A while back, I was asked a good Bible question. It seemed like the kind of topic many would think about, so I thought I’d share the conversation here. The question was…
Matthew 6:5-8 = Is it saying not to ask for the same things every day? Verse 7 talks about vain repetitions and verse 8 says God knows what we need.
No Jesus is not saying “don’t ask for the same things every day.” After all, Jesus specifically encourages us to keep praying and not give up (Luke 18) and He uses an example of a woman asking a judge for relief over and over and over. She asked for the same thing and finally got it. Jesus says “that’s the attitude to have.”
Matthew 6 is talking about empty words. “Vain repetitions” are like thinking if you say something in a certain way then you’ll unlock the power, etc. As if you only need to just say the words three times for it to work, but not two… two’s not enough, etc. That sort of thing. That’s a vain repetition. Don’t make prayer into uttering “magic words” like casting a spell. That’s not what it is. Prayer is about talking to God. Jesus also, in the model prayer, says “give us this day our daily bread.” Presumably, that’d be a prayer uttered “daily.” In that sense, it’s a “repetition” but not a “vain” one.
Yes, God knows what we need, but that saying, think, is in reference to v7, when He talks about how “pagans and others think the gods will hear them if they babble and talk-talk-talk.” God knows what you need, but you’re still expected to talk to Him about it. Remember: “You have not because you ask not” (James 4:2). The Lord knows what you need, but if you don’t want it enough to ask for it, that’s your decision, and God will respect that.
A person with daily struggles SHOULD ask God for daily help!
That’s my take.
~Matthew