Why bow your head?

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Willie-T

Willie-T

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#1
Feb 7, 2015
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#1
Why do you bow your head and close your eyes to pray (if you do), when Jesus seemed to always be depicted as looking Heavenward when He prayed? Do we feel to pray as Jesus did is somehow disrespectful?
 
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ray_james

Guest
#2
#2
From what I know, bowing the head is a sign of respect. I am sure it would not matter where we placed our head when in prayer though.
-ray
 
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cmarieh

Guest
#3
#3
Well, I pray in both ways. In fact when I am driving to school I pray and you wouldn't want me to bow my head and close my eyes then, would you? LOL. I think when people bow their head and pray it is ultimately to help be less of a distraction when you are in a room of people and you are able to have your main focus on God, the one thing that always bothered me in church is when there is prayers said people are looking around.
 
Willie-T

Willie-T

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#4
Feb 7, 2015
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cmarieh said:
Well, I pray in both ways. In fact when I am going to school I pray and you wouldn't want me to bow my head and close my eyes then, would you? LOL. I think when people bow their head and pray it is ultimately to help be less of a distraction when you are in a room of people and you are able to have your main focus on God, the one thing that always bothered me in church is when there is prayers said people are looking around.
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How would you know that if you weren't ALSO looking around?
 
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cmarieh

Guest
#5
#5
Willie-T said:
How would you know that if you weren't ALSO looking around?
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I noticed that when I was little and didn't quite understand the concept of prayer.
 
Willie-T

Willie-T

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#6
Feb 7, 2015
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cmarieh said:
I noticed that when I was little and didn't quite understand the concept of prayer.
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Oh, it bothered you when you didn't understand the concept? OK. I see.
 
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cmarieh

Guest
#7
#7
Willie-T said:
Oh, it bothered you when you didn't understand the concept? OK. I see.
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Yes, and now I pray for everything and I love to speak to my heavenly Father no matter who is watching me. I talk to him on my way to classes and in the middle of a test.
 
Joidevivre

Joidevivre

Senior Member
#8
Jul 15, 2014
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I love to look at the food on my plate when I give thanks for it.
I love to look at others in the eyes when I pray for them.

Try it sometime. When others pray for me this way, it is like the eyes of Jesus with love in them looking at me. Sometimes I feel like crying.
 
kodiak

kodiak

Senior Member
#9
Mar 8, 2015
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#9
Willie-T said:
Why do you bow your head and close your eyes to pray (if you do), when Jesus seemed to always be depicted as looking Heavenward when He prayed? Do we feel to pray as Jesus did is somehow disrespectful?
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I was taught that it was out of respect to bow your head, and to avoid all distractions for closing your eyes. I remember when I went to a Christian school, 2 teachers invited anyone to come meet them during lunch for prayer. The most we ever had was 4, the two teachers and a kid I drug along with me. There were so many distractions in the hall it was pretty important to close our eyes to not get distracted.
 
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soccermom19

Guest
#10
#10
I was taught to bow my head to show respect to God. To show we are willing to bow before him and worship him and only him. I do however also pray while driving. And I forgo the bowing of my head and closing of my eyes at those times.
I think the people looking around in church during prayer are the ones who are questioning, newly saved, or not saved yet. I also have seen this. However, I noticed it when I had to open my eyes to take care of my infant or toddler, not because I was peeking.....lol.
 
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Siberian_Khatru

Guest
#11
#11
I always took it as a representation of humility, though I think it has more or less devolved to tradition/conventional practice with no significant meaning.
 
GandalfTheWhite

GandalfTheWhite

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#12
Jan 25, 2015
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Uncle Willie, I had the same question and one day God explained it to me like this:

Exo 3:6 Moreover he said, I am the God of thy father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. And Moses hid his face; for he was afraid to look upon God.


We close our eyes when we enter into the glory of God's presence because we will not be able to look at God. When we pray we are having communion with Him and if we do it right we are not suppose to look at His glory because we will be afraid.

We bow our heads out of respect for the Father.
 
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wwjd_kilden

Guest
#13
#13
As others have said, it is mostly to not get distracted. (I get VERY easily distracted .... not just in prayer but doing anything :p )
I often do look up if I pray for "something big" or if giving thanks, but in large gatherings it is easier to shut out the world by closing eyes and bowing the head.
 
