I Fold My Hands

Like a praying mantis, I am feeble.

I am weak.

I am nothing.

I’m frail.

I am so fragile, relying on my spindly self-assurance.

And yet a zephyr - a mere breeze - could topple me.

Like a praying mantis, I am compelled to clasp my hands.

I am compelled to look to you, my God.

I fold my hands and I look to you.

As I teeter precariously on the edge, I clasp my hands.

I look to you, God.

I acknowledge you as my creator.

You are my provider and the lover of my soul.

You designed me as I am – frail, fragile, and feeble.

Without you I would fall.

Without you, I would fail.

It is in your wisdom that this is so.

I am designed to look to you.

It’s in my nature.

It is in my very DNA.

I am created to need you.

I cannot survive without you.

In your absence, I exist merely in a vacuum.

I look to you, my God.

I enter your presence.

I take a posture of humility.

I am still before you and I wait.

I wait for you.

I wait in expectant anticipation.

A calmness and a peace surrounds me.

I bow my head.

Like a praying mantis, I fold my hands.

My fingers interlock,

As I lock my attention onto you.

I clasp my hands in a prayer of submission to you.

I look on high,

For that is where you dwell.

As my focus zeroes-in on you alone,

The things of this life blur and fade away.

My concerns fade into the background.

I hold my hands in reverence before you.

I am quiet and I rest in you.

You are mine and I am yours.

As I fold my hands,

I am aware that you hold me in your hands.

I am gripped by your love.

Your love surrounds me.

And as you hold me in your hands...

I fold my hands

And I proclaim that I love you.

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Note:
While working in my little yard/garden space yesterday, I spotted this Praying Mantis. Because I have long admired them and find them so intriguing, I often stop whatever I'm doing and linger to observe them. As per usual, I did that this time and even took a few photos.

Later, in the evening, my homegroup from church practiced an exercise of 'soaking' in God's presence. As I quieted my soul and focused on Him, thoughts of Scripture and worship flooded my mind and spirit. I got out a pen and paper and tried to keep up with the meditations as it all flowed so quickly.

Included in what I penned, was this piece about the Praying Mantis.

This tiny, fragile insect is such a perfect symbol of prayer to me. Perhaps it will also prompt you to 'fold your hands' in reverence before God.