repetitive prayers is it ok? or should we just pray once

[rickygtz]

Hi everybody,

I was wondering, should we pray repetitively to make a petition to God, until we see and answer? or should we just pray once with faith and wait? There is a few examples on the bible for example

Mathew 6:7

"And when you pray, do not use vain repetitions as the heathen do. For they think that they will be heard for their many words."

[h=3]Luke 18:1-8[/h]
[h=3]The Parable of the Persistent Widow[/h]18 Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up. 2 He said: “In a certain town there was a judge who neither feared God nor cared what people thought. 3 And there was a widow in that town who kept coming to him with the plea, ‘Grant me justice against my adversary.’
4 “For some time he refused. But finally he said to himself, ‘Even though I don’t fear God or care what people think, 5 yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will see that she gets justice, so that she won’t eventually come and attack me!’”
6 And the Lord said, “Listen to what the unjust judge says. 7 And will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off? 8 I tell you, he will see that they get justice, and quickly. However, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?”

[h=3]17 Pray without ceasing. 1 Thessalonians 5:17[/h]
Thanks and Blessings!!

 

[JehovahDaughter]

I don't think Mathew 6:7 is talking about what you are saying. Say for example someone is sick and they pray to God for healing and tomorrow they pray to God for healing and the day after and so on, until they get an answer; this is not what Mathew 6:7 is talking about. I personally will continue to pray for something until I get an answer; just because it is taking a long time does not mean that God has not heard. Remember wha happened to Daniel in the book of Daniel 10? Daniel 10:12-13 "Then said he unto me, Fear not, Daniel: for from the first day that thou didst set thine heart to understand, and to chasten thyself before thy God, thy words were heard, and I am come for thy words. But the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me one and twenty days: but, lo, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me; and I remained there with the kings of Persia." I believe that satan will try to hinder the prayers of the children of YHVH and when we continue praying we will be uttering hinderances powerless.(This is what I believe)

If you have ever been to a catholic church(that being the main one) and some other churches, you will understand Mathew 6:7. There are some churches where they say prayers by reapeating phrases or words(that becomes mindless after a while) over and over and over and over again. For example the catholics will say "Hail Mary" over and over and over in their prayers. I went to a wedding recently where the pastor lead the congregation to repeat a phrase almost(probably more than) 20 times. This seemed to be a common thing in the church because they did the same thing with two other phrases, where the whole church repeated it about 20 or so times. I was quite surprised at what I was hearing and seeing and to an extent it tickled me. But after the wedding when I started thinking about what was going on; it sounded a lot like witchcraft(which is what I believe Mathew 6:7 is talking about).

In addition to what I have already said, a lot of emerging churches and church leaders encourage their members to do this repetition that is clearly condemned by Christ. The whole process is reapeating a word or phrase(usually a passage from the bible or something godly, like with the wedding I went to) and focus intently on the word or phrase you are uttering and clear your mind. This right here is witchdraft. What is witchcraft? Enchantment and divinations. Enchantment and divinations of what? Words and phrases that is meant to "usher" a person into "the spirit realm". What is in this spirit realm? The devil and his agents.

 

[jari]

it wont make something happen any quicker no matter how much we pray for it... there's some other factors.. like faith maybe but it could also be timing or maybe just no for the request. but asking something over again probably isn't something that's going to make it happen. it's God who decides what will happen but we can ask..... and we can talk to God about it.

That's what I think at least.

because If we could make something happen by repeations we could affect a lot of things perhaps contrary to God's will. I think God knows what's best and right timing for everything.

 

[Acebopata]

I think it's ok to pray for the same prayer request many times, provided we are praying in faith and not just simple motions and words. In cases as one's salvation, or the sparing of a nation's people from various tribulations, such as famines and wars and prosecutions, it's honorable to pray in faith numerous times. That being said, If the Lord has made a no answer clear, then it's time to move on in one's prayer life.

 

[Peace Seeker]

Hi, rickygtz.
I think Matthew 6:7 refers to those religious groups that mindlessly repeat phrases over and over, whether it is Catholics, new-agers, etc. God never tires from hearing from us, and scripture tells us to pray without ceasing, so I don't think a Christian needs to worry that he's somehow praying the wrong way. God bless!

 

[Quasicentennium]

Prayer is a positive action that takes faith to make it happen - but we need negative actions to bring about Christ's positive action that supernaturally works through our minds and bodies so that we as a community multiculturally worldwide can reach out to others especially those who are trapped in poverty and war in parts of Africa and Europe. For every action we make there is a reaction - spiritually and financially - for every dollar we spend, and how that dollar is dependent on workers' wages, government taxes and charities. As long as Christ is in our hearts, his supernatural positiveness is working constantly against the negativeness of sin from Satan that affects every government issue where poverty and disease are like a married couple that want to destroy our faith in Christ. We Christians are learners and leaders, just like being a crime scene investigator when watching the TV drama series CSI: New York/Miami/Los Angeles. You feel like a victim and you keep learning from your negative experiences as you think like a mature investigator while Jesus is silently keeping you positive by getting you to watch TV ministries such as Benny Hinn, Joyce Meyers and a few others - besides your local church if you like church-visiting to hear the Word of God and the pastor's experience with God's Word. May Jesus keep us hearing his miracle: the Word of God online, television and church-visitation so that non-Christians today and in the future recognize his power of saving lives for eternal life in God's most massive and most futuristic community-built city: the Kingdom of God.:*:. Rev 21;2 also known as New Jerusalem or Holy City

 

[Strypes]

Prayer is a very personal thing between you and God.

As for how to pray.. Talk to God like you would talk to a respected friend. Remembering He is God and loves you.




Luke 18 may give you some insight too..

Luke 18:1 And he told them a parable to the effect that they ought always to pray and not lose heart. 2 He said, "In a certain city there was a judge who neither feared God nor respected man. 3 And there was a widow in that city who kept coming to him and saying, 'Give me justice against my adversary.' 4 For a while he refused, but afterward he said to himself, 'Though I neither fear God nor respect man, 5 yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will give her justice, so that she will not beat me down by her continual coming.'" 6 And the Lord said, "Hear what the unrighteous judge says. 7 And will not God give justice to his elect, who cry to him day and night? Will he delay long over them? 8 I tell you, he will give justice to them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?"

9 He also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and treated others with contempt: 10 "Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 11 The Pharisee, standing by himself, prayedthus: 'God, I thank you that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. 12 I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I get.' 13 But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, 'God, be merciful to me, a sinner!' 14 I tell you, this man went down to his house justified, rather than the other. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted."

 

[amadeus2]

Notice that in matt 26:39-44, Jesusused the same words in prayer three times. As someone else already mentionedthe repetition of of Jesus was not mindless. He said the same prayer a secondand a third time because the will of the flesh not been overcome yet after thefirst two times. We need to pray until we are know we are where God wants us tobe in the situation.

This is why it is so important to be listening to and hearing what God issaying to us! Jesus expressed it here:

<tbody>
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"]<nobr></nobr>
[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"] "To him the porter openeth; and the sheep hear his voice: and he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out.

[/TD]

[TD="bgcolor: transparent"]<nobr></nobr>
[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"] And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice." John 10:3-4
[/TD]

</tbody>

 

[Boanerges]

It depends on your faith. If you ask once and believe He heard then once is enough. If you need to repeat it or just need to keep pouring out your heart to Him it is also okay. Either way He is listening an He cares about every aspect of your life.