Something to remember about prayer

[bduke08]

Hey everyone. While studying tonight I came across an awesome scripture in my opinion...I'm sure you guys have read it and just thought I would share it because I know sometimes we can all forget this. Also I wasn't sure where to post this so I just posted it here.

Matthew 6: 7-8
7 But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking.
8 Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him.

I know we all pray sometimes for the same thing and forget to put our trust in the Lord. He knows what we need and asking for something particular everyday, possibly a job, only puts more stress on us when all we need to do is give it to the Lord and he will take care of it! I know I can be bad at this so I thought I would share this. I'll put more faith in my prayers and maybe someone is going through something and this will help them too.

 

[Brighthouse]

Very Nice brother! I remember once praying the third time for the same thing,Holy Spirit interupted me, and said,Mark? Did i not hear you the first time you prayed? I said Yes Lord you did! But I thought to pray until reciving,I thought that is what I was suppose to do! If you asked your dad for a cookie,and he gave you one,would you ask for the same cookie again? No because you got it already! It is this way my son in prayer,( hebrews 11:6) it is not that you await my answer,you pray so that you can hear my answer. ( psalm 62:11,psalm 25:5 how long are we willing to wait to hear? psalm 27:8 This my good brother is what helped me so much in my relationship with our Lord Jesus. I am thanking you for the gentle reminder! We do not pray to hear ourselfs speak,but rather to hear from our Father in heaven! We pray believing,otherwise what purpose is there to pray in the first place? Come before the Lord with great thanksgiving brother! For in our thanks we are saying to our Lord, thanks for hearing and answering me! he is a great Lord!Worthy of both our thanks,and praise!! amen! Thank you Jesus!

 

[bduke08]

Thank you for that story Brighthouse!

 

[amadeus2]

Of course, the point is well taken, but not all repetition is...

"vain".

Each time we speak to God, we may certainly say "our Father" or when we speak to His Son, we may say "Jesus, my Lord".

The emphasis in the verse quoted, I believe, needs to be on the "vain"!

 

[spirit1st]

Many Do not wait for the LORD too answer them ! Listen we should start off praising him then praying for others then asking Him for what we need or want !Then thank HIM as if we already had it ! Faith is believing before we see the answer ! And if we do not get what we ask for ? Then it must be in His time or not good for us ? then we Thank HIM , Because HE always knows best !He Loves us More than we love ourselves !He sees the Future we do not !

 

[revbrad]

Luke 18
1 And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint;
2 Saying, There was in a city a judge, which feared not God, neither regarded man:
3 And there was a widow in that city; and she came unto him, saying, Avenge me of mine adversary.
4 And he would not for a while: but afterward he said within himself, Though I fear not God, nor regard man;
5 Yet because this widow troubleth me, I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me.
6 And the Lord said, Hear what the unjust judge saith.
7 And shall not God avenge his own elect, which cry day and night unto him, though he bear long with them?

The scripture quoted in the first post is speaking of meaningless repetition not asking more than once..........

Paul sought the Lord three times for his thorn in the flesh

If you are praying for a lost loved one, do you ask God once to save them and never again?

 

[Brad Huber]

If you are praying the Lords Prayer or scripture in general more than once, does anyone think that scripture is "Vain"? Indeed, vain, or vanity are not godly actions, but I believe we sin when we call vain or ungodly the Godly things. Prayed scripture, no matter how many times we do so, does not make it vain!!! And our intent goes a long way toward vain behavior.

 

[revbrad]

If you are praying the Lords Prayer or scripture in general more than once, does anyone think that scripture is "Vain"? Indeed, vain, or vanity are not godly actions, but I believe we sin when we call vain or ungodly the Godly things. Prayed scripture, no matter how many times we do so, does not make it vain!!! And our intent goes a long way toward vain behavior.

Don't want to offend but the Lord's prayer is an example of how to pray. Jesus does not say repeat this prayer. As far as praying scripture, God wrote it, He knows what it says.