GandalfTheWhite

GandalfTheWhite

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#14
Jan 25, 2015
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wwjd_kilden said:
As others have said, it is mostly to not get distracted. (I get VERY easily distracted .... not just in prayer but doing anything :p )
I often do look up if I pray for "something big" or if giving thanks, but in large gatherings it is easier to shut out the world by closing eyes and bowing the head.
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That also make sense...
 
p_rehbein

p_rehbein

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#15
Sep 4, 2013
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#15
Willie-T said:
Why do you bow your head and close your eyes to pray (if you do), when Jesus seemed to always be depicted as looking Heavenward when He prayed? Do we feel to pray as Jesus did is somehow disrespectful?
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The question is ok to ask, the logic following is flawed however. How some human depicted/drew/painted Jesus as He prayed is not Biblical Truth, but a rendering of that particular person. Just saying. We can't base anything on the renderings of men to be Biblical Truth in my opinion.

That being said, as many have stated to bow and close one's eyes is a sign of reverence and respect for our Living King. For He surely is our King! One scripture given, there are others as well. The prayer of the Publican comes first to mind:

Luke 18:10 .) Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican.
11 .) The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican.
12 .) I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess.
13 .) And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner.
14 .) I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.

There are times I pray kneeling down, head bowed, eyes closed, and sometimes - even weeping. There are other times, when my arthritis is so bad that I can't kneel down, I will sit on the side of my bed with head bowed, eyes closed to pray. Other times, when asked to pray in Church Service, I will stand with eyes closed, head bowed to pray. Sometimes I spread open my arms, sometimes I don't. Other times I pray while driving, while walking around, or at the table asking Him to bless a meal, or many other times during the day. Much of the times such as these, my eyes are open.

Praying to God is NOT about a particular physical position, praying to God is ALL ABOUT the Spiritual condition of the one praying. We worship Him, and pray to Him............in Spirit and in Truth.

Don't look to the artistic renderings of man to learn how to worship God, look to the Holy Spirit.

:) God bless
 
F

FridaysChild

Guest
#16
#16
Willie-T said:
Why do you bow your head and close your eyes to pray (if you do), when Jesus seemed to always be depicted as looking Heavenward when He prayed? Do we feel to pray as Jesus did is somehow disrespectful?
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Interesting question.

Most of the time, I probably shut my eyes because
1. helps me to focus
2. as a show of respect
3. tradition

Others times when I pray, I don't shut my eyes such as when I'm walking, driving, in the shower, getting dressed, doing dishes, etc.

All depends on the situation.

However, I like your point of Jesus in prayer always looking up TO the Father. Maybe something to think about doing as well if the moment suits it.
 
Sushi_Mars

Sushi_Mars

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#17
Apr 3, 2015
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#17
ray_james said:
From what I know, bowing the head is a sign of respect. I am sure it would not matter where we placed our head when in prayer though.
-ray
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I agree! As long as we pray in reverence to our Lord. Reminds me of this verse:

"During the days of Jesus' life on earth, he offered up prayers and petitions with fervent cries and tears to the one who could save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission." Hebrews 5:7
 
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FridaysChild

Guest
#18
#18
Sushi_Mars said:
I agree! As long as we pray in reverence to our Lord. Reminds me of this verse:

"During the days of Jesus' life on earth, he offered up prayers and petitions with fervent cries and tears to the one who could save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission." Hebrews 5:7
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Exactly :D

I had a friend who went to another church and she said to me that she was thankful she didn't go to my church because we didn't dance before the Lord. :eek: And I replied that the Lord was more concerned about the position of my heart than the position of my body.

...and so it should be with prayer. I haven't physically knelt in years for prayer but that doesn't mean my heart hasn't.
 
GandalfTheWhite

GandalfTheWhite

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#19
Jan 25, 2015
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#19
FridaysChild said:
Exactly :D

I had a friend who went to another church and she said to me that she was thankful she didn't go to my church because we didn't dance before the Lord. :eek: And I replied that the Lord was more concerned about the position of my heart than the position of my body.

...and so it should be with prayer. I haven't physically knelt in years for prayer but that doesn't mean my heart hasn't.
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Amen, it is all about our heart
 
Blain

Blain

The Word Weaver
#20
Aug 28, 2012
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#20
Well honestly I bow my head only in church and at the dinner table because that is expected. But when I pray normally through out the day I dont bow my head I just talk with him like a normal conversation and yes sometimes when I go on walks I look at the sky while I pray because somehow when I look at the sky I see him
 
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