AVOIDING VAIN REPETITIONS
Heartfelt prayers are mindful prayers.
Text: James 5:16
Today, we will be looking at a very important component of building a consistent prayer life. In Matthew 6:7, Jesus confronts an approach to prayer. He says to avoid vain repetitions. Jesus doesn't emphasize repetitions, He emphasizes vain repetitions.
Vain repetitions simply refer to incomprehensible rapid blabbing, and what characterizes such kinds of prayer is absent mindedness. Prayer must involve the heart. It must be heartfelt. When you pray, you must pray with all your attention and gaze on God. Mental awareness is important while praying, because your mind is where the consciousness of things takes place. Your mind must be able to note and recognize what has happened/is happening in prayer. Have you been encouraged, corrected, comforted, emboldened or instructed? What did God say to you as you prayed? What matters in prayer is what God said, so make sure to track your mindfulness as you pray.
Another way to pray mindfully is to pray in your understanding. Praying in other tongues is great, but if it's done mindlessly, then it is vain repetition. If you can pray in other tongues, you can interpret those tongues, because the same Holy Ghost is the sponsor of both gifts (See 1 Corinthians 12:4 ), and as you say what you're saying in other tongues in your understanding, you're keeping your mind focused.
Finally, to pray heartfelt prayers, simply say what you mean and mean what you say.
It's easier to pray constantly if you don't have to premeditate or rehearse your prayers. God is interested in what you might think is minor. If it's serious enough to get you worried, it's serious enough to be prayed about. Philippians 4:6 says, "... in everything by prayer and supplication, let your requests be made known to God." It says in everything! Everything is everything! Talk to God about anything and everything. Let Him in on your thoughts. He is interested in everything.
STUDY THIS: 1 Peter 5:7
DECLARE THIS: Today and always, I pray mindfully. I am conscious of what God is doing and saying as I pray. My prayers are heartfelt. Glory!