The Tribune

By REV ANGELA C BOSFIELD PALACIOUS

ONE day we will see the Lord, and what a day that will be.

Are you ready? What if He comes today? What do you think will be your first reaction? Will you fall on your face or just gaze spellbound at His Glory?

Advent is the perfect time to consider the prayer posture of prostration.

“My God, how wonderful Thou art” has always been one of my favourite Anglican hymns, especially the lines “Prostrate before Thy throne to lie and gaze and gaze on Thee.” Children know how to adopt this position to watch insects in the grass or to watch television. With chins cupped in open hands, eyes riveted, their small bodies are stilled, their whole attention to be focused on the object of interest.

Whenever we feel the need to unburden our heart, overloaded with some deep concern, we can lie on the carpet in our prayer closet and pray. Sometimes tears will soak into the carpet and we would fall into a short but peaceful sleep. When it was time to get up, everything will be in perspective, and we can feel the assurance that God had been invited to truly take control. There is nothing like going as low as one can go to remember who is really in charge.

With our foreheads on our hands, we cannot gaze upward or forward and, with eyes closed, we can only look inward, searching for any hindrance, praying that it be released permitting a total infilling, indwelling, overshadowing to take place. We want only to be filled with the fullness of Christ, to be flooded in every part with prayer and praise.

People of all denominations find themselves before the throne of grace in this way. When our services are televised, we can pray for the cameras to focus on God working through us to reach the hearts of unsuspecting spectators who are not watching to worship but merely to witness. Thanks be to God, many have witnessed to others of their call to worship. Even little ones are captivated by the televised worship and their questions give opportunity for testimony.

This falling flat on one’s face is humiliation, especially when it is imposed by others, in circumstances that cause us shame; it is humility when we lower ourselves to fall at Jesus’ feet. I have learned over the years that if I am reluctant to deny myself or make time to pray during the day, that humiliation is never far away.

Perhaps this is one of the lessons that we may once more learn from a child, how to lower ourselves in our own estimation, as they find it so easy to lower themselves to the ground. Whom the Lord exalts, is truly exalted. Whom the Lord raises and makes worthy is surely set free. May we never forget that “pride goes before a fall”, that getting on a “high horse” about anything may require us to “eat humble pie”.

There are so many different hymns and songs that can appeal to us in different stages, seasons or reasons for worship. There is chorus such as, “Surely the Presence of the Lord is in this Place” (Lanny Wolfe), which reminds us that wherever God is it is holy ground. It is up to us to allow the presence of the Lord in us to permeate every environment. The closer we draw to God the clearer we can see the larger picture, and that means that we begin to learn how to love unconditionally and praise unashamedly.

Another chorus that can help us to focus on God is Steven Fry’s “Oh the Glory of your Presence”. God’s radiant glory lightens our deepest darkness. As we acknowledge ourselves to be the temple of the Lord, we have to accept our worth and value to God, and our inner beauty that comes from the spirit of God who dwells within us.

We are liberated from all forms of abuse that has wounded our spirits over the years as God liberates us from our memories. We embrace our own integrity, potential, our identity, self-image, our personality and our faith as aspects of ourselves that can be transformed by the work of the Holy Spirit. As we ponder and pray about each stage of our life journey, we may be healed from childhood, teen and adult wounds that threaten to rob us of our peace and joy. CeCe Winans’ song “Alabaster Box” reminds us not to judge others because we do not know the cost of their praise, and it inspires us to thank God triumphantly for the healing of our souls.

Since worship is what heaven is all about, songs like “Every Praise” (Hezekiah Walker) and “Days of Elijah” (Robin Mark) join us with all the people of God living and departed who throw themselves wholeheartedly into worshipping God. “Praise to the Lord the Almighty” and other more traditional hymns resonate with some of us more than others.

However you approach your praise of God, do it in spirit and in truth, with your mind focused and your heart overflowing with gratitude to our gracious and wonderful God.