Reflection: Habits of humility

There’s always more to learn from saints of old…or old saints. You might be inspired by the amount of time they spent in prayer. As for me, I love the way seasoned saints infuse their prayers with Scripture and hymns. And here, Daniel kneeling in his three-times-a-day, private prayer sanctuary speaks volumes.

It’s out of vogue, but on our knees is a good place to go.

Bowed. Prostrate. Down low.

I go down low with my grandkids. It’s childlike.

It’s body language that says: incapacitated, deferential, submissive…even needy.

It’s an ideal posture for prayer and thanks to flourish—

an attitude of humble worship and expectant response.

It’s an ideal orientation when we need to be fed physically or spiritually.

“Prayer before eating a meal is speedbump in our hectic lives slowing us down and reminding us that we’re not God and how good that is.” (Erik Raymond) *

Daniel knew he was invited humble access to his God. And if he, how much more we, who’ve been “raised up and seated with [God] in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.” (Ephesians 2:6-7)

Prayer:

In my childhood we sang this as a mealtime grace.

[pray or sing it on your knees]

How I praise [you], precious Saviour,
That [your] love laid hold of me;
[You have] saved and cleansed and filled me
That I might [your] channel be.

Chorus:
Channels only, blessed Master,
But with all [your] wondrous pow’r Flowing through us,

[You can] use us Every day and every hour.

(verses 1,5 and chorus of hymn by Mary E. Maxwell)

*Author, speaker and pastor at Emmaus Church in Omaha, Nebraska