A prayer should be a conversation with God. Therefore, Jesus was strongly against repeated prayers, and never at any time did he tell people to repeat standard prayers or use prayers penned down by others. On the contrary, he was very clear in his teachings on this point;

7 But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking.

8 Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him. (Matthew 6:7-8)

But what is ‘vain repetition’? We could probably agree on that it includes all prayers that are repeated over and over again. The more times the prayer, is repeated the less thought will enter into the prayer. It has truly become prayers in vain, since God will probably receive them with as much passion as we send them with. And it is a misunderstanding to think that a prayer is a string of words offered up, be it for the first or hundredth time. A prayer is a deep felt desire of the soul, calling out to God. The words makes the prayer understandable to ourselves, God knew it before we prayed. Reading a prayer from a book is not a prayer, unless... Repeating a prayer written by someone else is not a prayer, unless... Saying the Jesus Prayer is not a prayer, unless… Doing the Rosary is not a prayer, unless… …unless you, at that very moment, have a soul that cries out exactly what is written in these set prayers! And we all know that that does not happen a lot!

The more we repeat ourselves, the less time we spend in conversation with God.

Why waste all that time in vain repetition? Why not take that time to open up your life to God? As you tell him about your blessings and trials, it will come natural to thank him of your heart, and plead with him for your assistance. You will find this conversation with God a wonderful relief. You will start sensing a still, small influence from time to time, guiding you onward in your life. This will be the Light of Christ, which will guide everyone who comes into the world. No vain repetition will bring you to this conversation. But a conversation with God is more exhausting than just passing off a nursery rhyme.

When a person with closed eyes starts; Hail Mary, full of grace and truth; blessed art thou among women…, that does not engage God at all, since he is not the one invoked. Neither does it activate Mary, poor woman. I am sure that she wept sorely, and complained bitterly to her Son when this sacrilege began, but after centuries and millions of misguided souls, she probably doesn’t even hear it any more. It is just one form of idolatry among many.

When a Catholic, Muslim, or Hare Krishna rolls a prayer-bead, it does not move the heavens. Just as little as when a devout Christian of any denomination once again repeats the Lord’s Prayer, or when an Anglican repeats some well phrased words from Book of Common Prayers. Unless…   you know the drill!

What will move the heavens is when your heart is moved; when your lips try to copy the feelings of your heart, and the desire of your soul, with a pure heart, with real intent. That is prayer! The next time you pray it will be different. You will have lived a bit more. The situation you prayed about will have developed some, or your understanding of it will have been affected. You will not have the same strength as the last time; you will either have more, or less. It appears that the finger of God have begun to move your understanding and capacity. Or perhaps his power has started to resolve the issue, or give power to endure or capitulate. So, the new prayer, your new soul felt petition will differ from the last. And it should always begin in gratitude for his involvement and blessings. This is a true, ongoing, conversation with God.

Every person who is born into this life received a very special gift from Christ. That gift is called the Light of Christ.

9 That (Jesus) was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world. (John 1:6-9)

From the very beginning of our lives we are guided by a prompting to chose the right. This prompting is the Light of Christ, which is the governing law of the universe. The light of Christ keeps planets in their set tracks, it causes the sun to shine, it keeps gravity working etc. Everything obeys this Light of Christ with exactness, except man, who has been given an exceptional freedom of choice, which accompanies his/her intelligence. Obeying this Light within prepares us to receive Jesus Christ, and the Comforter sent by him, even the Holy Ghost.

 

 

With the Gift of the Holy Ghost you will have one member of the Godhead present in your prayers, if you live worthy of him. This means, that as you open your conversation with God, your hearts righteous desire will be your words to God, and as you make a pause, the Holy Ghost will fill the silence with promptings from the Father. It can be reminders, it can be warnings, it can be comforting words or feelings, or it can be teaching of things you didn’t know up to that point. It is the desire of the Jesus that you should have a living conversation with God. With the Holy Ghost this is very real, indeed. You will learn to know the voice of God in those prayers, but it requires a clean heart, clean hands and thoughts.  Your intent must be pure and you must have faith in Christ.

There is no button to push to get there. But there is a path that leads there. So if you, in spite of your imperfections, really desire such blessings in your life, you must start by being honest to yourself and to God. Don’t repeat other people’s prayers. Create your own. Ask the Lord to help you change, and lead you to his salvation. Remember, the Light of Christ will let you know when you are honest or deceptive in your prayer. When you are deceptive, ask God’s forgiveness immediately, and let him know you want to be honest. Keep the prayer open as long as it is possible to take it somewhere good.

You can open the prayer by saying, in your heart, or out loud: ‘Father in Heaven’.

The words of the prayers are yours. But be still. Let the Light of Christ undress you of your pride and dishonesty. Say to God what you want to happen, and what you feel is happening to you. Be quick to thank him when you feel his finger intervene in your life. When you are filled, or feel you are done, you can close the prayer.

You can close the prayer by saying: ‘In the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.’

This will be the start of something new and beautiful.