The Posture Of Submission

The Posture of Submission

Come, let us worship and bow down. Let us kneel before the LORD our maker.

Psalm 95:6

Can you remember the last time you knelt before God? For many of us this is no longer part of our lives—not even in church. To the Amish, kneeling is commonplace. Donald Kraybill writes about an Amish church service:

The congregation kneels twice in prayer. The first prayer, a silent one, follows the opening sermon and lasts several minutes. The congregation waits on God quietly . . . on their knees on a hard floor. . . . The congregation kneels a second time near the end of the service as the deacon reads a traditional prayer.

When a church member has gone against the Ordnung or wishes to be restored to fellowship after being shunned, the member goes forward during the service for a kneeling confession.

When a new minister is selected, candidates kneel as they ask God to direct them to the man He has chosen.

When young people are baptized into the church, the applicants are asked a series of questions. Those who are willing to commit their lives to God and His church kneel before the standing congregation.

Kneeling is commonplace in Amish worship because it is an outward symbol of the quiet humility of the people. It is also something we can incorporate into our daily lives.

Do you have a morning prayer time? Consider kneeling. Does your family have a need? Kneel before God in humility and present that need to Him. Posture is not everything, but it is something. Let us put our knees to the ground and put ourselves in the posture of submission to God’s will.

Dear heavenly Father, I kneel before You now as one who desires Your will above mine. May my heart be as submissive as my posture. May my life display the quiet humility that comes from kneeling before You.