Written by When did you last witness something so exciting that you expressed yourself by yelling, clapping, standing, or pumping your fist in the air?
Just a few days ago, my two-year-old grandson demonstrated how fast he could run (not very), and we cheered him on with shouts of “Good job, Finny!” and thunderous applause. Regardless of his speed, we delighted in his delight and couldn’t help but express it. It felt entirely appropriate to express encouragement and appreciation through our bodies.
You would have thought the kid just won a gold medal in the Olympics.
Similarly, when the University of Michigan football team won the National Championships last year (GO BLUE!), my family expressed joy by clapping, shouting, chanting, and jumping. (When our kids attended Michigan, the team was not nearly as good, so perhaps they were making up for lost time.)
Have you had similar experiences?
Even if you don’t have a toddler who is learning to run or a sports team you feel passionate about, you likely have witnessed a concert or performance that inspired you to jump to your feet and shout, “Bravo!” That was me when I saw Bruce Springsteen in Toronto last year. How can you NOT jump to your feet when a whole stadium of old rockers is belting out, “Born to Run?”
I’m not going to lie: It was exhilarating to sway back and forth and pump my arms in the air, shouting…
“…cause tramps like us, Baby, we were born to run.”
You should try it sometime.
As much as I love using my body to express joy and connect with others around me—(remember the days of getting tipsy at a wedding and belting out Y.M.C.A with a group of strangers who suddenly felt like best friends? No? I guess that was just me then…)—it can be equally exhilarating to connect with God through your body.
Have you ever tried it?
If not, let me explain why this might be a great idea. Although it’s fun to rock out with Springsteen, it’s better with God.
Some Background
The Israelites viewed worship as a holistic experience that involved both the spirit and the body. Every part of their physical being—whether through postures, offerings, dancing, or rituals—was employed to express their devotion, seek divine favor, and communicate their reverence for God. In this context, the body was seen as an instrument of worship, deeply intertwined with their spiritual practices.
I suspect they understood that connecting with God through their bodies was good for them.
Consider King David, a man after God’s heart. He demonstrated that dancing is a sincere and joyful expression of worship before God.
“David, wearing a linen ephod, danced before the Lord with all his might, while he and all Israel brought up the ark of the Lord with shouts and the sound of trumpets.” (2 Sam 6:14-15).
This point is emphasized again in Psalm 149:3:
“Let them praise his name with dancing and make music to him with timbrel and harp.”
For most people, the idea of dancing in public before the Lord would fill them with terror, but if you think about it, there isn’t much difference between doing that and jumping up and down with thousands of strangers at a Springsteen or Taylor Swift concert. As exhilarating as it might be to dance before your cultural icon, it cannot compare to the joy of offering a gift of worship to the one who has loved you enough to die for you.
Just sayin’…
There were many other ways to use physical actions and gestures that the Israelites expressed reverence, devotion, and submission to God.
- Standing: Standing was seen as a respectful and humble posture before God. For instance, the Israelites would often stand while reading the Torah or during prayers in the synagogue. You likely stand during your worship service but may not have viewed it as a posture of respect for God.
- Kneeling: Kneeling was another common posture to demonstrate intense devotion or supplication. The Bible references kneeling as an act of submission to God’s sovereignty and an expression of reverence (e.g., Psalm 95:6: “Come, let us bow down in worship, let us kneel before the Lord our Maker, for he is our God…”).
- Prostration (Bowing Down): Another physical posture used during worship was lying flat on the ground in total submission. This symbolized complete surrender and humility before God. Sometimes, it was also a sign of penitence or worshiping God in awe.
- Lifting Hands: In prayers or blessings, it was common to raise hands toward the sky. This is seen in 1 Timothy 2:8 and the Old Testament during worship in the temple, as in the example of King Solomon’s prayer during the dedication of the Temple (1 Kings 8:22-23).
“Then Solomon stood before the altar of the LORD in front of the whole assembly of Israel, spread out his hands toward heaven, and said: “LORD, the God of Israel, there is no God like you in heaven above or on earth below—you who keep your covenant of love with your servants who continue wholeheartedly in your way.”
- Singing and Music: The use of the voice and musical instruments in worship also involved the body. The Psalms often refer to singing praises with the “whole being” (e.g., Psalm 103:1), and musical instruments like the harp, lyre, and trumpet were played as part of the worship experience in the Temple.
The physical act of singing, whether standing, kneeling, or dancing, was part of expressing worship through the body.
