Daily Devotional
Vain Repetition

October 19, 2016

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

I can remember, I’d had a very long, difficult day. I had preached three or four times. I had dictated what seemed to be a stack of letters. And you know when you dictate a letter, you frequently end the letter this way, "In Jesus’ name, Adrian Rogers."

A man came to me at the end of the last service of the day and said, "I must see you. I have a severe problem. I must see you." Friend, I was bone weary, but I said, "Very well, come on back and let’s talk."

I talked and listened and he did have a real problem. My heart was moved with compassion. I said, "Alright, let me pray for you." I prayed, and when I finished I said, "In Jesus’ name, Adrian Rogers."

And then I thought, Oh my soul, did I say that? God, did he hear me say that? I was so ashamed. How easy we slip into these little phrases that we just simply rattle off.

We don’t pray to impress God. It’s not the language of prayer, nor the length of prayer, it is the heart of prayer that moves God.