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. Matthew 6:7-8

I trust that the title of this post caught your eye. Praying repetitious prayers is not a problem. They are frequently good and fruitful. It is VAIN repetitious prayers that Jesus warned against! Let’s consider a do and a don’t.

First the don’t. Jesus clearly said don’t pray vain repetitious prayers—the kind heathens (non believers) use. The problem is not repetitious prayers, it is the VAIN repetitious prayers that are the problem. It is when prayers are chanted repetitiously with little or no thought that these so-called prayers are meaningless.

Now for the do. Praying for the same thing every day is not wrong. For example, when do we stop praying for the salvation of spiritually lost loved ones? Not until they are either converted or have died. It is not only not wrong to pray repetitiously for such things, it is right and to be commended.

God does not answer our prayers because we badger Him into it with our many prayers. But as we pray ceaselessly for such things, we remind ourselves that if those for whom we pray will be saved, it will be because only God could do it—and, we got to play a small role by praying.

So let us not mindlessly repeat prayers as though out many words will bring about an answer, but let us not give up on thoughtfully praying over and over again for things that matter.

Applicational thoughts: Can you think of other matters about which we ought to pray, ceaselessly, without giving up? Are there any prayers that you need to rethink because you may be repeating them thoughtlessly and vainly like mantras?