Jesus said we should not be as the heathen who think that they shall be heard for their much speaking. They vainly repeat their prayers to their gods. Is Jesus teaching that we should pray something once and then totally forget about it? Should we intercede one time about a certain traumatic situation and then never recall it to mind? This is not what Jesus was saying. We have many examples of men of God who repeatedly prayed a certain request. Take for instance, Elijah, who prayed repeatedly for rain until a cloud appeared the size of a man’s hand and eventually a great abundance of rain arrived. Jesus in the garden of Gethsemane prayed repeatedly although He prayed that God’s will be done. So how do we know if our prayer is just a vain repetition? One would be if we are praying to a false god. Another is if we simply repeat something because we think we have to get God’s attention. Perhaps another could be if my repetitions make me feel good about myself. It is a vain repetition if we simply pray the prayer because it is time to do it and because it’s a good thing to do but our heart is not really in it. Let us not vainly repeat something just for the sake of a long prayer. But let us continue to cry out in faith and sincerity day and night that God might avenge His elect. Luke 18:1-8
top of page
Eternal Prayer Flame
bottom of page