P'nei Adonai resources for walking in the presence of God

Variety in Prayer

Introduction

During the first century, prayer events were not rigidly organized. Besides what Paul writes in First Corinthians 14:26 (see below) the Talmud records multiple debates about whether fixed prayers that were not verses of scripture had any merit.

To pray as Yeshua's early followers did we must include several kinds of variety in our prayer events.

We must include shared items, spontaneous prayer, and liturgy. We must pray alone and with others, and also listen to others pray. We must pray individually, for each other, and as an entire assembly.

Variety in Activity

When you come together, let each one of you have a psalm, a teaching, a revelation, a message in tongues,or an interpretation. Let all things be done to build each other up. -First Corinthians 14:26

Shared items allow God's Spirit to work in an benefician and impressive way. If people in a congregation have been dilligently praying during the week about what to share when they next gather, then what they share will fit together as led by God's Spirit. Besides psalms, teaching, and revelations other types of things that can be shared to "build each other up" include songs, dances, non-psalm passages from scripture, intercessory prayers, confessions, or accounts of God's recent activity.

Spontaneous prayer is fundamental to relating to God. Scripture contains very few examples of liturgical formulas compared to instances of spontaneous prayer where people pour their hearts out to God in humility and honesty.

Liturgy is useful to provide structure. It helps us progress through the scriptural steps of prayer. It ensures that we do not overlook any important ways of thinking about Adonai, his Kingdom, his covenants, and our relationship with him.

Variety in Speakers

A different type of variety involves who is speaking. Most groups of people find it most worshipful if there is an (unequal yet purposeful) balance between when individuals take turns praying spontaneously, when everyone recites a prayer together, responsive reading, and when a designated leaders recites liturgy that highlights Adonai's holiness.

Naturally, this issue only applies to group prayer, not to private devotions.

Variety in Group Size

A third type of variety involves the size of a group praying. Most groups of people find it most worshipful if a service includes a time of praying silently by one's self and a time of praying in pairs for encouraging each other, to balance the time spent praying as the entire group.

This issue clearly also only applies to group prayer, not to private devotions.

Variety in Postures

Finally, people who pray intensely often change their body position during prayer.

Most liturgies specify a few traditional times to stand and pray. Beyond this, people praying should always have the freedom to change their posture since the optimal posture at any moment often relates to how God's Spirit is working with each person individually.

There is scriptural precedent for worshiping in many postures. The following list has only a few verses for each posture although scripture usually includes many more.

while bowed, both alone and in a congregation: Exodus 34:8, Nehemiah 8:6, Ephesians 3:14
while standing: Exodus 33:10, Psalm 135:3(2)
while kneeling: Psalm 95:7(6), Daniel 6:10, Second Chronicles 6:13, Luke 22:41
while prostrate on the ground: Matthew 28:9
with dancing: Psalm 149:4(3), Psalm 150:5(4)
in bed: Psalm 4:5(4), Psalm 149:6(5)
while lifting our hands: Psalm 134:3(2), Psalm 141:3(2), Psalm 63:6(5), First Timothy 2:8
with clapping our hands: Psalm 47:2(1)
with speaking: Psalm 109:31(30)
with singing: Psalm 146:2-3(1-2), Exodus 15, Judges )
with shouting: Psalm 132:10 and 17(9 and 16), Ezra 3:11
with instruments: Psalm 150
loudly: Psalm 150
silently: Psalm 46:11(10)

About the only posture not mentioned is sitting down!