When you pray, don't talk on and on as people do who don't know God. They think God likes to hear long prayers. Don't be like them. Your Father knows what you need even before you ask.
You should pray like this:
Our Father in heaven,
help us to honor
your name.
Come and set up
your kingdom,
so that everyone on earth
will obey you,
as you are obeyed
in heaven.
Give us our food for today.
Forgive us for doing wrong,
as we forgive others.
Keep us from being tempted
and protect us from evil.
Matthew 6:7-13
Wait a minute. Did these verses just say that people who don't know God pray long prayers? I always thought that people who don't know God don't pray at all, or if they do their prayers would be short!
Doesn't the Bible tell us to "pray without ceasing?" Wouldn't that be a long prayer?
I think we forget that prayer is a conversation with God, not a declaration addressed to Him. The prayer of a man of faith is short because he pauses to listen for God's answer. But he is unceasingly calling on God or listening for God's reply.
If you want to know God better, then listen more and talk less. God already knows your heart, when you listen to Him you will come to know His heart.
When you pray, remember that prayer should be like two dear friends sharing their hearts. I suppose that is why we are encouraged to pray in our closets with the door closed!
Every child is taught to "stop, look, and listen" before he crosses the street. As children of God we must also, when we pray, "stop, look and listen" for God's answer! Stop talking, look in the Bible and Listen for the voice of God speaking to your heart! Amen.
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