When prayer is a “bad” habit

Hennie Symington

But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking. Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him. Matthew 6:7-9 (KJV)

One day, in a small town where everyone knew every one else, a pious wife who was known for her praying in church dragged her “wayward” husband, who loved the bottle more than going to church to a prayer meeting. When the pastor asked for prayers, she prodded him in the ribs urging him to get up and pray. So after a while he stood up but nothing happened. However, after long silence he began: “Our Father, who art in heaven ….” Then silence again. At last he ended by saying: “Dear Lord, I don’ know this thing. Amen”

The question is: is there such as thing as a bad or wrong prayer? I don’t know but at times we’re all guilty of rattling off a little formula as a daily prayer just because we feel we should pray. Sometimes we just pray from habit not even sure that God is listening or believing that it can make a difference to our lives. Fortunately we read in God’s Word that He hears ever sigh and yearning of our hearts.

For many of us, prayer is just a means to an end. We like to say: “I prayed but haven’t received and answer. I hear nothing from God.” We forget that God has revealed his Word to us through history - your personal history as well as the history of the world in which we live.

The Lord’s Prayer is evergreen

When you’re at a loss for words, there is one “formula” prayer that has been prayed for over two thousand years and still addresses our innermost needs. The “Lord’s Prayer” has been prayed for centuries and remains timeless. In a straight forward manner, it says all one needs to know about prayer. We know whom we are praying to, we acknowledge God as our Father who lives beyond our realm. It gives clear guidelines regarding gratefulness and forgiveness and confirms that God is our Father from now unto eternity.

NB! Make sure that you, you children and grandchildren know this prayer which embraces the earth, from the heart and by heart.

Prayer for today:

Lord, let the words of my mouth, and the meditations of my soul be acceptable in they sight. Amen.