ICS Daily Devotions
Vain Repetitions
Matt 6:7-13 (NKJV) And when you pray, do not use vain repetitions as the heathen do. For they think that they will be heard for their many words.“Therefore do not be like them. For your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him. In this manner, therefore, pray: Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done On earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, As we forgive our debtors. And do not lead us into temptation, But deliver us from the evil one. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.
What God desires is a close relationship rather than vain repetitive prayers. Repetitive petition is impersonal, empty and meaningless. While there will be people who will repeat the Lord’s prayer in sincerity, it is never meant to be a repetitive or regurgitation of a prayer from memory. Vain repetition would be a direct violation of what the Lord does not want us to do. What Jesus meant was He does not want meaningless, insincere and mechanical prayers.
Can you imagine having your child coming to you and have the same conversation daily for the next 50 years? He will just say the same words as if it is memorized and then leave the room. There will be no conversation and you will feel as though he just comes into the room out of obligation and utter whatever he thinks you would love to hear. It is like an artificial intelligence being talking to you based on what he has been programmed to do or a standard answer required of him. Therefore, we should never vainly repeat the Lord’s prayer unless it is truly done in sincerity and faith.
If we are to put it in simple terms, prayer is having a conversation with God. It is seeking the face of God. The very reason Jesus’ blood was shed for us is for us to have our relationship with God restored. He wants us to know Him and for Him to journey with us in our lives. That close relationship is developed through our prayer life. It is a conversation that can be developed and continue where you left off in the last prayer. It is an update of a struggle, a pain, a journey, or just sharing the joy you experienced.
Romans 12:15(NKJV) Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep.
God journeys with us as a loving friend. Do you remember one of the roles of the Holy Spirit? He is our comforter. We need comfort when we are discouraged, down trodden, depressed and faced a setback. That’s the time when the Holy Spirit groans within us and He intercedes for us. We are to come before the Lord in prayer. Every challenge that we face in life is an opportunity to experience God in a deeper manner.
We share with our Heavenly Father regarding our struggles and pain. We tell him specifically what we are facing and offload our burden to Him. We might be struggling from temptation. We might be going through a trial or tribulation. We might even be tested and sifted for our faith. It will be meaningless to regurgitate the Lord’s prayer at that moment. We can use the Lord’s prayer as a format to approach God,but in all sincerity, we should pour out our hearts to Him in prayer just as if He was a friend standing right next to us.
Sermon series: Our Prayer Life
