Repeating Prayers

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Rylan Moffitt

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As I have said in a previous thread I made, I pray every night. But a lot of times, I find myself repeating the exact same words in the exact same order, over and over. Is this normal? and is there anyway to stop it?
 

quietthinker

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As I have said in a previous thread I made, I pray every night. But a lot of times, I find myself repeating the exact same words in the exact same order, over and over. Is this normal? and is there anyway to stop it?
Talk to God like you would somebody you trust. Forget the formalities. Pour out your heart....tell him your fears and hurts....be real.....confess to him the things you understand you've done wrong......don't try to impress him with repetitions. Imagine if a friend talking to you spoke repetitively the same thing.....I'd bet you wouldn't take him/her seriously?

God is very tender and patient and full of loving kindness toward you but he doesn't stand for anyone trying to impress him.....Ask him to create a clean heart and renew a right spirit within you. You can be assured his ears are attentive and his angels close by.
 
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Pearl

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As I have said in a previous thread I made, I pray every night. But a lot of times, I find myself repeating the exact same words in the exact same order, over and over. Is this normal? and is there anyway to stop it?
Try praying in the morning, or at any other time of day as we are told to pray continuously. God is always around so just talk to him without making a big issue of it.
 

theophilus

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Prayer should not be restricted to a single time each day. As you go about your activities and encounter a problem or have to make a decision ask God for the wisdom to solve the problem or make the right decision. When you experience something good thank God for it. We should sometimes stop our other activities and devote our attention to praying but prayer should not be limited to these times. If you make prayer a continuous practice perhaps you will be able to think of more things you need to pray about.
 

Pearl

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Prayer should not be restricted to a single time each day. As you go about your activities and encounter a problem or have to make a decision ask God for the wisdom to solve the problem or make the right decision. When you experience something good thank God for it. We should sometimes stop our other activities and devote our attention to praying but prayer should not be limited to these times. If you make prayer a continuous practice perhaps you will be able to think of more things you need to pray about.
Throughout the early years of my Christian life I had so much teaching about how to pray - this way, that way. the other way etc. - that I became inhibited and tongue tied before God. Then I let it all go and now I just talk to him as you describe theophilus.
 

Stan B

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As I have said in a previous thread I made, I pray every night. But a lot of times, I find myself repeating the exact same words in the exact same order, over and over. Is this normal? and is there anyway to stop it?
There is nothing wrong with what you are doing. God is a bit more tolerant than your grade 5 teacher.

I have my daily prayer list, the core of which includes the same people every day. "For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.”
 
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Josho

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@Rylan Moffitt

It doesn't matter how simple your prayers are, the Lord still understands you, I am not a complicated prayer either, but why does it matter, we don't need to impress anybody with our prayers, we are speaking to the Lord Jesus.

If you are a new Christian, maybe you should meditate on "the Lord's Prayer", learn it and pray it, as you pray, practice the pause, think about what you are praying, for example when you pray "Our Father In Heaven, Hallowed be Your name." Pause and think about how great your Father in Heaven is. :)

Luke 11:1
Now it came to pass, as He was praying in a certain place, when He ceased, that one of His disciples said to Him, “Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples.”

So He said to them, “When you pray, say:

Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done On earth as it is in heaven. Give us day by day our daily bread. And forgive us our sins, For we also forgive everyone who is indebted to us. And do not lead us into temptation, But deliver us from the evil one.”

Matthew 6:9-13


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.
 

historyb

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As I have said in a previous thread I made, I pray every night. But a lot of times, I find myself repeating the exact same words in the exact same order, over and over. Is this normal? and is there anyway to stop it?

I do i every time I pray Grace over my meal. Many times if I am looking for something to say I turn to a prayer book.
 

Heart2Soul

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As I have said in a previous thread I made, I pray every night. But a lot of times, I find myself repeating the exact same words in the exact same order, over and over. Is this normal? and is there anyway to stop it?
Years ago I was praying and interceding for something specific and would include it in my prayers everyday...One day He spoke to me and said... I heard you the first time and instead of asking over and over just declare it done and give thanks continually.
So that is what I do now.
I have also learned to pray His Will first....seeking His Will over a matter saves you a lot of disappointment if the prayer isn't answered...God does answer prayer but if it goes against His Will or His Truth He will not give you what you ask...
As Jesus said some when they pray seek to consume it upon their own desires...lust....and also it says you have not because you ask not or you ask amiss.
I pray in tongues most of the time and let the Holy Spirit pray through me.
Hope this gives you some good nuggets of wisdom to meditate on.
God Bless and keep seeking the Truth!
 
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quietthinker

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Repeating prayers again and again....reading them from a book.....counting beads, all these things indicate a lack of understanding and a lack of connection with both God and self let alone others.

Living in a bubble where one can't get out and others can't get in disables the ability to love......the MO becomes one of defence and attack in convoluted and sophisticated ways and one operates on the basis of self gratification on different levels.....mistakingly calling it love.

Are not these activities an attempt of some sorts to gain brownie points with God......as if he would be impressed by repetition or the amount of words said or the duration of time spent doing these things.