- Silence or Stillness: Sometimes, worship doesn’t need to be loud or active. Stillness and reflection can be just as profound, allowing you to feel God’s peace and connect with the divine in a deeply personal way. He often speaks in silence.“The Lord said, ‘Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the Lord, for the Lord is about to pass by.’ Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind, there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. After the earthquake came a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper. When Elijah heard it, he pulled his cloak over his face and went out and stood at the mouth of the cave.” (1 Kings 19:11-13).
- Fasting: The Israelites used fasting as an expression of mourning, repentance, or seeking God’s intervention. Fasting helps individuals break free from the distractions and desires of the physical world to focus more fully on the spiritual. Fasting is often used to focus attention on God and draw near to Him. By setting aside physical needs, such as food, or pleasurable activities like television and media, the believer creates space for deeper communion with God through prayer, meditation, and Scripture reading. Jesus emphasizes this in Matthew 6:17-18, where He talks about fasting in secret to receive God’s reward rather than public recognition.
Fasting can also cultivate joy. In Zechariah 8:19, God speaks of turning “fasts” into times of joy, indicating that during a time of self-denial, fasting can also celebrate God’s presence, mercy, and provision.
What This Means For You
I previously wrote about how caring for our body is an essential spiritual practice since it houses the spirit of God. (You can read that article here.) This is a great place to begin thinking about how your body is an essential participant in your spiritual journey.
I propose you take that practice one step further and consider how you might use your body to deepen your connection with God and cultivate more joy in your life. Unless you already regularly worship God in public in a linen ephod, I suspect there might be room for growth.
The first step is to increase your awareness of why this is important. You’ve already begun that process by reading this article. If you felt resistant as you read, I encourage you to talk to God about what might be happening. Why do you find it hard to use your body to connect to or worship Him when you have no trouble jumping up and down for your favorite sports team? What’s happening with that?
When you think about raising your hands in worship or lying flat on your face before God, be curious about the feelings that arise. If your immediate reaction is embarrassment or discomfort, what might be underneath that? Would you feel differently if you did that in private rather than public?
How do you feel about kneeling in reverence or denying yourself food to focus on connecting with God? What keeps you from doing either? Identifying the emotions that come up can help you better understand why you might respond in the way you do.
Ask God what beliefs prevent you from using your body to connect with Him. What role does shame play in this issue?
Next Steps
Once you have processed your beliefs and emotions about this subject, consider trying one or more of the suggestions below to use your body to connect with God.
1. Prayer Postures: Experiment with different ways to pray. Practice at home so you don’t have to battle self-consciousness in public. You can always try it out in public once you have experienced the benefits in private.
- Kneeling
- Lifting Hands
- Standing
- Laying Prostrate
2. Fasting: Intentionally abstain from food, drink, or other physical comforts to focus on God. Start small. Consider skipping lunch and use that time to pray or spend time in God’s presence on a walk.
3. Worship Through song and dance: Experiment with this at home if you can’t imagine dancing in public. It’s okay to simply sway back and forth with your arms in the air in the dark at home. If you still feel awkward, I suggest shifting your focus away from yourself by meditating on what God has done for you.
4. Physical rest and Sabbath: Resting the body, as God commanded on the Sabbath, is another important way of connecting the body to God. Rest is not just for recovery but a spiritual practice that aligns us with God’s design for work and rest. Resting in God acknowledges that He is the provider, and our rest reflects faith in His provision and sovereignty over our lives. I wrote about the Sabbath here.
5. Silence and Solitude: Silence and solitude allow the body to rest in God’s presence and create space for listening, reflecting, and being guided by the Holy Spirit. “Be still and know that I am God” (Psalm 46:10). Try sitting in silence for short periods of time as you focus on God.
6. Walking with God: Walking in nature, reflecting on God’s creation, and using your body to move in the world can deepen your connection with God. I wrote about this subject here.
7. Baptism: Baptism involves the physical immersion of the body, symbolizing the believer’s identification with Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection. It is a powerful outward expression of inward transformation. If you have never been baptized, this might prompt you to consider it. I was christened as an infant but chose to get baptized as an adult. It was a beautiful and joyful experience.
8. Mindfulness and Body Awareness in Prayer: Being mindful of your body in prayer (breathing deeply or consciously relaxing your muscles) can help cultivate a deeper spiritual connection. This practice aligns your body and spirit, making prayer more intentional and focused.
In Summary
Connecting our bodies to God is a holistic practice that involves more than just our minds or spirits—it includes physical acts of worship, rest, and exercise. By engaging our bodies in prayer, fasting, worship, and other spiritual practices, we align ourselves with God’s will and use our bodies as instruments of worship. Just as God created our bodies, He desires us to offer them back to Him, fully surrendered, to glorify Him in everything we do.
I’d love to hear if you already have practices to connect with God through your body. If not, where will you start? 👇🏻