Attitudes in prayer include both the postures people adopt while praying and the hopes that they have concerning its outcome. Scripture points to the need for humility and expectation on the part of those who pray.
Positions adopted for prayer
Bowing down and kneeling
Psalm 95:6 See also Genesis 24:26; Exodus 4:31; Isaiah 45:23; Daniel 6:10; Luke 22:41; Acts 7:60; Ephesians 3:14; Philippians 2:10
O come, let us worship and bow down; let us kneel before the LORD our Maker.
Falling on one's face before God
Matthew 26:39 See also Numbers 20:6; Joshua 5:14; 2 Chronicles 20:18
Going a little farther, He fell facedown and prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me. Yet not as I will, but as You will.”
Standing
Mark 11:25 See also 1 Kings 8:22; Luke 18:11
And when you stand to pray, if you hold anything against another, forgive it, so that your Father in heaven will forgive your trespasses as well.”
Attitudes in the spiritual life
Standing for warfare
Ephesians 6:13–14 See also 2 Thessalonians 2:15; James 5:8
Therefore take up the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you will be able to stand your ground, and having done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness arrayed,
Walking with God
Micah 6:8 See also Isaiah 40:31; 1 John 1:7
He has shown you, O man, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you but to act justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God?
Running
Hebrews 12:1 See also Isaiah 40:31
Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off every encumbrance and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with endurance the race set out for us.
Related themes
Dictionary of Bible Themes © 1999 Martin Manser, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Bible Aquifer. Formatted for this site, with Scripture from the Berean Standard Bible.