Luke 22:42 NIV | “Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done.”

The walls of Jericho came crumbling as the children of Isreal praised God. Paul and Silas were miraculously and mysteriously delivered from the prison as they prayed and sang praises unto God. Elijah’s prayer posture of ‘putting his face in between his legs’ caused rain to cease, and eventually come back, after three and half years. So, praise, thanksgiving, worship, and prayer, are apparently, different postures one can take to win in the experience of life.

The truth however, is that whether we praise with hands lifted up to heaven, or worship by falling prostrate to God in tears, or pray standing or kneeling with closed eyes, it is not the act, nor the posture of our body that matters, but the posture of our hearts.

This reminds me of the story of a little boy that was said to be disturbing in church, and whose mother had repeatedly warned to stop standing, but be seated quietly on his seat. When he was eventually forced to sit down against his will, he muttered: “I may be sitting down on the outside, but inside, I’m still standing!

So, it is not about what we do. It is about the attitude of our hearts towards God. Because, everything we do comes from the heart. It is the posture of our heart to God that makes us either get His attention or not; live blissfully or not; win or loose. There is one key winning posture. It is the posture of death. Death of self.

Philippians 2:8-9 NIV | “And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death–even death on a cross! Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name.”

The winning posture is the posture of total abandonment of our will, and complete submission to the will of the Holy Spirit. Whatever else we do – praise, worship, prayer – should simply be expressions of that will.

The Holy Spirit helps us win, when we are connected to Him, by making us surrender wholly and gracefully to His will. I’m not completely there yet. Every now and then, I find my will standing in the way. That’s why I invite you to join me as I pray.

Oh Lord help me! Help me to die daily to self! Help me to take my cues from Jesus!

John 6:38 NIV | “For I have come down from heaven, not to do my will, but to do the will of Him who sent me.”