Why Do We Bow Our Heads to Pray, When Jesus Looked Up?
A friend noticed in Scripture that when Jesus prayed, He looked up; He didn’t bow His head. He then asked: “Why do we bow our heads when we pray, if Jesus looked up?” Before examining what the Word says about this subject, consider this question: what is more important, our posture or the position of our heart? The one who physically bows his knees, but hasn’t submitted his heart to God, merely did a religious act. The heart has not bowed before the Lord. This is called hypocrisy. On the other hand, someone who has surrendered could be standing on his feet, yet spiritually, he is bowing before the King. A life of worship includes bowing the knee, but it is not limited to it. As it is written, “As the servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart; with good will doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men” (Ephesians 6:6–7).
One more thing to consider: faith pleases God (see Hebrews 11:6). Faith is relational and works by love (see Galatians 5:6). When surrendered to the Lord, Holy Spirit may lead you to bow one time and then stand up at another. Whatever He leads you to do, do!
As you study Scripture you will find that people took various positions in how they approached God. For example, in 1 Chronicles 29:20; 2 Chronicles 29:30 and Nehemiah 8:6, people bowed their heads as an act of worship. When Jesus fed the 5,000, He looked up to heaven to bless and give thanks. In Mark 7:31–35, we find He also looked up in relation to healing a man who was deaf and had a speech impediment. In John 17, while praying to the Father, He looked up. Yet, while at Gethsemane, Matthew 26:39 says of Jesus: And He went a little beyond them, and fell on His face and prayed, saying, “My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; yet not as I will, but as You will” (Matthew 26:39; [see also Mark 14:35]). Falling on the face is both an act of worship and surrender (see also 1 Corinthians 14:25). Consider this: 1 Thessalonians 5:17 says, “Pray without ceasing.” Prayer goes beyond posture; rather, it’s our position in the Spirit in which we maintain a place of communion with God. Jesus said He spoke what He heard the Father say, and we likewise are to do the same. 1 Peter 4:11 If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God; if any man minister, let him do it as of the ability which God giveth: that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to Whom be praise and dominion for ever and ever. Amen. Prayer comes from a place of fellowship, which means we can pray while kneeling, standing, bowing our heads, looking up, walking or laying down. Ephesians 6:18 Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints.
Prayer is an exercise of faith; not a religious act of false piety. It’s easy to look for the formulas (i.e., “what position should I be in when I’m offering thanks, and what posture should I be in when I’m interceding on someone’s behalf?”). We know that much of our prayer is to be done in secret (see Matthew 6:5–7). When the Lord calls us to pray, we can’t always run home to the closet. We have to pray then and there. We may not be in place where we can fall to our knees; but our heart can always be in position. We can stand praying without making a show of it. If you’re in place where you can take a particular posture, great! Do what the Lord leads in the moment. Just don’t get stuck on what position you take. Simply stay surrendered.
