i don’t kneel. i’ve never been one for kneeling. i know why we’re taught to do it, but i think it’s necessary.

when i was in high school i got into the habit of thanking Heavenly Father throughout the day. it started when i was almost killed in early morning seminary by a machete. that was a life changing experience for me. i became more prayerful. every time the bell would ring at school i would thank God for being alive. that habit ended after high school, but what it began was a habit of continually thanking God for little things throughout the day. not formal prayers…but communication.

Anyway, what I was trying to say was that about a year ago, i wrote a post on my blog called Kneeling. If you want to read it, my name is linked to it in above. I just had some thoughts about kneeling then, and felt impressed to write about them.

You’d think that considering the things i wrote that I’d have made some personal strides in this area in the intervening months…but in reality i still struggle with it.

Lately the topic of prayer has been coming up in lots of places in my world, and i’m still optimistic about finding more joy and constancy in personal prayer. this old dog WILL learn new tricks! and i’m very grateful for this post, the ensuing discussion, and for the insights shared.

For me, the most important thing is that my prayers are true communication/communion with Him. Real, honest stuff. It doesn’t matter when it happens, as long as it does.

I have a friend that finds that her best prayer time is when she is washing the dishes. She thinks maybe it has something to do with the warmth, or being able to do the dishes while doing something very important and uplifting.

I have huge difficulty praying in the morning as soon as I get up, let alone “before you leave your room” as the hymn says. I pray during the day, and pray with my boys before they go to school.

For months last year I prayed every morning as I drove to work – 20 minutes went really fast. It became so automatic that every drive I found myself praying – and real prayer, not rote. I don’t drive to work, so am now praying on my morning walk/run. I find some time that I’m by myself, uninterrupted. I’ve prayed each morning in the shower because that is the first chance I’ve had after becoming coherent!

I pray as things pop into my head, or after talking to or thinking of someone.

As for nighttime prayer? It depends on how tired I am. I go for sincerity over length if I am exhausted (“Thank you for the day I had today. Please watch over us as we sleep” – that’s it) As several people have said, if it’s been a hard day, or something “big” is going on I pray for longer. For longer prayers I kneel as it keeps me focussed on what I am saying, and I find it changes what I pray for.

I remember reading somewhere that it’s the attitude, not the altitude, of prayer that’s important. Works for me!

As for kneeling — well, I fall asleep otherwise. So I just do. I figure if I want Him to listen to me, and I want to be able to hear Him, then I need to be in a physical position where I can pay attention.

thank you.

i also have to be alone so i can talk out loud. if i say a quiet prayer my thoughts wander, and so do my eyes.

and prayer just wouldnt be a prayer if not done on bended knee, ive tried and it never feels right. but thats me.

its funny how we make sure our kids do all these things and when it comes to ourselves we seem out of energy or something else. i remember always seeing my mother kneeling in prayer, even mumbling to herself in ernest thought through out the day. now realize that she was communicating to her Father in Heaven. it seems a better way to get through the day. i should try it!

and like m&m said about callouses on her knees: we really just SHOULD think about kneeling more.