Jesus Wants Repetitive Prayer

The next time a Fundamentalist condemns repetition, just show him this psalm​

It is not from Fundamentalist TV preachers that we should receive direction on how to pray. We should learn how to pray from heaven itself and the divine instructions provided in Scripture and Sacred Tradition.

Both heaven and divine revelation teach us how to pray—and the practice of repetition is part of that instruction.

Prayer is more than just asking God to give us things or do things for us. It’s an attitude of heart, by which we “pray without ceasing” (1 Thess. 5:17). The Catechism defines prayer as “the elevation of the mind and heart to God in praise of his glory; a petition made to God for some desired good, or in thanksgiving for a good received, or in intercession for others before God.”

We can assume that in the heavenly realm—inhabited by God, his angels, and his saints—prayer and worship are conducted correctly and serve as a model for us. After all, in the Our Father, Jesus taught us to request that “thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” So let’s start by looking at some of the prayer patterns in heaven from which we can take instruction.

In Revelation 4, a door to heaven stands open. The author steps in to behold the throne of God surrounded with indescribable glory, filling the celestial realm with prayers and praise. “And the four living creatures . . . day and night they never cease to say, ‘Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty, who was and is and is to come!’” (v. 8).

This prayerful praise is repeated around God’s throne twenty-four hours a day, without ceasing. God receives this perpetual praise; in fact, everything in heaven is done according to his will. God desires that his will be done not only in heaven, but also on earth. Heaven endorses repetitive prayer.

Continued below.

Please remember which forum you are in. You are not allowed to debate here.

Gregory Thompson said:

The bible says don't use vain repetitions like you're casting some spell like they do magical religions.

The bible also says to pray without ceasing or pray like a hacking cough. That is to say as if you were breathing and that every breath was prayer.

The bible also says to in everything pray and the peace that surpasses understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.

Since some people are born without the ability to speak and God does not show favoritism, seek out ways to pray that are non-verbal and full of meaning towards God.

That's how I understand it, some protestants cannot get it since the role of the Holy Spirit has been replaced with the bible in their lives ... that is to say some, not all.

May your every breath be a prayer.

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*Permission to post in full*

CHALLENGE
“Catholics are wrong to pray the rosary. Jesus condemned ‘vain repetitions.’”

DEFENSE
Jesus did not condemn prayer that involves repetition—he endorsed it.
In the King James Version, Jesus 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” (Matt. 6:7). Even in this translation, he does not condemn repetition but vain (useless) repetition.
But there is a problem with this translation. In Greek, Jesus says we should not battalogēsēte. This is a rare word not found elsewhere in the New Testament. It’s meaning is unclear, so we shouldn’t draw dogmatic conclusions about what he meant.

The word appears to come from battos (Greek, “a stammerer”). Gentiles did not literally stammer when they prayed, but they could ramble in prayer, thinking that they needed to wear down their gods using many words. This is the attitude Jesus rejects, saying “they think they shall be heard for their much speaking.”
It’s not repeating words that he’s concerned about. It’s thinking the efficacy of prayer depends on saying a lot. He points out God knows what we need before we ask him (Matt. 6:8). Jesus makes it clear he doesn’t have a problem with repeating things because the next thing he does is teach the Lord’s Prayer—a prayer he intends to be repeated (Matt. 6:9–13).

Repetition is essential to corporate worship. It’s not possible for people to pray aloud, in unison, unless they know the prayer they’re going to use. That’s why prayers in the synagogue and the temple of Jesus’ day were memorized and repeated.

A striking example is the Psalms—ancient hymns, or prayers set to music. The book of Psalms was Israel’s hymn book. In fact, Psalms is one of the most frequently quoted books in the New Testament (Luke 20:42, 24:44; Acts 1:20, 13:33, 35, etc.). Yet the Psalms, by their nature, are meant to be repeated.

The Psalms even involve repetition within themselves. Psalm 136 has a refrain that occurs over and over. In the King James Version, the refrain is translated “for his mercy endureth for ever,” and it occurs so frequently that it even interrupts and appears in the middle of sentences. Yet Psalm 136 is a beautiful and spiritually meaningful prayer that was inspired by the Holy Spirit.

Gregory Thompson said:

Wasn't debating was presenting a "yes, and" position.

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Please accept my apology. I misread your post. Too many irons in the fire when I read it.