Students use a stuffed animal to demonstrate …

5 Postures of Prayer
This lesson is most appropriate for children 4-10 years old.

Instructions: Prior to class, ask students to bring a stuffed animal. An

(optional) take home reminder slip is attached. At the bottom of the slip are
a few pictures of stuffed animals that would be appropriate and a few that
wouldn’t. This is a great discussion so students can choose an appropriate
animal to bring: it is important to the lesson that the stuffed animals have
arms – the longer the better. Alternately, you may choose to provide stuffed
animals for students to use during the lesson.

LESSON:

As students enter your classroom, encourage them to share about their

stuffed animals – when/where they received it, whether it has a name, etc.
Once class begins, have all of your students sit in a circle with the animals
placed in the center, just out of reach. This will lessen distraction and
provide easy access for when they are needed in the lesson.

SAY: Show me what you usually do with your hands and your head when
you pray. Students will likely fold their hands and bow their head.

SAY: Sometimes we need to fold our hands and bow our heads so that
we can concentrate when someone is praying. It keeps the fidgets away.

SAY: But there are other ways that we can move our body while we
pray, especially when we have some very serious requests to present to
God or when we are very thankful. These are called postures and the
purpose of them is to reflect what is in our hearts. If we are happy and
thankful, then our bodies should reflect that, but if we are worried
then we can express concern with our posture.

POSTURE #1: LYING ON THE FLOOR (Prostrate)

SAY: Sometimes our requests are so serious, we beg for God’s help. And
when we do this, sometimes we fall on the floor before God. This is
called being “prostrate.” (say together)
SAY: One time a man with a serious disease (leprosy) saw Jesus and
bowed with his face to the ground. “Lord,” he said, “if you are willing,
you can heal me and make me clean.” Luke 5:12b NLT

‣Students should use their stuffed animal to practice lying prostrate

before God.

POSTURE #2: BOWING

SAY: When we bow before God, we are in a very
humble position. It shows that we understand that
God is the King and we are His servants.

SAY: When Abraham’s servant received an answer

to his prayer he “bowed down to the ground and
worshiped the LORD.” Genesis 24:52b NLT

‣Students should use their stuffed animal to practice bowing before God.
POSTURE #3: STANDING
SAY: When you stand before a kingly throne it shows that you have
been invited in and have a right to be there. You are not sneaking in or
being a bother. It is only because of Jesus that we are able to stand
before the throne of God and approach Him with our requests.

SAY: “Because of our faith, Christ has brought us into this place of
undeserved privilege where we now stand, and we confidently and
joyfully look forward to sharing God’s glory.” Romans 5:2 NLT

‣Students should use their stuffed animal to practice standing before God.
POSTURE #4: LOOKING UP
SAY: When you look up into the face of someone you
love, it doesn’t matter how much taller or stronger
they are. All you know is that you love and trust
them and that they would do anything to make sure
you feel safe and loved.
SAY: God is our Father and looking up to Him shows that same level of
trust. Jesus often looked up to Heaven when He prayed:
“…Then Jesus looked up to Heaven and said, ‘Father, thank you for
hearing me.’” John 11:41b

‣Students should use their stuffed animal to practice looking up to God.

POSTURE #5: ARMS OUTSTRETCHED

SAY: Your arms are a source of power, but when

you lift them up to God you are essentially asking
God to fight for you.

SAY: When the Israelites were in a battle against

the Amalekites, Moses stood on a hill with his arms
stretched wide. When Moses held his hand up,
Israel was successful in battle but if he let them
down, the Amalekites were able to overtake them.
[Exodus 17:11] (See also: Exodus 9:27–29.)

‣Students should use their stuffed animal to practice stretching arms

before God.

Give students the opportunity to pray, choosing one of the postures they
learned about today. If students do not feel comfortable doing it
themselves, then they should be encouraged to use their stuffed animal
instead.
 Bring a Stuffed Animal!
On ___________________________ bring in your favorite stuffed
animal or doll. The animal you choose must have arms … in fact, the longer
the arms the better … but you will have to wait to find out why!

Bring a Stuffed Animal!

On ___________________________ bring in your favorite stuffed
animal or doll. The animal you choose must have arms … in fact, the longer
the arms the better … but you will have to wait to find out why!
Copyright 2020 Experience the Bible Creatively. All rights
reserved. This material is for personal use and copying for your
own classroom is permitted. Please do not copy or alter and post
this item online, offering it for sale or for free. Reproduction or
redistribution of this material is strictly prohibited.

Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living
Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House
Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.,
Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

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