Useless Repetitions

And when you are praying, do not use thoughtless repetition as the Gentiles do, for they think that they will be heard because of their many words.

Matthew 6:7 (NASB)

Many Christians wonder how much time a person must spend in prayer to capture God's attention. Others, conversely, seek to discover whether there is a specific method or a set of phrases to use in order to gain God's approval on certain matters. There are even those who do not pray using their own words, but instead use the Psalms of David, hoping that God will answer their prayers more quickly since they have employed David's very words. Whether it be one approach or the other, I would argue that it stems from a lack of faith coupled with an ignorance of God's Word.

I know people who place such importance on lengthy prayers that they spend two to three hours praying. Praying for hours is not a problem in itself—I myself sometimes spend an entire day in prayer—yet the fact remains that it is not the mere duration of your prayer that will prompt God to grant you what you ask of Him. Those who attempt to force their prayers often return to their requests, tirelessly repeating words and emphatic expressions that they believe will impress God. This is precisely what Jesus sought to teach the religious leaders of His time.

When God calls us to pray without ceasing, He does not imply that your prayers will gain significance—or reach His ears—solely through the power of repetition. This is exactly what other nations did—those who worshipped false gods in the time of Jesus. For them, prayer had become a mere ritual; consequently, they repeated the same words, believing that the more time they spent praying—even if it consisted merely of endless repetitions—the greater their chances of capturing their god's attention. God knows your needs, and—in Jesus Christ—He grants you everything He deems essential for your life. Do not offer long prayers, tirelessly repeating the same words; for all that God requires is that you have faith in Him and believe in His promises.

May God's grace and peace be with you.