DoublePortion_October2023_8.5x5.5_REV.indd

When Jesus passed through Jericho en route to Jerusalem, blind Bartimaeus “began to cry out and say,‘Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!’” (Mark 10:47).When told by the crowd to quiet down, “he kept crying out all the more” (Mark 10:48). Just days after that, Jesus cried out from the Cross with a loud voice, “MY GOD, MY GOD,WHY HAVEYOU FORSAKEN ME?” (Matthew 27:46). I’m afraid our prayers have become too rote and predicta ble.What keeps us from expressing ourselves like the saints of old . . . pride, fear, apathy? Blessings await those willing to voice their prayers uninhibited. “The righteous cry, and the Lord hears and delivers them out of all their troubles” (Psalm 34:17). In regard to his prayer, observe Elijah’s position. According to the Bible, “He stretched himself out on the boy’s life three times (1 Kings 17:21).Although this seems somewhat invasive, it indicates just how determined Elijah was for God to restore life to this lad. It was as if the warmth and aliveness of his living body could be absorbed by osmosis into the lifeless body of the child. Posture is indeed a factor in prayer. Recall that Daniel knelt in prayer before the Lord. During the corporate prayer time of the church where my wife and I attend, our pastor asks those able to come out of their seats and kneel.While some might call this a show, I see it as a way to express dependance and humility before our Father in heaven. George Mueller (1805-1898) was an English evangelist known most for his concern and care for thousands of orphans. After speaking to a group of seminary students, Mueller was asked to explain the secret to his “success” in ministry. He answered by pulling his chair back and then proceeded to bend his 80 year old legs to kneel in prayer. “This is the secret,” he replied. Following his death, someone discovered two ridges worn into the wooded floor beside his bed where he had prayed so of-

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