Praying with the perfect posture

October 23, 2015
       On the basis of emptying one's self to God, as mentioned in my previous blog, prayer is also the beginning of responsibility because it begins with a response (17). An example of this is present in the prayer of Samuel from 1 Samuel 3: "The Lord called Samuel, who thought it was the priest, Eli, calling. Three times he runs to Eli, saying, "Here am I, for you called me." Finally, Eli realizes what's happening and tells Samuel next time to respond, "Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening." We can combine the two responses to make up Samuel's prayer, for the first response is more appropriate when addressed to God, who was actually doing the calling, than to Eli. So here is our first prayer: "Here am I, for you called me. Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening." He does not originate the conversation but is called, called forth, even called into being by a voice not his own.The meaning of the situation he finds himself in itself does not change, but his identity.  He no longer becomes Hannah's son or Eli's helper, but the one who stands coram deo, in God's presence, by a call that is once invitation and command" (pg. 17).  This means that Samuel has completely emptied himself to God. He is praying with the perfect posture.