Jesus wants to hear from YOU, what you feel, what is in your heart.


Prayer to me is talking to and hearing from the one I love and who loves me. Telling Him the intimacies of my heart.

Again, don't want to offend, sorry if I did

He is your friend, brother, father and more. He wants you to talk to Him as such.

 

[Brad Huber]

Don't want to offend but the Lord's prayer is an example of how to pray. Jesus does not say repeat this prayer. As far as praying scripture, God wrote it, He knows what it says.

Jesus wants to hear from YOU, what you feel, what is in your heart.


Prayer to me is talking to and hearing from the one I love and who loves me. Telling Him the intimacies of my heart.

Again, don't want to offend, sorry if I did

He is your friend, brother, father and more. He wants you to talk to Him as such.

I dont repeat a lot of prayers, and I talk to God a lot just like I talk to everyone. I dont repeat because God cant hear me, foolish reasons arent the only reasons one might repeat. I assume you have heard of garbage in, garbage out. When I am tempted by lusts of the flesh, I say Prov 3:5-6 over and over until it passes and as I say it I am also praying the Lord help me through it. Instead of wrestling with it, I use the SWORD of GOD to defeat it, sorta like we are supposed to. As to the Lord's prayer, I dont say it over and over all at once, but I have certainly said it many times in my life. That is repetition sir. NO repetition means never saying the same prayer ever again, because God indeed heard you the first time, aye even before you prayed. Have you prayed the Lord's prayer more than once? I get so tired of christians hang-ups with prayer, I am a prayer warrior, and probably more active in prayer than most who see the fault in thier brothers eye. I am not offended so much as setting the record straight with someone who isnt rabidly name calling while thinking they are whipping the sinner. I had a moderator here accuse me of being involved with new age stuff and mindlessly repeating stuff without even asking me anything more about why. A MODERATOR!!! Talk about a beam in the eye. I am actually glad you brought up the accusation kindly, so that I might respond in kind. I never mind a rebuke done in kindness, and yours was, so no prob. I hope you take it the same way brother.

 

[amadeus2]

No, Jesus did not say to repeat these words when you pray, but if the words are repeated not in vain repetition but rather with understanding and heartfelt sincerity each time, will they not be heard?

Our Father! Yes He is that if we are Him.

Which art in heaven: This is where we want to be with Him.

Hallowed be Thy name: What is the name that is above every name, the name at which every knee should bow?

Thy kingdom come: Yes, by all means, Lord let thy kingdom come onto me and let me come onto it.

Thy will be done in earth as it is in heaven: In this little piece of earth which You formed into me do whatever it takes make me as You want me to be. Make it with me as it already is in Thy dwelling place.

Give us this day our daily bread: Feed us Lord from Thy Word and let it be brought to Life by Thy Holy Spirit.

And forgive our debts and we forgive our debtors: Teach us dear Lord to do onto others as we would have them to do onto us. Teach us dear Lord to do things always Your Way rather than our ways.

And lead us not into temptation: Take us rather to those places, those good places that You have for those who Love you are You Love us.

But deliver us from evil: O Lord, it is not in us to direct our own steps. Show us a better way and keep us always from the ways of men which are always right there before us.

For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen. Yes Lord, we know that all that is good; thy kingdom and thy power and thy glory always belongs to you. Let us belong to you as well always.

Isn't it better in any case to repeat a memorized prayer with even a measure of sincerity than no say prayer at all?

