“And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words.” Matthew 6:7
Sometimes our prayers can be more about us or what we are doing than about God and what He has done, is doing or will do. As sinful people, we can so easily turn a blessings like prayer into a good work that we think will merit God’s favor and persuade Him to give us what we want. But God knows our hearts. He knows what we want and need even before we ask. To think that we can manipulate Him by our long prayers, gestures, articulations or gesticulations is to make our prayers superficial. When we pray, we simply pray from the heart, in sincerity and in the understanding that God knows us through and through already.
This can be a comfort because it assures us that we are fully known by Him, however, it can also be intimidating because nothing is hidden from Him, not our sinful motives or selfish thoughts. Don’t be discouraged! God knows and loves us despite our sinful selves and self-centeredness. With this knowledge, we should feel free to approach Him in the confidence that He will hear and wants us to call to Him in prayer.
Long prayers can be wonderful! Memorized prayers can be efficacious! The main thing is that our prayers are real and open and directed on God and His power and love. We should not treat prayer as a command of the Law so much as it is a gracious gift that God uses to draw us closer to Himself. Prayer is not about revealing our will for God, but rather His will for us. And His will is always the best! Amen!
Know that you are loved!
Peace and Joy,
Pastor Kilian