INTRODUCTION

Prayer is speaking to God from the heart. As such, it was never intended to be a script from which man talks to the Lord. In Matthew 6:7But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking.
See All..., the Lord warned His people about using "vain repetitions." Prayers were not meant to be memorized and repeated. Instead, they should come from the needs of the heart. Unfortunately, many have misused the prayer commonly called the Lord’s prayer (Matthew 6:9-13 [9] After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. [10] Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. [11] Give us this day our daily bread. [12] And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. [13] And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.
See All...). This was never intended to be a prayer that was repeated, in fact, the Lord made that known when He said, "After this manner . . . pray ye." The Lord provided a manner for His disciples to follow, not words for them to repeat. What a contradiction it would be for the Lord to warn believers about something He would instruct them to do a few verses later.

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHTS

• (For smaller children) The prophets of Baal called on their god and said, "O Baal, hear us," from morning til noon. Elijah did not say the same thing over and over, but told God what was on his heart (1 Kings 18:26And they took the bullock which was given them, and they dressed it, and called on the name of Baal from morning even until noon, saying, O Baal, hear us. But there was no voice, nor any that answered. And they leaped upon the altar which was made.
  See All..., 36-37). You don't keep saying the same thing when talking to Dad or Mom. Neither do we do that with the Lord.
• Do you use vain repetitions in your prayer time? Do you repeat the same things each time? Do you pray scripted prayers? How can these things hinder genuine heartfelt prayer?
• Do you often repeat the Lord’s prayer? Have you ever considered that the prayer given was specifically associated with the Jewish disciples to whom the Lord was talking?

PRAYER NEEDS

• Ask God to help you pray from the heart.
• Ask the Lord to show you the vanity of repeating prayers.

HYMN

Sweet Hour of Prayer

LTB DEVOTIONS ON FACEBOOK

Receive the daily devotions on your facebook wall by clicking "Like" on http://www.facebook.com/kingjamesbibledailydevotions.