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

– Matthew 6:7

Thoughts on Today’s Verse…

Many brothers and sisters believe the longer they pray and the more words they say, the more God will hear. So we always notice that some brothers and sisters pray for one or two hours, and even three or four hours. Does God really listen to the prayer like that? From this verse, we can know the Lord requires us not to say empty or repeated words when we pray. If you pray for three or four hours, merely speaking false and nice-sounding words. Then this kind of prayer is not the genuine prayer. It won’t be heard, but even despised by God. Then, what’s the genuine prayer? God’s word says: “What does it mean to truly pray? It means speaking the words within your heart to God, and communing with God having grasped His will and based upon His words; it means feeling particularly close to God, feeling that He is in front of you, and that you have something to say to Him; and it means being especially radiant within your heart, and feeling that God is especially lovely. You will feel especially inspired, and after hearing your words your brothers and sisters will feel gratified, they will feel that the words you speak are the words within their hearts, the words they wish to say, and that what you say represents what they want to say. This is what it means to truly pray. ” (“Concerning the Practice of Prayer”) It can be seen from God’s word that God wishes us to speak the truth and the words within our hearts to Him, just say what we think in our hearts, no matter how many words we say.