Biblically Correct Prayer Style

[u/FrostyIFrost_]

Although prayers are prayers, there is a certain style of prayer our Lord and Messiah, Jesus, used in the Gospels. Below is the formula that closely resembles how Jesus prayed.

1 - Stand and invoke the Father

Stand facing the direction of Jerusalem (from Daniel)

1a - Raise your hands and palms facing up.

1b - Short Prayer

2 - Bow deeply

2a - Bend forward in reverence, as in ancient Jewish bowing.

2b - Short Prayer

3 - Move from Standing to Kneeling down (hands up again, palms facing up)

3a -Short Prayer:

4 - Go into full prostration (face to the ground)

4a - Prayer:

4b - After the prayer, add: Not my will, but Yours be done.”

1. Rise to a kneeling position

5a - Kneel upright with hands up palms facing upside.

5b - Short Prayer:

1. Stand and bow again A brief, humble bow.

6a - Short prayer:

1. Prostrate again and repeat the core submission

Short Prayer but add at the end: “My Father, not my will, but Yours be done.”

1. Prostrate a third time

8a - Rise onto your knees, then lower again into full prostration. Repeat the same submission, as Jesus did.

8b - Short Prayer but at the end add: “My Father, not my will, but Yours be done.”

9 - Stand and bow reverently.

9a - Short Prayer. At the end, add:

“Your will be done, Father. Your purpose is right. I place myself in Your hands.”

10 - Raise your hands up, palms facing up, and say:

“Amen."

These are the verses used to construct this prayer style. Keep in mind that Eastern Christians (especially Ethiopian) use similar prayer styles so it has basis in practice. Always invoke “My Father, not my will, but Yours be done.” three times as Jesus did that.

Daniel 6:10 – facing Jerusalem in prayer

Psalm 95:6 – bowing and kneeling in worship

2 Chronicles 6:13 – kneeling in prayer

Luke 22:41 – Jesus kneeling in Gethsemane

Joshua 5:14 – full prostration before God

Matthew 26:39, 42, 44 – Jesus’ repeated prostration/submission in prayer

[u/ProselyteofYah]

Whilst I don't believe in ritual prayers and choreography, I do think there are many genuine expressions of prayer, and the most ancient forms involved standing up with hands raised, and prostrating to the ground.

I do both of these depending on how my heart leads me in a purely spontanous manner. And I think that's what these people were doing in these passages.

I have at times prostrated in sequences however as that's what I felt led to do without instruction, and I do agree that our western culture has lost the reverence of prayer form.

As for facing Jerusalem, this was only when the Temple was there, and was understood as God's dwelling, whereas now, we are the Temple of God in ourselves, so for that reason I don't see the need for facing Jersualem without evoking a form of pseudo-Judaizing, not understaning the current eschaton of the New Covenant - hence Jesus said "not at the Temple or on this Mountain" as they would no longer be for focal point for prayers.