Matthew 6:7-8, “But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking. Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him.”
There is a very important principle taught in this passage of Scripture about praying. Jesus Himself tells us that we need not pray for a lengthy time, nor ask Him 50 times, for God to help us with personal needs. The reason why is because God already knows our needs. The Lord even knows the number of hairs upon our hair, which changes moment by moment throughout each day (I started losing my hair at age 25). Praise God anyhow!!! Luke 12:7, “But even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not therefore: ye are of more value than many sparrows.”
I find it interesting that Jesus was well acquainted with the phony religious group. I mean, He had their number. Jesus fully understood how shallow, empty and how that in vain they worship God. They draw nigh unto God with their mouths, but their heart is far from Him. In August of 2022, after begging in three written letters if the pastors of Campus Church at Pensacola Christian College would please allow me to just attend their church, they refused. Pastor Jeff Redlin cruelly turned me away, banning me from Campus Church, because I criticized them in my frustration on social media (after Jeff Redlin mistreated me as a divorced person, making rude and insensitive remarks toward me).
I kindly offered to stop criticizing them, if they'd just show some love and mercy, and give me a second chance to attend Campus Church. They cold-heartedly refused. The truth dear friend is that if Jeff Redlin and PCC leaders (whom I also mailed a letter to in July of 2022) were right with God, they would welcome me back to church whether I remove my criticisms against them or not. Going to church should not be conditional. People need church! Sadly, PCC leaders and pastors are behaving like spoiled children, brats, yuppies, shallow and woefully lacking compassion for individual people. The love of money is all that matters to PCC leadership. God's wrath is upon them (Matthew 7:1-2). They have gotten way to comfortable at PCC, which should be renamed to Pensacola Comfortable College.
I love what Jesus said, and I think of this passage each time I go to pray. Matthew 6:7-8, “But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking. Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him.” God already knows what you need. Just pray and then have faith in God, trusting Him. If you think that you are more likely to receive God's help by praying over and over and over all day long, then you are greatly in error my friend in your thinking. Jesus plainly told us to just ask God for what we need, one time is fine, and then trust the Lord.
Having said that, I don't think it is wrong, nor do I think that God will get upset with you, if you pray repeatedly for something. In fact, that is exactly what God wants you to do in some situations. In Luke 18:1-8 we read the parable of The Unjust Judge And The Widow. She kept coming back, bugging him to avenge her. The Bible says he was an unjust judge. In other words, he couldn't have cared less about this widow. She meant nothing to him. But she still got justice from the judge! She got what she wanted because of her persistence, her importunity. There will be times when we need to pray through the night for God to answer. We may need to fast and pray until the light breaks through. How do you know when to pray importune prayers. That's easy, when God doesn't answer the first time.
I think the main point that Jesus is trying to make in Matthew 6:7-8 is that we are not earning an answer to prayer. God is not an ATM machine. God is not a vending machine, where you put a prayer in the slot and always get some in return. Most of my prayers do not get answered. But that's okay. I stopped looking for answers to prayer many years ago. What I do is simply pray, and then trust God. Whatever happens, God cannot come back later and accuse me of not asking for His help, wisdom and blessings.
So when you need something from God, just ask Him and then know that the Lord is on the case, working on your behalf. If things don't work out, PRAISE THE LORD ANYHOW!!! Please don't ever place God on trial as the heathen world does. God deserves better than that. I agree with Pastor Curtis Hutson, who said that if we could see all that God sees (i.e., the big picture), we would never question the way He answers our prayers again. I fully agree!!! As famous country singer Garth Brooks sings: Thank God For Unanswered Prayer!!!
If you are praying for a family member, or a friend, then you will need to spend some serious time praying. You don't need to get down on your knees (which can be very uncomfortable and distracting for older folks like me...lol). GOD SEES YOUR HEART!!! It is our relationship with God as His redeemed and adopted child that matters the most, and not the rituals of praying and fasting and daily devotions that we think impresses the Lord so much. I know carnally-minded believers who get up every morning at 4:30 am for daily devotions. She is faithful to attend a local Baptist church. Sadly, these very things of religious devotion blind her from the backslidden condition of her heart. This same woman harbors hostility against her former husband, whom she chose to divorce many years ago. She sasses him, uttering her disrespectful words, childish contempt and false accusations toward him. Is she right with God. No, not by a longshot. In fact, she has seven layers of hubris (extreme pride) that needs to be stripped away, which requires time. She is in no spiritual condition to get remarried.
My prayer life is a life of prayer. I don't play prayer games by repeating a few words at certain times of the day. Hey, if that floats your boat, good for you. But I pray all the time, as the Bible teaches in 1st Thessalonians 5:16-18, “Rejoice evermore. Pray without ceasing. In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.” Like most prayers, I used to just quote the verse I wanted, without looking at the surrounding text as well. Carefully notice that we are exhorted to “REJOICE EVERMORE” (i.e., rejoice all the time no matter what happens in life. Praise God anyhow. Give the Lord a sacrifice of praise).
And then please notice verse 18, “IN EVERYTHING GIVE THANKS.” I guarantee you that if you are a sourpuss who is always complaining, that you aren't an active praying Christian. And if you don't maintain a thankful heart (The Gratitude Attitude) toward God, I pretty much already know that you are not a thankful saint. I could have just as easily quoted verse 19 too, telling us not to QUENCH THE SPIRIT (i.e., God's Holy Spirit). When we fail to praise God in bad situations, and we fail to give thanks in every thing (the Bible says “in” not “for” every thing), and we do not pray about everything, we quench the power of God in our life. James 4:6b warns that “God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.”
That is how I know that Pastor Jeff Redlin and PCC leadership are not praying people, because they lack gratitude and praise for God's blessings. When I attended Campus Church last year, they sang a bunch of pretty religious music, but the presence and power of the Holy Spirit was not present. Should it surprise anyone that they won't even permit me to come back to church? If they truly were thankful, then they would compliment my website ministry instead of criticizing and putting me down. In July of 2021, the pastors at PCC falsely accused me of “finding weaknesses in preachers.” Jeff Redlin contacted me. That is a blatant lie they told. THE TRUTH is that I am doing what they are either too lazy, too wicked or too inept to do, which is to “earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints” (Jude 1:3). Preachers who preach another gospel must be rebuked sharply (Titus 1:13-14; 2nd Corinthians 11:3-4).
Do you know why I am thankful for Pastor Steven Anderson's ministry? It is because I have a humble and thankful heart full of praise for God, and that compels me to love THE TRUTH. ...
“I believe that the reason why I'm being banned and censored is that the truth is powerful. And wicked people are afraid of the truth, because it just takes one beam of light to cut through the darkness that's been created in these areas. The truth is so powerful, it can in just one fell swoop overturn decades of brainwashing. ...if the truth is heard, it will bear fruit. God's Word is not going to return void.” —Pastor Steven L. Anderson, “The Dechristianization Of Our Nation”
That is the same reason why I have been permanently banned from attending Campus Church at Pensacola Christian College. SHAME on PCC's ungodly leaders! People just want to be loved!!!
Anyway, I hope this blog has been helpful to you dear friend. We all need to pray without ceasing. That means to pray throughout the day as things, people, situations and needs come into your mind. Just take care of it right there and commit the matter to prayer. It might be someone that you remembered who has a sick loved one. It might be something painful from your past. Just pray about it and give your cares and burdens to the Lord. 1st Peter 5:7, “Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.”
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