“Mom, where is the Scripture that says we are only to pray
about something once? The one that says we don’t need to keep praying about the
same thing over and over,” Erin texted.
“I don’t remember any Scriptures that say that,” I typed
back to her. It turns out that Erin got this idea about prayer from a minister
we heard 20 years ago at a revival. I remember the instance. I also remember
wondering what Biblical evidence he found to support his thinking.
My daughter’s question served as a catalyst to dig into what
the Bible does say about praying for
the same need over and over. As I researched, I actually found just the
opposite to be true.
While Jesus said in Matthew 6:7 not to use a lot of
meaningless, repetitious, words when we pray, (thinking that God will hear because
of how long our prayers are), I always thought He was referring to either
chanting the same thing over and over or praying long, wordy prayers just to
sound impressive. Have you ever been witness to this type of praying?
Being honest, there have been times when I have fought to
stay focused when the person praying seemed to be convinced they had to say the
same thing 15 different ways to make sure God understood. I think this is the hollow,
tedious prayer Jesus was warning against.
Jesus Himself prayed about a need more than once. Matthew
26:44 tells us that Jesus prayed the same prayer three times in the Garden of
Gethsemane. This instance is one of the examples mentioned in Psalm 85:13, John
13:15, and 1 Peter 2:21 that Jesus left us to follow.
2 Corinthians 12:8 shares how Paul prayed three times for
God to take away his “thorn in the flesh”. Paul obviously felt some requests
are worth praying about repeatedly.
In Luke 18, Jesus tells the parable of the persistent widow
who repeatedly approached a judge to grant her rights, which he finally did.
Then Jesus says, " Now, will God not judge in favor of his own people who
cry to him day and night for help?" (vs. 7) Sounds to me like God doesn’t
mind when we pray about a need more than once.
My husband Dick, also a pastor, believes God encourages us
to pray over and over about something as a way for us to hear ourselves and
refine what we are really asking. Sometimes what we pray the first time isn't
in line with His will. He can use our time spent praying about the same thing
to help us get a better understanding of what He wants in a situation. If He
keeps saying no, I take that to mean there is something about what I am asking that
needs adjusting, the time isn't right, or there is something God is teaching me
through His "No."
Be encouraged!
Pam