 

[revbrad]

I dont repeat a lot of prayers, and I talk to God a lot just like I talk to everyone. I dont repeat because God cant hear me, foolish reasons arent the only reasons one might repeat. I assume you have heard of garbage in, garbage out. When I am tempted by lusts of the flesh, I say Prov 3:5-6 over and over until it passes and as I say it I am also praying the Lord help me through it. Instead of wrestling with it, I use the SWORD of GOD to defeat it, sorta like we are supposed to. As to the Lord's prayer, I dont say it over and over all at once, but I have certainly said it many times in my life. That is repetition sir. NO repetition means never saying the same prayer ever again, because God indeed heard you the first time, aye even before you prayed. Have you prayed the Lord's prayer more than once? I get so tired of christians hang-ups with prayer, I am a prayer warrior, and probably more active in prayer than most who see the fault in thier brothers eye. I am not offended so much as setting the record straight with someone who isnt rabidly name calling while thinking they are whipping the sinner. I had a moderator here accuse me of being involved with new age stuff and mindlessly repeating stuff without even asking me anything more about why. A MODERATOR!!! Talk about a beam in the eye. I am actually glad you brought up the accusation kindly, so that I might respond in kind. I never mind a rebuke done in kindness, and yours was, so no prob. I hope you take it the same way brother.

I take this as you meant it...no offense.

I was not trying to condemn, critisize, or rebuke....just sharing what I have found to work and be true for me. Perhaps because we are different, with different personalities and preconcieved ideas, God works with us differently. If what you do works, DO IT.

The Word is a strong tool/weapon, we need to use it, no argument there. I just see prayer as being from an individual's heart.

The Bible says there are times we don't know what to pray and the Spirit helps us. Repeating/quoteing scripture at such a time would probably be beneficial

Growing up I heard many wonderful, beautiful prayers in my church. They sounded so great, full of flowerey speech, "king James version language", scripture, and repetition. They sounded so good. When I grew up and accepted Christ I tried to pray as I had heard, nothing happened. I felt like my prayers were going nowhere. I asked God why, He basically told me "I want to talk to you, I want to hear from you, give me your heart" When I began to pray like that, things happened and I not only talked "at" God, I talked with Him and heard from Him.

So, that's what works for me. You do what God has for you to do. I am glad to hear you are a prayer warrior, you are needed, it is not a common trait among christians.

God Bless

 

[revbrad]

no, jesus did not say to repeat these words when you pray, but if the words are repeated not in vain repetition but rather with understanding and heartfelt sincerity each time, will they not be heard?

our father! yes he is that if we are him.

which art in heaven: this is where we want to be with him.

hallowed be thy name: What is the name that is above every name, the name at which every knee should bow?

thy kingdom come: yes, by all means, lord let thy kingdom come onto me and let me come onto it.

thy will be done in earth as it is in heaven: In this little piece of earth which you formed into me do whatever it takes make me as you want me to be. Make it with me as it already is in thy dwelling place.

give us this day our daily bread: feed us lord from thy word and let it be brought to life by thy holy spirit.

and forgive our debts and we forgive our debtors: teach us dear lord to do onto others as we would have them to do onto us. Teach us dear lord to do things always your way rather than our ways.

and lead us not into temptation: Take us rather to those places, those good places that you have for those who love you are you love us.

but deliver us from evil: O lord, it is not in us to direct our own steps. Show us a better way and keep us always from the ways of men which are always right there before us.

for thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen. yes lord, we know that all that is good; thy kingdom and thy power and thy glory always belongs to you. Let us belong to you as well always.

Isn't it better in any case to repeat a memorized prayer with even a measure of sincerity than no say prayer at all?

yes it is brother

 

[Fragrant Grace]

Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.
Philippians 4:6


Here's a defintion of the word vain

Producing no result; useless
futile, useless, unavailing, empty, conceited

But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking.
Matthew 6:7

This verse refers to the empty hearts of the heathens making empty, worthless repetitive babblings to dead, false idols.
In the same way that muslims today repeat the word Allah hundreds of times in a scripted routine of what they call prayer


Empty repetitive, scripted , so called prayer can still come from the minds of Christians
Some Anglican churches read out the same prayer week by week in services

The verse isnt referring to the constant, loving prayers from the hearts of the Lord's people....or the supplications, utterings and groanings that come from the heart of a believer in comunication the Lord.

