Let us take a look at another lesson of Jesus on prayer:
And in praying do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do;
for they think that they will be heard for their many words.
Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before
you ask him.
Matthew 6:7,8, RSV
What are those "empty phrases", or "vain repetitions", as
the King James Version of the Bible translates it? In order
to comprehend it, we need to skip to the end of the same chapter,
where the mode of life of so-called "Gentiles" is described.
Therefore do not be anxious, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or
'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' For the Gentiles
seek all these things; and your heavenly Father knows that you
need them all.
Matthew 6:31,32, RSV
It is customary to mean by "the Gentiles" people of certain
religious convictions, in particular those who do not belong
to the Judaism, but it is clear enough that Jesus had in mind
something totally different. For Him, "the Gentiles" were
individuals whose life was not centered in God. They were
"servants of two masters", lacking the fundamental wholeness.
Attention of such people is scattered, because they do not have
"the single eye". As the result, their faith is shaky, and their
powers are dissipated. No wonder why their hearts are filled
with the anxiety.
Anxiety is the reason why some individuals are compelled to pray
for a long time. "They think that they will be heard for their
many words". They presume that God is not willing to fulfill
their needs, and therefore needs to be begged. And it could be
so that the longer they pray, the less confident and the more
anxious they become. When the mind of a person is darkened,
his/her prayers often reinforce the feeling of powerlessness.
Jesus teaches that the realization of God in our lives is
more important than the amount of words we speak. His own
realization of God was perfect; that is why there were cases
of instant demonstration of tremendous spiritual power after
short verbal prayers. However, we will not be praying in vain
as long as our goal is to become aware of God's presence in our
life in greater measure.
This awareness brings us knowledge of the vital truth that
"our Father knows that we need before our asking". We realize
ourselves to be sons and daughters of the Almighty, having
the authority to ask and to receive all we need. Our minds
and hearts become cleansed from anxiety and filled with gratitude.
Gratitude is the opposite of anxiety. "Do not be anxious
about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication,
with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God.
And the peace of God which passes all understanding shall
keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus"
(Philippians 4:6,7), writes Paul.
We made our desires known to God not because He is not aware
of them, that would be ridiculous, but because we are co-creators
with God in bringing of those things into the manifestation.
To pray and to have our prayers answered is not a demand
of necessity, it is the high privilege.
Prayers of a person of deep realization of God are characterized
by peace. This is not a shallow peace of one who hides away from
life's challenges. It is the abiding peace of one who beholds
the Power and the Presence which surpass all our understanding.
This peace will sustain us in all our experiences, and will
lead us to the best path.
