd years and I can't use it. I can use any other pillow now because I share it with my child, but other than like, if he's not praying with me, that has to be my pillow. Um, it's just it I it does allow me to pray longer, um, on my knees, so I don't have that pain and uncomfortability. Um, so that is how I am able to kneel longer, so I can be on my knees for 20 minutes and pray because of that pillow. You know, yeah, it's nice to have a prayer pillow, it really is do you know what?
Speaker 1:it's interesting as well? Like now that you're talking about it, I do kneel because you um me and shay, we pray together, like we fast once a month and pray for things, and I, when we pray together, I start off kneeling and then I start pasting because it's like I'm feeling it now I need to walk back and forth, like me kneeling is not, it's yeah yeah, because when we pray in our fast time that could be like an hour.
Speaker 2:Yeah, the last time we prayed it was an hour. Like I have never prayed that long, even in a group setting. I'm like whoa, it's been an hour since we've been praying. Like I was losing my voice, like I could feel my body was getting weak, like it was like it was like a it was actually a workout, um and I was kneeling for most of that, to be honest. Okay, because your knees are strong, honey, clearly. Yeah, because my they're used to kneeling um and I feel like I didn't.
Speaker 2:Sometimes I didn't notice it because I was so entwined with the prayer, I was really feeling connected to the Holy Spirit that I didn't even notice I was kneeling, yeah.
Speaker 2:Do you know what I mean. Like my physical body, I was not feeling any of that. It was just the focus on connecting with the spirit and what we were praying about. It was the passion with what we were praying about. That at that point it was like knees who. When I actually got up, I was like, oh, my knees. You know, I didn't feel it in that time, in that moment. So, yeah, I get what you mean, though, like, when you start pasting, I might just end up doing that the next time. This makes me want to get back into my pasting. I've got some stuff that me and God need to. Really, I'm sorry, I feel like I'm just not. This whole sitting and talking or kneeling thing, it just ain't working. I need to really just get it out.
Speaker 1:Yeah, I must have some pasting prayers at some point I, I think, and this is just me. So when I say this guys don't take this to like should I do this? But this is just for me. I feel like, because kneeling is reverent, I feel like I'm more humble. But when I have to talk about certain things, that Lord, I need you to remove this sin from me. I can't do it kneeling, I need to. You need to hear me. You know I need to pace.
Speaker 2:Yeah, that makes sense. It makes sense. I wouldn't take it in any way. Yeah, I just feel like, like I said, I feel like it's the honesty that you're able to get out. There's something about that, that pasting. Yeah, you can get it out. I mean fully Like I don't know. I feel like sometimes I God knows what you were thinking, right, so he does know what we're thinking. But I feel like when I'm kneeling I'm even more sceptical at times to say it out loud, Even though he knows he can already see, he can already hear what I'm thinking. But I'm not being as honest as times.
Speaker 1:Because you're being reverent. Because you're being reverent, right yeah.
Speaker 2:Because you're kneeling and I'm like, should I say that? Am I being disrespectful? And I'm like I'm not trying to say like when I'm pasting I'm disrespecting God, but I feel like the honesty that he requires of me is when I'm in that, when I'm doing that, yeah, the humility that he needs for me and the honesty that is when that comes out that I think in our head, or however we've been taught, is that when you kneel you come correct, but you could still come correct with your praying.
Speaker 1:So it's kind of like you know, lord, thank you for today, and it's like the little things, because you're being humble, but you could still be humble and pray about yourself. Do you get what I'm saying? It's still reverence, because you're still talking to your father.
Speaker 2:I feel like the times we're in now I'm not saying you should not be reverent, that's not what I'm saying with what I'm about to say but these are the times when you need to be having those type of prayers, yeah, where you're letting it out, where you're telling him the truth. These are the times there's no time for this whole like. Should I say?
Speaker 2:should I not say, oh, I haven't said no yeah, these are the times now when you need to be having those type of powerful prayers all the time, not just sometimes. Do you know what I'm saying? Like these are the times when you need to be reaching to have those prayers. You need to be trying to have those prayers because the battles that we're having with the spirits and principalities, that is just these are the times. This is not the times to be like, you know, like maybe today, no, yeah, we need to be having those powerful moments.
Speaker 1:Yeah, you should be able to talk to your father like how you talk to your spouse, your friend you know your colleague and I and those that's been my thing, that lord, help me to the way, how I could talk to shay about xyz. Help me to also come to you, because only you can help me out. This that you know that there's certain situations that you could be in, whether it be a family, work, your housing, like, yes, you could. There's nothing wrong with talking to your friend, your spouse, your family, but the only person that can actually help you get things moving is our father, and I feel like that's where I used to be and that's where I'm coming back, where I'm like you know, you know what, lord, x, y, z, this, that and the third, help me.
