About Prayer!

For Wednesday, January 25, 2023:

Matthew 6:7-8 NLT, Jesus speaking: “When you pray, don’t babble on and on as the Gentiles do. They think their prayers are answered merely by repeating their words again and again. Don’t be like them, for your Father knows exactly what you need even before you ask him!”

Our Father doesn’t want us wasting our time or his time. From this scripture, I surmise that God appreciates people who are direct and get right to the point. Repeating something over and over doesn’t make a prayer better. The Bible calls that “vain repetitions.” Inserting the word “just” 16 times doesn’t make the prayer better. Jesus is teaching that longer prayer isn’t better prayer. He advises less verbiage and more heart. Present your case to the Lord and move on.

Prayer doesn’t inform God. You can’t tell the Lord something and expect him to respond, “Gee, I never thought of that!” In fact, he already knows. We pray because we have a relationship with Our Father, and like any father, he wants to hear from his children.

Jesus doesn’t specifically mention it, but I believe the same principle applies to preaching. Longer isn’t better. The words, “In conclusion…” should only be in a sermon once! A friend told me about an elderly lady in church who suffered from dementia. She thought she was whispering: “When’s that windbag gonna knock it off so we can get out of here?” Everyone laughed! It’s funny because we’ve all been there!

God is in heaven and you are on earth, so let your words be few. (Ecclesiastes 5:2)

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus in the City Fellowship