Effectual Prayer

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

Jesus is not telling us about repetitions but about vain repetitions. One certainty is that He asks us to be tenacious in our prayer life (Matt 18:2-5). The issue then concerns vain request not about fervent prayer. Vanity involves self-ward desires and tenacity involves ‘Your Kingdom come, Your Will be done….’. We shouldn't and cannot afford offering same prayers as the heathens. As children of God, our asking is that which is above and not below. It concerns Father’s business. If it’s doesn't concern Father’s heart, our prayers would be considered vain repetitions. Knowing our stature as those sitting with Christ in the heavenly realms, we pray down God’s will and not begging for perishable temporal things.

The evidence of an intimate relationship is to bear fruit. As with making disciples and outworking of Christian character, so is prayer. From time to time we should consider and weigh why our prayers have not been answered by the Lord. We shouldn’t excuse ourselves that perhaps it is not the Lord’s will or the timing isn’t right, if it was so we would have been at peace and not recoil into passivity and fatalism.  Prayer is about relationship with the Father and confident thankfulness. He will take care of every minute detail of our daily needs while we concern ourselves with His desire.