Is there anything wrong with repetitive prayer?

Answer

The term repetitive prayer can have various meanings. Depending on the context of “repetitive,” there may or may not be an issue with repetitive prayer.

Repetitive Prayer—Mantras

Prayer that is repetitive in the sense of someone repeating the same phrase continuously as a mantra or formula is not in line with biblical teachings. In Matthew 6:7, Jesus says, “And when you pray, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do, for they think that they will be heard for their many words” (ESV). The Greek term for “empty phrases” is sometimes translated as “vain repetitions” or “babbling.” It refers to using the same words repeatedly or engaging in nonsensical, idle chatter. Praying by simply repeating a word or phrase over and over is not supported by the Bible. Prayer is not a magical incantation, a formula, or the act of saying the “right” words a specific number of times. Prayer is not about counting beads. It is a means of communicating with the God of the universe, made possible through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. Vain repetition tends to lean more towards superstition than towards the work of God. The power lies not in our prayers or the number of words we use, but in the God to whom we pray.

Repetitive Prayer—Habits or Ruts

Praying the same things frequently or offering prayers with similar wording could also be categorized as a form of “repetitive prayer.” For instance, some individuals prefer to recite the Lord’s Prayer. Others follow a specific prayer list. Alternatively, they may find themselves consistently expressing similar thoughts to God in prayer day after day, as they are naturally comfortable with certain phrases and speech patterns that come easily. There is not necessarily anything “wrong” with this type of prayer, but it is important to examine our intentions. Are we genuinely engaging in prayer, or are we merely going through the motions?

A helpful perspective on prayer is to view it as a conversation with a loving God.

ed one. When our spouse asks how our day was, we probably share many of the same things day in and day out. That we repeat our words is not necessarily an issue; it just speaks to the routine nature of our days and our conversations. But when we only ever respond with “Good,” we know we have a breakdown in communication. The same can be said in our prayers. We can repeatedly pray the same types of things and even routinely use the same words. However, if they are just words, we have a problem. We want to actually communicate with God, not just mechanically recite phrases or speak by rote.

Remember that prayer is a privilege. We are granted access to God Most High. He isn’t an afterthought, and prayer is more than just a habit. We want to be continually in an attitude of prayer «Pray without ceasing. », (1 Thessalonians 5:17) and approach God’s throne of grace with confidence «Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.», (Hebrews 4:16). However, we also want to be sure that we are paying attention to the One seated on the throne and not just saying words for the sake of saying words.

Repetitive Prayer—Persistent Intercessions

In one sense, persistent prayer can also be thought of as a type of repetitive prayer. All of us have prayer requests that we’ve prayed about for years: the salvation of a lost loved one, the healing of a broken relationship, or the forgiveness of a habitual sin. In the parables of the neighbor in need (Luke 11:5-10) and the persistent widow (Luke 18:1-8), Jesus encouraged us to keep coming to God with our requests. We “should always pray and not give up” «And he sMake a comparison to them to this purpose, that people should always pray, and not lose heart; », (Luke 18:1). Consistent prayer strengthens our reliance on God and illustrates our understanding that only He can genuinely alter the circumstance. It is a way to be sincere with God and consistently present to Him the burdens that trouble our hearts. In Christ, we are God’s offspring, and He deeply cares for us. If an unfair judge will grant our requests just because we persist, how much more will our righteous Heavenly Father answer us when we persist in seeking Him through prayer?