Do I Have to Pray on My Knees?

Do I Have to Pray on My Knees?

by Violet Nesdoly (reprinted with permission)

 And so it was, when Solomon had finished praying all this prayer and supplication to the Lord, that he arose from before the altar of the Lord, from kneeling on his knees with his hands spread up to heaven (1 Kings 8:54, NKJV).

“I can’t really get into praying until I’m on my knees,” a friend confided to me. Her words  lingered with me, I began making a practice of kneeling when I prayed in my ‘closet,’ and I sensed a change, not in God but in myself. It felt right to be in such a posture before Him.

It’s interesting to see the posture of Solomon in prayer, described in detail by the writer of 1 Kings. I’m glad he included that description, for it adds a jolt of realization about the relationship between God and us. Solomon, despite his giftedness, his touted wisdom, his unusual success spent part of this momentous day in Israel’s history on his knees before God in front of all the people.

The Bible mentions at least four prayer postures.

1. Standing: 

2. Bowing:

3. Kneeling:

4. Prostrate, on the face before God:

To read Violet’s entire post with explanations for each of the postures please continue to read Prayer Posture.

Related Article:

What Should Be Our Posture in Prayer?

Violet Nesdoly

Violet freelances in several genres and has been published in a variety of print and online publications.

Her articles, stories, and activities have appeared in Keys for Kids, Devotions for Girls, Devotions for Boys, Clubhouse, Guide, Primary Treasure, Partners, Pockets and others. She has also published two books of poetry and is an avid blogger. She is a member of Inscribe Christian Writers’ Fellowship and a professional member of The Word Guild.

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4 comments

  1. I have long, thin feet and if I try to pray on my knees i hurt so badly it only lasts for moments… I have prayed sitting with head bowed, with eyes open, prayed while driving, prayed while being knocked over by a giant wave and having a large drift wood tree land on and pin down my legs, prayed while sliding on ice (HELP JESUS!!) prayed while half asleep… thanking our Lord he has ears to hear us always!

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