We are scripturally admonished to pray always.

I don’t.

Sometimes I can’t even bring myself to string together an incoherent line of thankfulness before I fall asleep at bedtime (“Thank Heavenly Father you…day kids blesszzzzzzzz”)—after I’m already supine, the duvet pulled up to my chin, my head nested in a pillow.

Last conference, Elder Bednar used imagery that suggested a cycle to me, a daily round, an attitude with which to accomplish this whole pray always bit when he said:

“Meaningful morning and evening prayers are… a continuation of each other… They are not unrelated, discrete events; rather, they are linked together each day and across days, weeks, months, and even years.”

In other words (Bible words): one prayer begets another.

And to be spiritually prepared for your morning prayer, a heartfelt evening prayer is necessary. And vice versa.

Still. I read this, note that I’m missing a piece of that cycle by neglecting my evening prayers, then feel sleepy, head off to bed, brush teeth, grab socks from a drawer, nod off before amen.

It’s not that I don’t appreciate this beautiful counsel. It’s not that I don’t wholeheartedly love and endorse prayer. It’s not that I don’t have a testimony of its truthfulness, that IT WORKS! Because I know it does…

It’s not even that I’m coaxing myself out of trying to feel guilty for my obviously lackadaisical attitude toward something so holy. It’s just that I’m a wee bit flummoxed by my complacency towards it, and I wonder over it:

What does it mean?

The very attitude of kneeling implies submission, humility, honor, gratitude. And I know that the energy to kneel even when I feel oh-so-tired would be immediately rewarded by more meaningful prayer, a truer (and frankly, just real, not-interspersed-with-dream-sequence) nighttime communion with my God.

Which, trusting Elder Bednar (and I do), would lead to a better morning communion with Heavenly Father, indeed a better day of praying always. Indeed a better day.

So I can’t figure out why I don’t do it.

What helps you pray always?

Do you have rituals that you stick to in your personal prayer? In family prayer?

What assures you that your prayers will be heartfelt even in the face of goodness, no trial impending, no clouds in the sky? (For I find that I’m quite solicitous with my kneeling when I’m heartsick, when I—gasp!—need something…)

Oh, I know I’m an ingrate. But before you start, there’s one more thing:

How do you feel about kneeling?