Wrong To Pray For Same Thing Repaticious?

[rwoehmke]

If I am not mistaken, I believe that the “heathen” also believed that the mere act of saying the right prayer a set number of times in and of itself would bring them what they asked for (i.e. “If I say the fertility prayer to Jupiter 11 times my wife will be pregnant”.)

With the Roman Pagan Religions, the rituals and prayers were laid out “just so.” It was the common belief that if one did everything exactly correct that the God or gods had no choice but to respond accordingly. If they didn’t, the assumption was that someone didn’t get it all correct. I have always called this the idea of “having God in a box.” I have seen this with some Christians who absolutely believe that if they pray using the correct formulas that God really has no choice but to grant their desires/commands. Even for Christians, I would call this superstious behavior. One can always hope that God will see things our way, but he certainly has no obligation.

 

[The_Barbarian]

The longer I live, it seems I pray for less and less and give thanks for more and more.

I think “Thy will be done” is the perfect request.

 

[The_Barbarian]

I have seen this with some Christians who absolutely believe that if they pray using the correct formulas that God really has no choice but to respond to their desires/commands.

Ah, that guy used to run a scam not too far from where I live. “Give me $1,000, and God will have to grant your prayer.”

Sure. I hear he’s now in California, playing the same game. And getting rich again.

No shortage of gullible people in the world, God help them.

 

[Fitswimmer]

With the Roman Pagan Religions, the rituals and prayers were laid out “just so.” It was the common belief that if one did everything exactly correct that the God or gods had no choice but to respond accordingly. If they didn’t, the assumption was that someone didn’t get it all correct. I have always called this the idea of “having God in a box.” I have seen this with some Christians who absolutely believe that if they pray using the correct formulas that God really has no choice but to grant their desires/commands. Even for Christians, I would call this superstious behavior. One can always hope that God will see things our way, but he certainly has no obligation.

I saw that same thing with the whole “Prayer of Jabez” thing that was popular a while ago. Just pray the right words and the money and good fortune will just fall out of the sky. Someone wrote another book called “Praying with Jesus” that took the Our Father apart line by line and showed how the way Jesus taught us to pray might not be as good for our wallets-but it is far better for our souls.

 

[Gara3987]

“And in praying use not vain repetitions, as the Gentiles do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking.” (Matt. 6:7)

To begin with, Christ was not condemning all repetitive prayer, for in the Old Testament of the Bible we find examples repetitious prayer, Each of the twenty-six verses of Psalms 136 ends with the repetitive prayer/praise “for his mercy endureth for ever.”

In the New Testament we also find examples repetitious prayer, Christ himself prayed this way. On the night he was betrayed he took three of his disciples (Peter and the two sons of Zebedee) with him to a place called Gethsemane, to pray:

“And he (Christ) left them, (for the third time) and went away again, and prayed the third time, saying the same words.” (Matt. 26:44)

So we can see that in the condemnation of Matt. 6:7, that the problem is not in the repetitive aspect of the prayers, but in the “Vain” or “useless” intentions. In Matt. 6:7 Christ was speaking specifically of the prayers of the Gentiles. We must remember that in new testament Jerusalem The term “Gentiles” refers to non-Jews, in other words pagans. All prayer of Prayer to false gods are displeasing to God.

Other Scriptural Examples of Repetitious Prayer That God Found Pleasing

Luke 18:13 - the tax collector kept beating his breast and praying “God be merciful to me, a sinner.” This repetitive prayer was pleasing to God because it was offered with a sincere and repentant heart.

Acts 10:2,4 - Cornelius prayed constantly to the Lord and his prayers ascended as a memorial before God.

Rom. 1:9 - Paul says that he always mentions the Romans in his prayers without ceasing.

Rom. 12:12 - Paul commands us to be constant in prayer. God looks at what is in our heart, not necessarily how we choose our words.

1 Thess. 5:17 - Paul commands us to pray constantly. Good repetition is
different than vain repetition.

Rev. 4:8 - the angels pray day and night without cessation the same words
“Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord God Almighty.” This is repetitious prayer that is
pleasing to God.

Dan. 3:35-66 - the phrase “Bless the Lord” is similarly offered repeatedly, and mirrors Catholic litanies.

This is something I came across a little while back.