As the hymn says What a privilege to carry ...Everything to God in prayer

We do not cease to pray for you
Colossians 1:9

O Thou by whom we come to God
The Life, the Truth, the Way
The path of prayer Thyself hast trod
Lord, teach us how to pray*




* hymn J Montgomery

 

[amadeus2]

yes it is brother

We are in agreement. If only all believers were in agreement more often than is the case. Give God the glory!

 

[Brad Huber]

I take this as you meant it...no offense.

No offense recieved brother!

I was not trying to condemn, critisize, or rebuke....just sharing what I have found to work and be true for me. Perhaps because we are different, with different personalities and preconcieved ideas, God works with us differently. If what you do works, DO IT.

Ahhh. Yes, as the individuals we are, God comes to us where we are and brings us closer to Himself if we are willing. The Lord gave me a parable about this once, I would have to look for it, but it fell along the lines of the "Pilgrims Progress" synopsis.

The Word is a strong tool/weapon, we need to use it, no argument there. I just see prayer as being from an individual's heart.

It certainly is from the heart from any true believer, praying in "faith". God hears those prayers and rejoices that we do. I have heard many seemingly empty prayers before
myself, and although I understand where you are coming from, I cannot see the heart of another man to know the faith or lack of it in thier prayers. So I try not to judge at least verbally.

The Bible says there are times we don't know what to pray and the Spirit helps us. Repeating/quoteing scripture at such a time would probably be beneficial

Perhaps so, the proverbs verse sometimes intermixed in my prayer is as much claiming the promise there, as using it to replace the garbage with a goodly scripture verse that permeates my soul.

Growing up I heard many wonderful, beautiful prayers in my church. They sounded so great, full of flowerey speech, "king James version language", scripture, and repetition. They sounded so good. When I grew up and accepted Christ I tried to pray as I had heard, nothing happened. I felt like my prayers were going nowhere. I asked God why, He basically told me "I want to talk to you, I want to hear from you, give me your heart" When I began to pray like that, things happened and I not only talked "at" God, I talked with Him and heard from Him.

I have heard the same, and although I try not to judge, if God told you not to do it, you certainly shouldnt, and informal everyday talking prayer is the kind I do the most.

So, that's what works for me. You do what God has for you to do. I am glad to hear you are a prayer warrior, you are needed, it is not a common trait among christians.

God Bless

God bless you as well Brad. (good name that eh?)

 

[jiggyfly]

I believe that prayer is a tool in which God uses to adjust and align us with His will and purpose. A major set back with Christianity today is that many are ignorant or confused about what God's will and purpose are and involve. There are so many different carnal teachings within the christian religion that God's will or plan is vaguely understand by many. This to me is indicative that most believers spend very little time in prayer and back maybe 13 or 14 years ago while I was still involved in the religious system, very few attended prayer meetings. It seemed that many were much like the Hebrews in Moses' day.

19 And they said to Moses, “You speak to us, and we will listen. But don’t let God speak directly to us, or we will die!”
Ex 20:19 (NLT)

 

[Brad Huber]

I believe that prayer is a tool in which God uses to adjust and align us with His will and purpose.

Very true. Prayer is for our benefit, and it helps us stay "in the spirit" more often than those who mainly just ask for forgiveness. Asking for forgiveness is critical to our christian life, but thats far from the only thing we should do in prayer. The Lord should be our best friend, and we should talk to Him as a best friend does (although not in carnal ways, sometimes earthly friends like to share beastly things for a laugh, and thats one thing we should avoid when talking as a friend to the Lord).

 

[Coconut]

Hey everyone. While studying tonight I came across an awesome scripture in my opinion...I'm sure you guys have read it and just thought I would share it because I know sometimes we can all forget this. Also I wasn't sure where to post this so I just posted it here.

Matthew 6: 7-8
7 But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking.
8 Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him.

I know we all pray sometimes for the same thing and forget to put our trust in the Lord. He knows what we need and asking for something particular everyday, possibly a job, only puts more stress on us when all we need to do is give it to the Lord and he will take care of it! I know I can be bad at this so I thought I would share this. I'll put more faith in my prayers and maybe someone is going through something and this will help them too.

