Repetitive Prayer?

[Philippians4:19]

Okay I know in the bible it says not to use repetitive prayer but for the life of me I can't find it right now. COuld anyone help me with this? I don't want to start a huge debate or anything but I really need to know (didn't know where else to put it)

Remember:

JESUS LOVES YOU!!!

[Ovedya]

The Bible does not forbid the repeating of prayer.  The Lord Jesus said in Matthew 6:7 not to babble empty words as the Gentiles do because they supposed that in their multiplicity their words would be heard.

But this does not mean that Christians cannot repeat prayers.  The Lord Jesus Himself even repeated His prayer in Gethsemine (Matt. 26:44).  And Paul also repeated the same prayer three times (2 Cor. 12:8). Even in Revelation we a great multitude praising God repeatedly with hallelujahs (Rev. 19:1-6).

The Lord's meaning in Matthew 6 is not to repeat empty words that are devoid of meaning or substance.  Hope this helps!  :thumb:

[munari]

Amen GM

[wordsower]

Matthew 6:7 "But when you pray, do not use vain repitions as the heathens do. For they think they will be heard for their many words.

[Philippians4:19]

But I was under the impression repeating anything (whether it began with meaning or not) for too long makes it become meaningless and the reason I'm asking is. I have a lot of Catholic friends and they say the same prayers over and over and over again to where you forget you're even saying them anymore and totally ignore it. That's wrong right? I'm not sure and I know some people keep them from becoing too meaningless but even the pledge of alleigance grows automated after saying it for the first fifteen days in a row.

[Guest Warrior FC]

When we pray... we must let the Holy Spirit guide us.. not our intellect!

[munari]

Philip,

I'm Catholic, and yes, sometimes I start saying a prayer and my mind starts to wonder. But, I catch myself and start over. I also usually start off by saying an Our Father, a Hail Mary, and then a Glory Be followed up by my own prayer asking for specific things. I also go throughout the day praying in general and sometimes mentally singing psalms.

I have two questions I want to ask you and I want you to really reflect introspectively and see what the answer is.

Question 1: How many ORIGINAL prayers do you have? Meaning, how many different petitions do you have? The words may be different, but I'm sure you say the same things quite often. Or, at least pick up on similar topics from time to time (grace before meals). Or, what about songs sung in worship? Are those not repetitive?

Question 2: Have you ever lost your concentration during prayer?

[wordsower]

Philip,

It is always best to let the Spirit guide you in all truth and understanding.  If my kids said the same thing to me day after day after day, I'd get a big  :sleeping: I think  God would like us to speak out of the depth of our hearts, not the memorization of our mind.  Mainly, I try to limit my petitions and praise His Holy Name for who He is and what He is doing in my life.  He is a real Father to me and He meets me at my level of understanding.  I think what Jesus was trying to point out is that Our Father is not impressed with a buch of words, He wants us to talk to Him on a personal level, just tell Him about our day and ask Him what He'd like us to accomplish today and then try to fulfill His will for our lives.

[Guest suzie]

In Matthew 6:7, the pagans used long lists of the names of their gods in their prayers, hoping that by constantly repeating them, they would call on the name of the god that would help them. They repeated the same words over and over such as a magic incantation. It is not wrong to make the same requests again and again to God--that is persistant prayer. But shallow repetitive words are not the same thing. It needs to be a sincere prayer from our hearts not just mouthing the words.

[munari]

If my kids said the same thing to me day after day after day, I'd get a big   :sleeping:

Word,

When your children say "I love you" over and over again, that bores and tires you? Or if they excitingly tell you over and over again about how they scored a goal in their game or how they accomplished a task they were having troubles with, that would bore you?

Even if the answer is "yes" for you for those questions sometimes, imagine God in His infinite love and patience. I don't think He would tire of hearing those words of love and excitement, even if they are repetitive. However, if you do not mean what you say or just blabber on without meaning it, in essence, lying to God, then I think he would become angered, like any parents whose children are lying to them. I believe it all depends on the heart of the person praying whether or not "repetitious" prayer will anger God.