Does that mean you are not loved? of course not.....the scripture tells us that while we were yet sinners Jesus died for us, even resurrected for us.

The heathens do all these things.....they think they will be heard because of their many words......they reduce God to less intelligence than a man, even an image and falsely hope he will somehow be impressed.

God desires connection. He created us to connect in a meaningful intelligent way with him.....and with others.
He identified as a man so that we could connect.....ie, not be intimidated.

He condescended, he sojourned with us.....he needed to do all the things people do, ie sleep, wash, brush his teeth, use the toilet, eat.....he was wearied and felt lonely....he wept and experienced joy......he came so that he could reach us and establish a friendship based on healthy relating. He desires you speak with him as to a friend not some distant nondescript entity that nobody can relate to in real terms.
 
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icxn

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As I have said in a previous thread I made, I pray every night. But a lot of times, I find myself repeating the exact same words in the exact same order, over and over. Is this normal? and is there anyway to stop it?
There's nothing wrong with repetitive prayer as long as we ask for the right thing (God's mercy) and do so with humility. Very much like the prayer of the blind man (Mark 10:47-48), the Canaanite woman (Matthew 15:22-25), the tax collector (Luke 18:13) and others.
 

Behold

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As I have said in a previous thread I made, I pray every night. But a lot of times, I find myself repeating the exact same words in the exact same order, over and over. Is this normal? and is there anyway to stop it?

Stop praying and just praise God and Christ.

Tell God how beautiful He is.
Tell Jesus how beautiful He is.
Tell Jesus how sweet His name is, and use Yeshua and Jesus.....use both names.
Tell God how much you thank Him for sending the "living bread", the beautiful Jesus.
Thank God for the blood of Jesus. Thank God for the Cross.
Tell Jesus that He Lord of all, and the King. Thank Jesus for the Cross. Thank Jesus for shedding His Blood.
Thank God for Salvation.....
Tell Them all this, and more.....
You'll find that thanking God and Jesus is the best prayer you'll ever pray and it makes prayer time so much better.
it ENDLESS what you can thank God for, or what you can Thank Jesus for..... for so many things.

Start your day with the NT.
Read some verses.
Later do it again.
Pray 2x a day, at least.
Pray on your knees if possible.
Pray and Praise.
Make this a habit.
Do it at the same time everyday, so that it becomes your time with God.
Set your clock, and hit the mark.
 

Stan B

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There's nothing wrong with repetitive prayer . . . .
"But when you pray, go into your inner room, shut your door, and pray to your Father, who is unseen. And your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. And when you pray, do not babble on like pagans, for they think that by their many words they will be heard. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask Him.…Matthew 6:7
 

icxn

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"But when you pray, go into your inner room, shut your door, and pray to your Father, who is unseen. And your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. And when you pray, do not babble on like pagans, for they think that by their many words they will be heard. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask Him.…Matthew 6:7
Forgive me Mr. Stan, I'm still a beginner in spiritual matters and like the blind man in my ignorance I stumble a lot (in understanding the scriptures), and the evil thoughts of my heart, like a demon possessed daughter (Matthew 15:22), drag my doggish mind back to the vomit of my past failures, rendering me unworthy to receive the children's bread. For this reason, imitating the Canaanite woman's persistence, and to overcome the doubts and all the other noise the demons heap upon my soul to silence it (Mark 10:48), I feel compelled to babble: “Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me!”
 

Pearl

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I feel compelled to babble: “Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me!”
Why do you not understand that if you are a Christian then Jesus has already had mercy on you and lavished love on you and grace and forgiveness. You do not need to keep 'babbling' about it. - your word
 
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Stan B

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strikes me as two diff subjects, "repetitive prayer" and "babbling on?"

Actually not! The two subjects are synonymous and are used interchangeably in Matt 6:7, often translated as a caution to avoid using "vain repetitions as the heathen" or "babbling on".

Included in "vain repetitions" would be the use of 'prayer books' from which people insincerely read their prayers to God, insinuating that God is too stupid to read a prayer book for Himself, even if He wanted to.
 

bbyrd009

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Actually not! The two subjects are synonymous and are used interchangeably in Matt 6:7, often translated as a caution to avoid using "vain repetitions as the heathen" or "babbling on".

Included in "vain repetitions" would be the use of 'prayer books' from which people insincerely read their prayers to God, insinuating that God is too stupid to read a prayer book for Himself, even if He wanted to.
i would agree that they can be synonymous, yes, but understand how there might also be a diff in "repetitive" saying things overandover and "babbling on" which might include no repetition at all imo
 

Giuliano

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As I have said in a previous thread I made, I pray every night. But a lot of times, I find myself repeating the exact same words in the exact same order, over and over. Is this normal? and is there anyway to stop it?
I have an idea you could try. I assume you know the Lord's Prayer, so could start with that if you like the idea.

You go slowly with it and say every word with as much intention as you can muster. Say, "Our Father" and think about those words. Then "who art in Heaven" and focus on them. That way you make sure you mean every word and it can't be vain repetition. You might be pleasantly surprised too by insights that come to you.