Ezra 5:1-17; Daniel 6:1-28; Revelation 2:1-17
And when you pray, do not use vain repetitions as the heathen do. For they think that they will be heard for their many words. Matthew 6:7 NKJV
The Gentiles thought that their gods were disinterested and so they believed that if they begged long enough, they would get an answer. How easy it is to think this of God, especially in the face of unanswered prayer. Jesus reminds us we are not praying to disengaged, temperamental gods but to, “Our Father” (Matt. 6:9). We can rest in the fact that God is good and will answer our prayers according to His good will. Martin Luther agreed when he said, “God’s not interested in a lot of prayer, just good prayer that believes in who He is.” —J. D. Fraser
What a friend we have in Jesus, all our sins and griefs to bear,
What a privilege to carry everything to God in prayer.—Joseph Scriven