Prayer Pitfalls to Avoid

“And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.”
Matthew 6:7-8 (NIV)

A PhD student at Princeton University once went into the office of Albert Einstein and asked this question, “What is left in the world for original dissertation research?” The brilliant scientist replied, “Find out about prayer. Somebody must find out about prayer.”

Prayer can seem complex. But Jesus says it is simple and He tells you the secret: Prayer is not about getting what you want from God, but about receiving all He wants for you. 

In today’s passage, Jesus tells you how to avoid a common prayer pitfall. You may think that your prayers matter more when you say more. But Jesus says that being heard is not about the quantity of your words but the quality of your heart. 

The word used in today’s verse for “heard” means “to be taken seriously.” In other words, if you want God to take your prayers seriously, remember that He is not moved by how long you pray. It is not the length of your prayer or the language you use that pleases God. 

Sometimes you might think that if a prayer does not go a certain length of time, somehow it doesn't make it to heaven. You don't need to take a long time to tell God what you want or what you need. That’s why Jesus says this powerful line: “Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.” (Matthew 6:8, NIV)

You may be thinking, “If God already knows everything I need why bother asking for it to begin with?” God is not concerned as much with the length of your prayers as He is with the depth of your prayers. He is saying, “It's ok to tell me your list, but I already know what's on it. What I want is your heart, your love, your affection, your praise, your fellowship and your undivided attention.” 

In other words, prayer is not primarily about getting things from God, it's about spending time with God. 

Your prayer is not about how long you pray, but about trusting completely. Depth, not length, is what matters in prayer. It makes me think of the words of John Bunyan, who said, “You can do more than pray after you prayed, but you cannot do more than pray until you pray.” 

Connect with God right now. He rewards prayer. Spend time with Him and receive all that He has for you.   

Prayer: Dear Father, I praise You for knowing what I need before I ask. So I’m coming to You not to ask, but to fellowship. I open my heart to You, Lord. For You are worthy of praise and all my life comes from You and finds fulfillment in You. I praise You for Your constant presence and friendship, for Your faithfulness and that You never change. Lord, I wait for You as watchmen wait for the morning, for You, Lord, are the greatest gift of my life. I praise You, Father and thank You for the privilege of prayer through Your Son, Amen.