By Rick Liggin
There was a time when I would have been very critical of an individual who prayed the same thing over and over again. I would have thought to myself, “They are clearly just going through the motions!” or “They aren’t even thinking about what they are saying!” And though it is true that we must be careful not to use “meaningless repetition” in our prayers (cf. Matt. 6:7), it is valid to point out that Jesus’ instruction here was not intended to hinder us from being sincerely persistent in our prayers!
Through the Old and New Testament alike, we see that God’s people consistently approached Him in prayer. Paul instructed us to “pray without ceasing” (1 Thess. 5:17). More than once we are instructed to be devoted to prayer, particularly with an “attitude of thanksgiving” (Col. 4:2; cf. Heb. 13:15, Php. 4:6). When the disciples of the early church were confronted difficulties, they would devote themselves to the Lord in prayer (Acts 12:5; cf. Eph. 6:18). The apostles consistently and continually prayed for such things as: strength, wisdom, confidence, and boldness that they would be able to help the kingdom of God expand to its fullest (cf. Acts 4:29-30; Eph. 6:19-20; Col. 4:3-4). Paul, himself says that he “constantly remembered” Timothy in his prayers, longing to see him again (2 Tim. 1:3-4). This appears to be Paul’s common practice. Time and again he makes mention of the fact that he was continually praying for the brethren, offering up thanks for to God (Rom. 1:8-9; 1 Cor. 1:4; Eph. 1:15-17; Php. 1:3-4; Col. 1:3; 1 Thess. 1:2-3; 2 Thess. 1:3; Phm. 4-5).
I have learned over the years not to be so critical of the prayers of others. Though they may pray the same thing over and over, that does not necessarily imply that their prayers are thoughtless or disingenuous in nature. The reality is that we could all stand to be a little more consistent and persistent in our prayers. If God has blessed you with something, you should express your appreciation and gratitude for that blessing every time that you pray. If you are struggling with some difficulty, whether physical or spiritual in nature, you should be asking God for His help in that area, and doing so often! This should be a consistent thing for disciples of the Lord, not just something we do every now and again. If you know of a brother or sister who is in need of prayers, or perhaps you are just thankful for your brethren, don’t cease to mention them in your every prayer. Remember, the Lord instructed us not to use “meaningless repetition”. What He desires is the opposite: meaningful, genuine, heartfelt persistence in prayer.
This bulletin is being published for the purpose of encouraging a further study of the Word of God. Editor – Josh Liggin
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