As I was praying in church the other day I thought to myself. Why do I bend my head down to pray? It is so dark, but if I look up I can see the light even through my closed eyes. It got me to do some research.
In churches across the world, a familiar scene unfolds every Sunday: rows of bowed heads, eyes closed in reverent prayer. This posture has become so ingrained in Christian tradition that we rarely stop to question its origins or significance. But what if this common practice isn’t the most biblically sound or symbolically rich way to approach our Creator? Let’s look at the history and meaning behind prayer postures in Christianity, and consider whether it’s time for a change.
The Current Norm: Heads Bowed, Eyes Closed
The practice of praying with bowed heads and closed eyes is deeply rooted in Christian culture, especially in Western traditions. This posture is often associated with:
- Concentration and focus
- Reverence and humility
- Privacy in communication with God
- Protection from distractions
While these are all admirable goals in prayer, it’s worth examining whether this particular posture is the best way to achieve them.
Historical Perspective
Interestingly, the Bible doesn’t prescribe a specific posture for prayer. Early Christians adopted various prayer positions, including standing with arms outstretched, kneeling, and full prostration. The practice of closing eyes and bowing heads seems to have evolved gradually over the centuries.
By the Middle Ages, bowing the head in prayer was more established, often associated with kneeling. The Protestant Reformation in the 16th century, with its emphasis on personal, internalized prayer, may have contributed to the practice of closing eyes to focus inward.
It wasn’t until the 18th and 19th centuries that closing eyes during prayer became more widespread in Western Christianity. This shift possibly resulted from the growth of personal devotional practices and an increased emphasis on individual spiritual experiences.
Biblical Examples of Prayer Postures
When we look to the Bible, we find a variety of prayer postures described:
- Standing with hands raised: “In every place of worship, I want men to pray with holy hands lifted up to God, free from anger and controversy.” (1 Timothy 2:8, NLT)
- Kneeling: “When Solomon had finished all these prayers and supplications to the Lord, he rose from before the altar of the Lord, where he had been kneeling with his hands spread out toward heaven.” (1 Kings 8:54, NIV)
- Prostration: “Then Abraham fell on his face and laughed, and said in his heart…” (Genesis 17:17, NKJV)
- Looking up to heaven: “Then Jesus looked up and said, ‘Father, I thank you that you have heard me.'” (John 11:41, NIV)
Notably, Jesus himself is described as looking up to heaven before praying on multiple occasions:
“At that time Jesus declared, ‘I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to little children.'” (Matthew 11:25, ESV)
“And taking the five loaves and the two fish, he looked up to heaven and said a blessing and broke the loaves and gave them to the disciples to set before the people.” (Mark 6:41, ESV)
These examples show that there isn’t a one-size-fits-all approach to prayer posture in the Bible. Instead, we see a variety of positions, often reflecting the specific context and content of the prayer.
The Symbolism of Direction and Light
Now, let’s consider an intriguing perspective on prayer posture that challenges our current norm. If we believe that God is above and Satan is below, wouldn’t it make more sense to look up towards God rather than down?
Moreover, there’s a powerful symbolism in the direction of our gaze during prayer:
- Looking down with closed eyes leads to darkness
- Looking up, even with closed eyes, often allows some light to filter through
This contrast between darkness and light aligns beautifully with the Christian understanding of God as light:
“This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all.” (1 John 1:5, NIV)
By lifting our faces towards heaven, we symbolically turn towards the light of God and away from the darkness associated with sin and Satan.
Practical and Spiritual Benefits of Looking Up
Adopting an upward gaze during prayer could offer several benefits:
- Alignment with biblical examples, particularly those of Jesus
- A physical reminder of God’s transcendence and our hope in Him
- Symbolic turning towards the light of God
- Potential for a more open and vulnerable prayer posture
- Reduced likelihood of falling asleep during prayer (a common issue with bowed heads and closed eyes!)
Addressing Potential Concerns
Some might argue that looking up during prayer could be distracting, especially in a group setting. However, this concern could be addressed by:
- Closing eyes while facing upward
- Focusing on a fixed point (like a cross or the sky in an outdoor setting)
- Emphasizing that the internal attitude of prayer is more important than external posture
It’s also worth noting that potential distractions exist regardless of prayer posture. The key is cultivating an ability to focus on God amidst various circumstances.
A Call for Diversity in Prayer Postures
While this post advocates for considering an upward gaze in prayer, the ultimate goal should be to embrace a diversity of prayer postures. Different positions might be appropriate for different types of prayers or personal preferences:
- Kneeling for prayers of repentance
- Standing with raised hands for prayers of praise
- Looking up for prayers of petition or thanksgiving
- Prostration for prayers of deep reverence or surrender
By allowing for variety in prayer postures, we can engage our whole beings in communication with God and potentially deepen our prayer experiences.
Conclusion: A Modest Proposal for Change
When this writer looks at the history, biblical examples, and symbolism of prayer postures, it becomes clear that our current norm of bowed heads and closed eyes, while meaningful, isn’t the only or necessarily the best way to approach God in prayer.
Jesus himself looked up to heaven when praying, modeling a posture that symbolically turns towards the light of God. Perhaps it’s time for us to reconsider our prayer habits and be open to change.
This doesn’t mean we should entirely abandon the practice of bowing our heads in prayer. Rather, we could enrich our prayer lives by incorporating a variety of postures, including looking up. By doing so, we might:
- Align ourselves more closely with biblical examples
- Engage more fully with the symbolism of turning towards God’s light
- Experience prayer in new and potentially profound ways
- Remind ourselves of God’s transcendence and our hope in Him
As with any change in spiritual practice, this should be approached thoughtfully and with respect for different traditions and personal preferences. The most important aspect of prayer will always be the sincerity of our hearts and the content of our communication with God.
But perhaps, the next time you pray, you might try lifting your face towards heaven. You may find that this simple change in posture opens up new dimensions in your prayer life, allowing you to connect with God in fresh and meaningful ways.
After all, as the psalmist wrote:
“I lift up my eyes to the mountains—where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth.” (Psalm 121:1-2, NIV)
May you find new depths in your prayer life as you lift your eyes to Jesus. As always follow what the Holy Spirit prompts you to do and if you don’t know Jesus learn more here.