Speaker 1:I'm annoyed, I'm vexed, I'm do you know? I literally tell him because he can see us, he created us in his image, like he already knows. But and then you've also got other people and and this is maybe the Lord wanting me to come out and say this we do you know. There's some people that has given up. They're like well, the Lord knows me, so why should? He knows that I'm homeless, or he knows I don't have money, or he knows that I'm in an abusive relationship, or whatever it may be. Why should I pray to him when he knows come out of that. Because the same way how you could pick up the phone and talk to whoever you are close to, they know that situation. They can't change that situation, but you would still pick up the phone and tell them about it all the time and they know about it.
Speaker 2:But the only person that can actually change the situation is your heavenly father it's true, I did used to be one of those people where I was just like, but he already knows. Like it didn't make sense to me when I used to hear this in sermons god knows, but you still need to tell him. I'm like this just doesn't, it doesn't make sense. It's really not making sense to me. I'm like how can someone know something but I still need to tell him anyway, like in my head. It took me a long time to get my head around that, but I get it. I understand. Our god is not an intrusive. God. Right will not like that scripture I'm paraphrasing here he stands at the door and knock.
Speaker 2:Yes, right, so he knocks, right. Like I was listening to a pastor saying the other day. He doesn't kick down the door, he doesn't boast through the door, he stands and he knocks. So he's not intrusive, he's not going to make you talk, he's not going to hold you hostage. So, even though he's aware of those things, he wants you to bring them to him. Yeah, when you're ready, because it could be a thing where you're not ready to talk to him about that thing. So he's not going to force you, he's aware of it, but he's waiting for when you're ready to be like okay, lord, this has been so hard for me, I didn't know how to talk about it, and that's when he's like oh, finally, my child, you're giving it to me, I'm here, I've just been waiting for you.
Speaker 2:You know it's the same way, like like with mothers, if you know something about your child, you know your child is battling, something like the way my mom used to tell me that she knew I was going through things and I didn't know she knew. So, like when this is in adulthood. Now she's telling me about these things and these are things I faced as a child, like when I got bullied and stuff and like there's certain things she knew that I used to write in my diary and stuff and I was like I didn't know she knew these things, yeah, but she waited for me to come to her and I'm telling her these things in adulthood yeah you know, and that's what he does with us he wait patiently revelation, chapter 3, verse 20, it says behold, I stand at the door and knock.
Speaker 1:If anyone hears my voice and opened the door, I will come into him and dine with him and he with me amen.
Speaker 2:So that's just what he does. So don't like I I'm telling you I get it. Guys, I used to be that person. It didn't make sense to me, but now it really does. It makes complete sense, based off of everything I just said. He's just not intrusive. He's not going to do that the way other people will force you to do things. That is not what the Lord does with us. That's why he is the best thing that can ever happen to us. He's the best decision for everything in our lives, because he's just the only person that's going to be the most patient with us, the most loving towards us, the most kind. Like, no matter how much anyone else in this world loves you, no one will ever love you the way he does. Oof, like I'm talking to myself, honey.
Speaker 1:It's always good when you talk to yourself.
Speaker 2:Some people think it's crazy, but yeah, it's true, it is.
Speaker 1:Well, thank you for listening and hopefully you would. I don't know if you ever had that question in your head, but now you know. There's no right way or wrong way, because we gave three verses where there was different ways of praying.
Speaker 2:And even if you didn't think about it, it's a nice, it's food for thought, it's a nice um conversation or confirmation to have you know, yeah.
Speaker 2:So thank you guys for listening, and I will say a prayer. Okay, heavenly, holy and wonderful, father, we give you praises and thanksgiving, lord, for this day that you've given unto us. Thank you, father lord, in heaven, for this day that you've given unto us. Thank you, father Lord in heaven, for this conversation that we were able to have. Lord, heavenly Father, lord, thank you for showing us that there isn't necessarily a right way that we need to connect with you, father Lord, that you accept us in any way, that we want to connect with you. As long as we are connecting with you, as long as we're speaking with you, as long as we're giving things up to you, lord in heaven, and we're making you the center of our lives, you are more than happy to take us. Whether we're pasting, whether we're kneeling, whether we're lifting our hands up to you, lord, whether we're taking a walk, whatever ways that we're choosing to connect with you, you are just happy that we're doing so. And so, father Lord in heaven, be with you. You are just happy that we're doing so. And so, father Lord in heaven, be with each and every one of us, lord in heaven, to not feel guilty about the ways that we may choose to connect with you, lord.
Speaker 2:If some have been told that they're doing it in a wrong way, lord, help them to just turn to you in the ways that they feel that they're connecting with you. Father, lord, I for them to continue on their journey, father Lord, with you, with whatever they're struggling with, whatever they're dealing with. Lord, we're just praying, lord, right now, that you may help anyone listening, lord, to just be honest with you in whatever ways they need to, to just give it all up to you, lord, because you are ready to listen, you're ready to hear them and you're ready to help them and show them the love that they may feel that they don't have. Lord, we love you and thank you for your time. Thank you for listening and Lord. Be upon every single person, lord, who has heard this podcast today. May it bless them and may they be able to share it with someone who's in need to hear it. Lord, in your blessed son's name, as we pray Amen.
Speaker 1:See you, guys, soon.
Speaker 2:Toodaloo.