Do I Have to Kneel to Pray? What It Really Means to 'Pray Continually'

For a long time I thought real prayer meant a certain posture: on my knees, eyes closed, hands folded, in a quiet room. If I couldn't get to that place, it felt like it didn't count.

Then I read a three-word sentence from the apostle Paul that changed how I think about prayer: "Pray continually" (1 Thessalonians 5:17, NIV).

Continually? I'm a chiropractor, a husband, a dad and a marathoner. Some days I barely get to the bathroom between patients. How could anyone pray all day?

God looks at the heart, not the posture

Here's the first freeing truth: there is no single "correct" way to pray. Scripture shows people praying in every position you can imagine:

• Daniel knelt three times a day by his window (Daniel 6:10).
• Jesus fell with his face to the ground in Gethsemane (Matthew 26:39).
• Nehemiah prayed silently while standing in front of a king, right in the middle of a conversation (Nehemiah 2:4–5).
• David prayed lying in bed at night (Psalm 63:6).
• In my own Orthodox tradition, believers stand for most prayer, especially on Sundays, as a sign of the resurrection.

Kneeling is a beautiful act of humility, and there are times my heart needs it. But God isn't grading our posture. "People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart" (1 Samuel 16:7, NIV).

You can just talk to Him.

So what does praying continually look like?

It isn't a nonstop speech. It's living with a steady awareness that God is with you, and turning to Him in small moments all day long. A 17th-century monk named Brother Lawrence called this "practicing the presence of God." He found God as easily washing pots in the monastery kitchen as he did in chapel.

Here's how that looks for me on an ordinary day.

1. A short prayer on repeat. The ancient Jesus Prayer is simple: "Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me." I pray it with my breathing on long runs, in the car, or waiting in line. It slowly trains my mind to come back to God.

2. Breath prayers at transitions. Before I see a patient: "Lord, guide my hands." Before a hard conversation: "Give me wisdom." Getting into the car: "Thank you for today." It takes two seconds, and it changes the next hour.

3. Gratitude as it comes. A good run. A text from my kids. The cat curled up on my lap. Each one gets a quick "Thank you, Lord." Gratitude turns ordinary moments into worship.

4. Turning worry into prayer right away. When stress shows up, whether it's money, work or family, I try to hand it over before it spirals: "Father, this is Yours." Paul put it this way: "Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus" (Philippians 4:6–7, NIV).

5. Anchors that hold the day together. Continual prayer grows out of set times of prayer. For me that's morning quiet time, a pause around noon, and a short reflection before bed. The anchors keep the all-day conversation going.

It's a relationship, not a ritual

Think about someone you love. You don't only talk to them during scheduled appointments. You share little things all day: a thought, a laugh, a concern. Over time it becomes natural.

That's what God invites us into. Not a performance, but a relationship. A conversation with a Father who is always listening, wherever you are and whatever position you're in.

So kneel when it helps you quiet your heart. And the rest of the time, just talk to Him.

Try this today: pick one simple prayer, either the Jesus Prayer or "Thank you, Lord." Pray it every time you walk through a doorway. See how different your day feels by bedtime.

I'll be praying my way through all 42 km of the Athens Marathon on November 8, on the original route from Marathon to Athens. Follow along on my Athens vlog, and subscribe so you don't miss the next post. And I'd love to hear from you: where do you find it easiest to pray?

— Dr. Cary Yurkiw