Thank you for sharing this, it confirms the word given to me as follows:

Vain repetition, in plain English, are words spoken that lack raw honesty with the One they are being spoken to.

This is evident first in our speaking words that show little regard for (what should be) our very personal relationship with our Father

and secondly in our failure to listen for, or unwillingness to accept, His answer.

For example I will use a paraphrase of a prayer (conversation) I had recently with Him: (yes recently, I am so long a ridiculous child!)

"Father, you know I am responsible for caring for this family so I need..."

Father: "Who is responsible for caring for this family?"

Me: "Well you are...but..."

Father: "But what?"

Me: "um...I guess I don`t need anything..."

Father: "Yes you do need something"

Me: *sigh at myself* "I still need to trust you more"

Father: "You know you can trust me ...what you need is patience"

Me: "patience....ah...but I get restless waiting for you to do things"

Father: "If you know I got this, why don`t you go relax and enjoy yourself"

Me: "hmm...I always feel guilty when I relax...I feel like I should be doing something to help you"

Father: "you did not learn this from me"



I wont finish that conversation, but suffice it to say, it is of utmost importance to come to Father with a heart open to the truth of:

"My Father knows what I have need of before I pray"

It is one thing to read and repeat His words over and over again ...many of us can probably babble them like a baby...and its possible to grow old without ever having gained an understanding as to what we are really saying....it is another to have Father reveal the deep truth of these words in the nitty gritty details of life...one only requires you to open your mouth...the latter requires you to open your eyes and ears...watch Him work...listen for His answers...

But first things first...

Learn to examine your own words. Listen to yourself...what do your 'prayers to Father' say about your relationship with Him? Do your words say you know who it is you are talking to? Do your words say you think He is listening? Do your words say you think He will answer?

Most importantly, are you being really honest with Father?

Or are you attempting to hide your pride, impatience, self will, and reluctant submission to the 'Boss' behind a veil or 'act' of prayerful piety...

Vain repetition (vanity) dictates the outcome of prayer, even when its pretending not to, the proof which is not seen in our 'act'...but in how we react when Father does not do things when and how we expect Him to. Oh now the veil comes off....


Footnote:
Many are being taught to "name it and claim it" in prayer, which is just a pretty way of saying demand your own way, and if you dont get it, stamp your foot until you do! uh huh. If you dont see the vanity in that, read the above again.

 

[revbrad]

Name it and claim it is decieving many....I call it blab and grab

 

[amanda123]

No, Jesus did not say to repeat these words when you pray, but if the words are repeated not in vain repetition but rather with understanding and heartfelt sincerity each time, will they not be heard?

Our Father! Yes He is that if we are Him.

Which art in heaven: This is where we want to be with Him.

Hallowed be Thy name: What is the name that is above every name, the name at which every knee should bow?

Thy kingdom come: Yes, by all means, Lord let thy kingdom come onto me and let me come onto it.

Thy will be done in earth as it is in heaven: In this little piece of earth which You formed into me do whatever it takes make me as You want me to be. Make it with me as it already is in Thy dwelling place.

Give us this day our daily bread: Feed us Lord from Thy Word and let it be brought to Life by Thy Holy Spirit.

And forgive our debts and we forgive our debtors: Teach us dear Lord to do onto others as we would have them to do onto us. Teach us dear Lord to do things always Your Way rather than our ways.

And lead us not into temptation: Take us rather to those places, those good places that You have for those who Love you are You Love us.

But deliver us from evil: O Lord, it is not in us to direct our own steps. Show us a better way and keep us always from the ways of men which are always right there before us.

For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen. Yes Lord, we know that all that is good; thy kingdom and thy power and thy glory always belongs to you. Let us belong to you as well always.

Isn't it better in any case to repeat a memorized prayer with even a measure of sincerity than no say prayer at all?

Yes I agree amadeus