Is it custom to kneel down to pray?

Question

What's the purpose of kneeling for prayer? Please explain.

Answer 1

It's only tradition in some religions and sects.

For instance, those who follow the medicine wheel (Native American belief), pray standing up...shouting their prayers to the sky. They do not bow down in subservience, but showing their strength, and purpose in asking/honor their gods.

Answer 2

Kneeling. The Bible frequently refers to kneeling in prayer (Acts 7:60; 9:40; 20:36; 21:5; Eph. 3:14; etc.). Bowing the knee to God carries the unmistakable meaning of confessing our inferiority to Him (a meaning illustrated in Phil. 2:9-11). In so doing we pay Him homage and pledge Him our obeisance. We acknowledge Him as Lord and King. The purpose of kneeling in prayer is therefore to show humility and dependence. Today's Christian is apt to shun kneeling in prayer and to choose, rather, a more comfortable position. But he should ask himself, why? Is there any feeling in his heart that kneeling makes him look small and foolish? If so, he is exactly the person who should kneel when praying.
Jesus set an example of kneeling in prayer when He went to the Garden of Gethsemane (Luke 22:41). There, the challenge, at least for the disciples, was to remain awake, and they disappointed Jesus by falling asleep. One virtue in the kneeling posture is that it helps in resisting drowsiness during long prayer or prayer at night.

Answer 3

I think the idea is to pray. That's the important part. Kneeling is an act that was customary when speaking to a king.

I pray in the shower, sitting. I take my time with what I have to say to God. It's private, and unseen by anyone else. I say this to give you an idea how personal this subject can be.

Answer 4

Religions have you kneel down to pray so you are showing that you are humble and are pleading in prayer.

A lot of religions take their origins from times when people knelt to ask for favor from the ruler, and extend this to the church, also.

Answer 5

You can pray in any posture. It's just commonly considered a sign of submission and respect to kneel. The most important thing though is to pray, to keep that line of communication open.

Answer 6

There are no rules. Do what makes you feel best.

Catholic Priests made up the kneeling thing to get little boys to kneel in front of them.

Answer 7

Kneeling is symbolic of humility and submissiveness. I never do it. I show my humility before the Lord in other ways. I look upon prayer as just a conversation with God. I can talk to Him anywhere and in any position....yes, even in the bathroom, and even in intimate times with my husband. He created it all. He expects our conversation, and the more time we spend with Him the more humble we become before Him. It's not about the position of your body. It's about the reverence in your heart.

Answer 8

It is a sign of respect and humility. It acknowledges God is Lord. Also, servants kneel before their King to show respect and ask for favors. When one prays, one is addressing God.

Biblical precedents:
Psalm 95: "..Oh come, let us worship and bow down; let us kneel before the LORD, our Maker!
For he is our God,..."

Isaiah 43:22-24 "Turn to me and be saved,
all the ends of the earth!
For I am God, and there is no other.
By myself I have sworn;
from my mouth has gone out in righteousness
a word that shall not return:
'To me every knee shall bow,
every tongue shall swear allegiance.'

Answer 9

You are asked to kneel down because when you are praying you are speaking to the Almighty. To show respect.

Answer 10

No. It's just tradition. You can pray anway that's most comfortable for you. Whenever I tried to kneel and pray I'd usually would go to sleep. So I just started sitting on my bed and that works out just fine.