Praying on your knees

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Scrobulous

Scrobulous

Active member
Sep 17, 2018
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This is a serious question. Should an able bodied person pray kneeling down? Jesus and Paul certainly knelt to pray, does this mean we should? I find it much easier to pray while walking up and down. Is this disrespectful?
Views from the forum most welcome.
 
for us, it's all about the 'emotions' that we are feeling about what we're so thankful for -
on the other hand, often Jesus will just let you know when to show Him that special
respect and honour, without question and wherever it might take place...
 
The protocol of prayer is to pray while filled with the Holy Spirit, to the Father, in the name of Jesus Christ. Humility and gratitude matter but posture is irrelevant. It's not your body that is praying, it is your spirit.
 
Scrobulous said:
This is a serious question. Should an able bodied person pray kneeling down? Jesus and Paul certainly knelt to pray, does this mean we should? I find it much easier to pray while walking up and down. Is this disrespectful?
Views from the forum most welcome.
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I think it is ok to pray in about any position. Standing, kneeling, walking, sitting, lying down, kneeling with face to the ground, head bowed... etc. If it is painful to kneel, I don't believe God would require that of the person.
 
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Pemican said:
The protocol of prayer is to pray while filled with the Holy Spirit, to the Father, in the name of Jesus Christ. Humility and gratitude matter but posture is irrelevant. It's not your body that is praying, it is your spirit.
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I find that posture of prayer can feel humbling. It may give a feeling of who is in control, and that it is all about the Lord not self. If someone tries to pray in a certain posture but feels a lot of pain or has physical difficulty with it, I think they should not pray in that posture but in a different way that is comfortable for them.
 
Scrobulous said:
This is a serious question. Should an able bodied person pray kneeling down? Jesus and Paul certainly knelt to pray, does this mean we should? I find it much easier to pray while walking up and down. Is this disrespectful?
Views from the forum most welcome.
Click to expand...
I'd not say it's a requirement, but it's something to consider doing from time to time.
 
There are times when the feelings of heart are so intense, that
praying on your knees or laying flat out, seem the appropriate response.
It’s not mandatory though.

Not sure why but I find praying in the shower helpful! It’s a quite moment with just
me and God.
 
There are times that I pray to the father as a son, then there are times I pray to my God as his creation.

As a son I pray for my family and friends, lifting up those in need , my needs, and asking for guidance for the day and a fresh filling of the holy spirit. Usually for daily needs.

When I was diagnosed with cancer I was given a prayer shawl Which I use when I address God.
Those prayers are issues of the heart, confession of my heart. Personal, private things. Issues of the church.
Not that any stance or position is greater nor is the shawl more excepted but it helps me focus.

In scripture Jesus prayed to the father often.....but once he found himself upon the cross with the full weight of it's cruel punishment he cried...my God...my God....again I'm not saying one is better than another but to me personally I see a difference.
 
Locutus said:
What if you have bad knees?
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Then it may be advisable to pray in a different position that would feel better. It may depend though. Some people may have affected knees but still occasionally pray on their knees. If unsure if it would be ok to pray on your knees due to affected knees, then ask a doctor.
 
Scrobulous said:
This is a serious question. Should an able bodied person pray kneeling down? Jesus and Paul certainly knelt to pray, does this mean we should? I find it much easier to pray while walking up and down. Is this disrespectful?
Views from the forum most welcome.
Click to expand...

God knows the heart of everyone who prays... Outward signs of being humble are not worth a thing if one is not humble within.. Kneeling proves nothing to God who can see deep within.. We can pray in any position in any place..
 
Scrobulous said:
This is a serious question. Should an able bodied person pray kneeling down? Jesus and Paul certainly knelt to pray, does this mean we should? I find it much easier to pray while walking up and down. Is this disrespectful?
Views from the forum most welcome.
Click to expand...
As far as respect or reverence goes, I think any position that doesn't interfere with "... be thou in the fear of the LORD all the day long (Prov. 23:17)" is good.
I typically pray in whatever position I happen to be in; standing, sitting, walking, lying down, etc.
If there's something serious going on or if I'm praying about something real intensely, I usually kneel down to a chair.
 
Scrobulous said:
This is a serious question. Should an able bodied person pray kneeling down? Jesus and Paul certainly knelt to pray, does this mean we should? I find it much easier to pray while walking up and down. Is this disrespectful?
Views from the forum most welcome.
Click to expand...
Am not sure its disrespectful but its often easier to be still and know God in one place than walking around and pacing up and down. Not for you as such but for God to talk with you. Less distraction.

I think if you do try praying this way you will benefit. Its focus and concentration.

Its like gardening. A lot of people think its easier and quicker to garden standing up with a long tool instead of kneeling down on their hands and knees getting to ground level. But they are missing out on really connecting with the ground under their feet. I had this former boss who seeemd very annoyed that I would be kneeling down or squatting gardening. He would always be in a rush and say I had to keep moving. He didnt even like me using my hand tools I had to use a long hoe and look busy scuffing the dirt.
Well all I knew is if I did it that way I would miss out on the real gardening and the finer details.
 
blue_ladybug said:
Or bad hips, or a bad back like me? I'm far too physically decrepit to kneel down on my knees. I may get down, but no guarantee I'll get back up.. lol
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You can always bow your head and close your eyes instead. But please don't pray kneeling down if you might not be able get back up. 🙂
 
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CherieR said:
You can always bow your head and close your eyes instead. But please don't pray kneeling down if you might not be able get back up. 🙂
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Seriously, it would be impossible. I'd literally have to crawl to the nearest solid object and pull myself up..
 
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