Posted on 05/13/2022 6:14:21 AM PDT by metmom
“‘And when you are praying, do not use meaningless repetition as the Gentiles do, for they suppose that they will be heard for their many words’” (Matthew 6:7).
If we’re honest, all of us have been guilty of repetitive prayers—before meals, at prayer meetings, before bed—with little or no thought to what we are saying or how God feels when He hears us do that. But such prayers are offensive to God and should be to us as well.
We should understand, however, that Jesus here is not forbidding the repetition of genuine requests. In His parable of the midnight visit, Jesus pointed to the persistent man as a model of the believer’s persistent prayer to God. In another parable, the Lord praised the godly widow’s persistence before the ungodly judge: “Will not God bring about justice for His elect who cry to Him day and night, and will He delay long over them?” (Luke 18:7). Paul asked God three times to remove his thorn in the flesh (2 Cor. 12:7–8).
Jesus Himself could be persistent in prayer. In the Garden of Gethsemane, He pleaded, “My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; yet not as I will, but as You will” (Matt. 26:39). Christ prayed this prayer a second time, and again He “prayed a third time, saying the same thing once more” (v. 44).
Sincere, honest repetition of needs and praises before God is not wrong or ineffective. It is the mindless, indifferent repeating of tired, cliché-filled “prayers” that is not pleasing to Him. God wants our hearts and our minds properly engaged when approaching His throne.
Ask Yourself
What would enliven your set times of prayer, transforming them into fresh, expressive, genuine moments with God? Even if the same words and requests are made, what could you do to make them real and in-the-moment?
From Daily Readings from the Life of Christ, Vol. 1, John MacArthur. Copyright © 2008. Used by permission of Moody Publishers, Chicago, IL 60610, www.moodypublishers.com.
https://freerepublic.com/~religionmoderator/
Studying God’s Word ping
I love this article, Metmom. I have been guilty of the same. After a few years, I learned to prepare my heart and mind before praying ... to get more in line with what pleases God when we pray.
I have Buddhists in the family who believe chanting is the way. I can see from the experiences of their lives there’s no power in chanting. Sometimes they try to recruit me into the practice. It’s always an opportunity to witness to the Word.
Your observations are correct. I've found out it's just escapism
I never thought I’d that, but I believe you. It does look like escapism.
Just asking - and I will probably be cancelled for this but how is this a devotional thread when it is not centered on a certain devotion but on a debated subject?
The author of this article needs to do more research. The pagans thought that if they would repeat a prayer over and over that it would make their god do something.
That is obviously ridiculous.
Jesus said to pray without ceasing. Even he repeated prayers and gave us the Lord’s prayer, which is obviously going to be said more than once.
The joy in repetitious prayer is letting God guide you through it.
This will undoubtedly be considered to be Trigger Words by our Catholic friends.
But when mere men tell you to say some prayers over and over again, isn't that kind of treading on GOD's territory?
Do not ask...
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.