Pope Shenouda III
Prostration may be a form of self-abasement before God.
Every prostration, man rebukes himself before God for on of his sins and asks for forgiveness, saying: I have sinned, O Lord, in doing this or that, so please forgive me. I have desecrated Your temple, so please forgive me. Forgive me, for I am lazy, negligent.... etc.
Prostration may be accompanied by prayers of gratitude and praise.
Spiritual preliminaries, such as self-examination or any spiritual reading to soften the heart, may precede prostration.