Use Not Vain Repetitions

Before giving the example we know as The Lord's Prayer in the Sermon on the Mount, the most oft-repeated prayer in the Christian church, Jesus warned about repetitive prayers with these words:

But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking.
--Matthew 6:7

Jesus loved to pray to communicate with His Father. It is written in several places that He went alone to pray. A few of His public prayers were recorded in the New Testament, and more of His prayers are found in the Book of Mormon. What I have learned from the above verse in particular about prayer is that to be effective, prayer must be heartfelt and meaningful. We may need to pray frequently and repeatedly as we seek a particular blessing or an important answer or as we face a long trial. Frequent, even constant, prayer is a balm to the soul. 

Prayers become vain (useless) repetitions, however, when we say the same things over and over without faith or real intent. We can find ourselves using vain and repetitious words and phrases if we are not careful. Bless the refreshments for our nourishment. Take us home in safety. Bless those who were not here this week that they will be able to come next week. When we repeat empty phrases, the Lord is not pleased. Nothing is wrong with blessing our food, asking for protection, or praying for the welfare of others. In fact, we are commanded to pray for such things. Effective prayers that reach the Lord's ears, however, must be thoughtful, intentional, genuine, and faith-filled.

I had such a prayer with my grandson just last night. His dad had been hurried to a local emergency room to attend to complications from a recent medical procedure. My grandson was home alone and feeling shaken and worried about what would happen to his dad. I was on the phone with this young man to keep him company as best I could from seven hundred miles away when he expressed his feelings of concern and sadness. I said we should pray for his dad, and he promised he would pray that night before going to bed. I suggested we could pray for him right then and there, even while we were on the phone together. He didn't need to wait for bedtime to pray.

He agreed, and I offered a simple, sincere prayer for healing for his dad, strength for his mom, and comfort for him at this stressful time. I had prayed for these things many times for this beleaguered family, but with my worried grandson present with me on the phone, it was a new and fresh prayer experience. 

After the prayer, we visited about school and other topics. A few minutes later, he said, "Papa, I think the prayer worked. I feel better now."

"Yes," I replied, "the Holy Ghost as the Comforter can help you feel better any time you are worried. You just ask, and God will send Him to help you."

His dad and mom came home a few hours later, the medical problem under control. Heavenly Father hears and answers prayers.