I recently read Matthew 6:5-8 , which is a prelude to Jesus giving the disciples what we know as the Lord’s Prayer as a template for how to pray. I was particularly struck by verse 7 and where it falls in relation to the Lord’s Prayer.
“When you pray, don’t babble on and on as the Gentiles do. They think their prayers are answered merely by repeating their words again and again.”
People vary in how useful they find liturgy and set prayers within worship. It can be reassuring as it gives structure and familiarity, but can stifle the spirit moving within worship. The fact that this verse comes just before the Lord’s Prayer, to me, emphasises how simple yet comprehensive the Lord’s Prayer is.
I can remember being in assembly at school and having to recite set prayers. I can honestly say that most of us simply “chanted” the prayers, raced to the end, finishing with a flourish, “Amen!” However, in my adult years I have found comfort in recognising the words of these set prayers, still used (on occasions) today. Perhaps this is just a reflection of my rebellious adolescence tempered by maturity as I have got older?
What this verse is saying however, is that our prayers need to be sincere and heartfelt, rather than chanted like some superstitious incantation. There is nothing wrong with the repeating the prayer, or persevering in prayer. Indeed, we are encouraged to persevere in our prayers.
We are to pray using words silent or spoken, in public or in private, but we must always mean what we say when we pray.
Now after my ramblings/babbling let us pray:
Lord Jesus, you gave us the template for all our prays, forgive us when we go through the motions but do not think about what we are praying. May your Holy Spirit guide or thoughts and our words, our worship and our prayers, and may we be sincere in all our prayers. AMEN