Read: Psalm 84:11  |

Sit up straight! Stop slouching! Hold your chin up! Does that sound familiar?

Poor posture affects our health. The postural muscles in our bodies are active all the time. This group of muscles behaves much like a corset to hold our upper body in place.[Postural Muscles: How to Strengthen Them for a Stronger Back] They are a key component to our wellness and posture.

When we stand, walk, sit or even sleep with good posture, we avoid misalignment and imbalance, which can lead to joint damage, aches and pain. When we exhibit poor posture, these muscles become misaligned and can cause health issues.

Spiritually, good posture is also important. We strengthen our spiritual posture and postural muscles through prayer, bible study and fellowship with Christ. The right posture aligns us with God and improves our spiritual health.

The Right Spiritual Posture Aligns us with God

Our physical posture when we stand, walk or sit affects our health. It also influences others perception of us. Likewise, the spiritual posture a believer exhibits while enduring the trials of awaiting God’s answer influences how others see us.

A good spiritual posture reveals our alignment with God. The postural muscles of a believer, who closely follows God, even in the midst of their trials, will reveal their faith by their alignment to God’s will. A believer, who does not wait on God, is out of alignment with God and demonstrates a poor spiritual posture.

Our spiritual posture is more than how we stand, walk or sit. It also includes “what we do”, while we face the challenges that God allows in our lives. In this set of devotionals, we cover ten postures believers should have while waiting for, with and upon God.

Postures we should adopt when Waiting for/with/upon God
1. Wait on Time (link)
2. Watch for Him (link)
3. Wait by walking within Touching Distance (link)
4. Work while waiting upon God’s Answer (link)
5. Willful Waiting does not Wilt (link)
6. Weather the Storms while waiting under His Umbrella (link)
7. Wait with an Unwavering Faith (link)
8. Wait while avoiding the Quicksand of Worry (link)
9. Wait with the Weight on God (link)
10. Waiting leads to a Victorious Solution (link)

The Right Spiritual Posture Improves our Health

Practicing good posture can make a big difference in our health, well-being, mood and appearance. A good posture does not mean that we stand at attention with an upright and tight body. In fact, anyone who holds this position without the right posture will faint due to low blood circulation. Having good posture means standing in a way that the muscles are being held in a natural and neutral position.[“The importance of Good Posture”, My Well-being.com]

The right spiritual posture improves our spiritual health. When we properly align to Christ, God’s umbrella of protection will protect us from unnecessary hurt, harm and danger. For a believer, the natural position is one where we submit and align to God to live uprightly.

As we align to God, our spiritual health improves because we learn to:

• Walk in His will (Psalm 1:1 84:11, John 14:6, 1 John 1:5-7)
• Stand on our inner convictions to Christ (Psalm 1:1, Galatians 5:1)
• Sit before the Word in study (Psalm 1:1, Deuteronomy 6:7)
• Delight in doing His will (Psalm 1:2, Psalm 37:4, John 14:21-23)
• Meditate to keep the eyes of our soul focused on God (Hebrew 12:2, Isaiah 50:4)

[“Psalm 1 – Spiritual Posture”, Basic Training Bible Ministries, Gene Cunningham]

Our spiritual posture whether we are standing, walking or sitting must include a heart that bows down to God’s will.

The right posture empowers our prayer, magnifies our praise, validates our purpose and lights our paths. When our spiritual posture aligns with God, others will be able to the Jesus in us.

“There are thoughts which are prayers. There are moments when, whatever the posture of the body, the soul is on its knees.”

– Victor Hugo

Questions:
1. Discover –
A. While awaiting God’s answer to prayer, it is natural to want to wear a figurative sack cloth and wait for Him to answer? What is your normal posture?
B. Has your spiritual posture changed as you grow spiritually?

2. Develop –
A. Are there certain types of situations that are harder to maintain a godly posture? What are they and why?
B. What are some steps you can take to improve your spiritual posture?

3. Demonstrate –
A. Can others tell that you are in the midst of trials and awaiting God’s answer? Is that positive or negative for your witness?
B. If this is an area of struggle share with a prayer partner.
If this is an area of strength, share with a mentee.