Click to join the conversation with over 500,000 Pentecostal believers and scholars
Click to get our FREE MOBILE APP and stay connected
| PentecostalTheology.com
DO WE KNEEL WHEN WE PRAY? – Ray E Horton
Some see kneeling as an unnecessary legalistic practice. Others we it as a sign of humility and reverence, and an imitation of Jesus who the Bible shows knelt to pray (“He withdrew about a stone’s throw beyond them, knelt down and prayed” Luke 22:41).
Jesus, Peter, Paul All Knelt
We read of examples of kneeling in both the ministries of Peter and Paul:
“Peter put them all outside and knelt down and prayed. And turning to the body he said, “Tabitha, arise.” She opened her eyes, and when she saw Peter she sat up” (Acts 9:40).
Paul: “And when he had thus spoken, he kneeled down, and prayed with them all” (Acts 20:36). Also, see Acts 21:5.
“So I kneel humbly in awe before the Father of our Lord Jesus, the Messiah” (Eph. 3:14 TPT).
After being first spirit-filled and for many years, I was of the former school, abandoning the tradition fostered by the denomination in which I grew up. But now, I am flexible and want to be spirit-led.
I Want to Be Spirit-Led
We can commune with God any time and in any posture. It matters not to Him. What counts is our time with Him. We don’t need to prove our humility or reverence to Him. He knows our hearts.
However, I will stop to kneel and pray sometimes, for my sake, not His, after He showed me it would help me to focus and avoid distractions. But not legalistically; it’s something I choose, as needed.
I don’t kneel in my prayer closet, my time of communion, since I shut the door, shutting out distractions. It does work to help me focus at other times, however. Sometimes I’ll stop what I’m doing, go over to my easy chair and kneel in front of it, saying, “here I am, Lord.” He may then share something with me or simply say “Hi,” and I them go back to what I was doing.
Whatever you do, don’t make it ritual. He wants us to be natural with Him in prayer, not put on. After all, He knows our hearts.
