Matthew 6:7-13 "And when you pray, do not use vain repetitions as the heathen do. For they think that they will be heard for their many words. Therefore do not be like them. For your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him. In this manner, therefore, pray: Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done On earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, As we forgive our debtors. And do not lead us into temptation, But deliver us from the evil one. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.
"do not use vain repetitions as the heathen do"
Vain repetitions. What are vain repetitions? They are repetitious and wordy prayers by literal definitions. You know what they are. You’ve heard them. Those formula prayers that once we have them memorized they become a mindless ritual we can do in our sleep. They are prayers that you can shoot from the lip without thinking of what you are saying and without having any meaning or power.
When I was a child and almost up until I got saved, I used to pray a series of prayers I had learned in Catechism classes. They were the Our Father and the Hail Mary. The two standard "pills of absolution" in the Catholic confessional. It got to the point I could rattle them off in a few seconds and fall off to sleep thinking I was doing something worthwhile. What I didn’t realize until after I got saved and spent some time in the Word, was that these "vain repetitions" had no effect what so ever.
To be fair to the Catholics, I’ve heard similar prayers in the Episcopal Churches, Jewish Synagogues and even in Charismatic Churches. Someone hears a prayer that worked for someone else and they figure the power must be in the pattern of words. The next thing you know the entire congregation is praying in the manner and words of the Charismatic Leader they follow.
Listen to me Saints of God - it's not the pattern, style or rhythm of the prayer that gives it power. It's the source behind the prayer and the inspiration of the prayer - the Lord Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit. Make sure you are tapped into the will of God, the Word of God and the Holy Spirit and your prayers will have power as well because the Holy Spirit will be the one giving you the words to pray.
What is Yeshua/Jesus telling us in the passage from Matthew 6?
He is saying use this example but don’t make it a ritual. If He wanted them to learn ritual He would have directed them to the teachings of the Pharisees and Sadducees. He was trying to teach them to tune their spirits to the Father’s heart. And, like any "instrument" it takes time to learn how to tune that instrument.
So, while you learn how to pray from your heart, mind and spirit it sometimes helps to follow an example. BUT in no way do I want these examples to become your standard, ritualistic answer to all problems. I want you to see the meaning behind the prayer, the elements of the prayer, how it glorifies the Lord and how it defeats the enemy. Once you understand that your prayers will become spontaneous and powerful. In ministering deliverance to victims of demonic bondage or possession this ability to pray will be a weapon the enemy can not diffuse.
By reading ritual prayers from books we allow the enemy knowledge of what’s coming next and we allow the time to prepare a response. The most powerful assault in any way is a surprise attack. When you allow the Holy Spirit to use your mind and tongue for a surprise attack you will see quick and decisive results in your prayers.
We will cover this in more depth when we get to the actual ministering of deliverance at another time. Until then, use these examples to minister to others or yourself. Allow the Holy Spirit to minister to you personally and individually by inserting words pertinent to you or the person you are praying for. Remember, He created us individually. Loves us individually. Takes care of us individually.(more)
Psalms 91 as a Personal Prayer