Short Prayers

Short Prayers

And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.

Matthew 6:7–8

We should pray with few words but with deep, meaningful thoughts. The fewer the words, the better the prayer. The more words, the worse the prayer. Few words and deep meaning are Christian. Many words and little meaning are pagan. That’s why Christ says, “When you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words.”Similarly, he says to the Samaritan woman, “His worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth” (John 4:24). The Father looks for worshipers who pray this way. To pray in the Spirit, or to pray spiritually, is very different from a prayer that comes from our evil desires. To pray in truth is very different from a fake prayer.

For the showy prayer that comes from our evil desires is pointless mumbling and babbling. It shows no respect for God. To those who are watching and listening, it looks like prayer. It may be spoken with words, but it isn’t spoken in truth. The spiritual and true prayer, however, comes from within. It comes from the sighing and yearning of the depths of the heart. Unspiritual prayer produces hypocrites and a false sense of security. Spiritual prayer produces true believers and reverent children of God.