It's okay to fall on your face

When Abram was ninety-nine years old, GOD showed up and said to him, "I am The Strong God, live entirely before me, live to the hilt! I'll make a covenant between us and I'll give you a huge family." Overwhelmed, Abram fell flat on his face. Genesis 17:1-2 The Message

This morning I had no idea what to write about, so I prayed and continued my reading of Genesis, and one verse jumped out at me,

Then Abram fell on his face, and God talked with him saying, Genesis 17:3 NKJV

Well, it wasn't even the whole verse, just those first 6 words,

Then Abram fell on his face 

There have been a few times in the past couple of weeks when I have felt so overwhelmed with the faithfulness of God that I felt like doing that - just falling on my face, lying prostate in awe at our God. (I'll share more about that in future posts) But I haven't. I've just either sat my desk weeping, or stood at the ironing board... weeping, or driven my car ... weeping. 

There is something so special about waiting, trusting, and then seeing that second part of John 10:10 manifest.... 

But I have come to give you life in abundance, more than you expect - life in its fullness until you overflow. John 10:10 TPT

Actually the waiting and learning to trust is not really so special - just a lot of relying on the Holy Spirit to teach me patience and self-control. 

But lets get back to the falling on your face... as I read that scripture I thought, I wonder how many people mentioned in The Bible fell on their face at the wonder of God? So I did a google search. Here are some of the results.

Moses and Aaron...

Moses and Aaron walked from the assembled congregation to the Tent of Meeting and threw themselves facedown on the ground. And they saw the Glory of God. Numbers 20:6 The Message

The children of Israel, at the time of Elijah's victory on Mount Carmel ...

Then the fire of the LORD fell and consumed the burnt sacrifice, and the wood and the stones and the dust, and it licked up the water that was in the trench. Now when all the people saw it, they fell on their faces; and they said, "The LORD, He is God! The LORD, He is God! 1 Kings 18:38-39 NKJV

The three disciples that saw Jesus' glorious transfiguration ...

But while Peter was still speaking, a radiant cloud composed of light spread over them, enveloping them all. And God's voice suddenly spoke from the cloud, saying, "This is my dearly beloved Son, the constant focus of my delight. Listen to him!"

The three disciples were dazed and terrified by this phenomenon, and they fell facedown on the ground. Matthew 17:5-6 TPT

Jesus, in the garden of Gethsemane ...

Then he walked a short distance away, and overcome with grief, he threw himself facedown on the ground and prayed, "My Father, if there is any way you can deliver me from this suffering, please take it from me. Yet what I want is not important, for I only desire to fulfill your plan in me." Then an angel from heaven appeared to strengthen him. Matthew 26:39 TPT

In Heaven they are falling on their faces...

All who were standing around the Throne - Angels, Elders, Animals - fell on their faces before the Throne and worshiped God, singing:

Oh, Yes!

The blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving,

The honour and power and strength,

To our God forever and ever and ever! 

Oh, Yes!

Revelation 7:11-12 The Message 

From just these few scripture we can see that it is okay, actually more than okay, to fall on your face, as it positions us to ....

Acknowledge the greatness of God when you physically can't do anything else (example - Abraham; the three disciples)

See the glory of God (example - Moses and Aaron)

Submit to the truth that the LORD is God (example - Children of Israel)

Surrender and receive strength from God (example - Jesus)

Worship in awe (example - Angels in heaven)

For me, in the times when I have literally fallen on my face and worshipped God, they have been amazing times of surrendering, overwhelmed with awe, followed by a beautiful time of the Holy Spirit ministering God's love. Times when my hands and feet weren't tempted to do something else, but just be and focus completely on God. 

In our world today we need to be constantly reminding ourselves of who our God is, and purposefully drawing closer to Him. Falling on your face is a great way to position yourself to do exactly that. Why not try it sometime and see what God does. Be expectant.