And he was withdrawn from them about a stone's cast, and kneeled down, and prayed. (Luke 22:41)

The Bible often speaks of different postures in prayer. For instance, our Lord knelt in Gethsemane, as well as fell with His face to the ground (Matthew 26:39). Abraham’s servant bowed down his head in prayer (Genesis 24:26). And the Publican stood, while beating upon his breast and refusing to look up to heaven (Luke 18:13). In light of such diversity, there is no Scriptural grounds upon which to prescribe a particular posture for prayer. 

Due to physical infirmities and maladies, many saints find it difficult, if not impossible, to assume certain postures in prayer. For instance, those with bad backs may be unable to kneel. In addition, any posture assumed over a lengthy period may eventually become uncomfortable enough physically to distract us spiritually. Thus, we should guard against such physical distractions as far as possible and never presume that certain postures make our prayers more or less potent. 

Far more than the posture of our bodies, prayer is an attitude of our hearts. This alone explains the possibility of obeying the biblical admonitions to pray “always” and “without ceasing” (Ephesians 6:18; 1 Thessalonians 5:17). Obviously, we can’t spend the rest of our lives kneeling, with heads bowed and hands clasped. We can, however, spend every second of the rest of our days in a prayerful attitude of heart; that is, we can constantly live the rest of our lives in total reliance upon Christ rather than in ourselves, others, or other things. 

It is this awareness of our utter spiritual poverty and impotence apart from Christ that spawns true prayer. It is our sincere belief in Jesus’ words: “I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.” Only those completely convinced of the truthfulness of these words will constantly “abide in” (depend upon) Christ, and only those who live in such constant reliance upon Christ can “ask what [they] will” and have their prayers answered (John 15:5-7). 

HOW TO PRAY 

The proper way for a man to pray,
Said Deacon Lenuel Keys,
And the only proper attitude
Is down upon your knees.

No, I should say the way to pray,
Said Reverend Doctor Wise,
Is standing straight with outstretched arms
And rapturous upturned eyes.

Oh, no, no, no, said Elmer Slow,
Such posture is too proud.
A man should pray with eyes fast-closed 

And head contritely bowed.

It seems to me his hands should be
Devoutly clasped in front,
With both thumbs pointing toward the ground,
Said Reverend Doctor Blunt.

Well, I pray while resting every day,

Said Mr. Henry Pack.

So I should think you say your prayers

While lying on your back.

Last year I fell in Murphy’s well,
Head first, said Cyrus Brown,
With both my heels a-stickin' up
And my head a-pointin' down.

And I made a prayer right then and there,
The best prayer I ever said.
The prayin'est prayer I ever prayed
Was standing on my head.