I don’t think any of us ever arrive at a perfect prayer life. There’s always room to grow. I know I constantly need improvement, and I hope you do too. Wherever you are, could you make it a priority to take one more step forward in prayer?
One of the biggest barriers to meaningful prayer is that we often settle for repetitive, empty words. Jesus spoke directly to that issue:
“When you pray, don’t babble like the idolaters, since they imagine they’ll be heard for their many words. Don’t be like them, because your Father knows the things you need before you ask Him.”
— Matthew 6:7–8
Notice that Jesus doesn’t say, “If you pray,” but “When you pray.” He assumes His followers will pray. But He doesn’t want mindless recitations or ritual phrases; He wants real conversation.
So what does “babbling” sound like today? It’s muttering through words we think we’re supposed to say, without engaging our hearts. It’s repeating phrases we’ve always used simply because we’ve always used them. It’s filling the air with words, trying to sound spiritual, as if we have to impress God.
But we don’t. We don’t need to persuade Him with fancy language or lengthy speeches. Why? Because He’s our Father, and He already knows what we need.
Talk to God often, but don’t be afraid to change what you talk about.
A Prayer Checkup
If you want to evaluate your prayer life, listen to how your children pray. They probably learned their patterns from you.
- Do they recite the same simple rhyme at every meal?
- Could you finish their sentences before they do?
- Is there any variety or passion in what they say?
Maybe it’s time to change the rhythm of prayer in your home. Get intentional. Get creative. Add some life back into your prayers.
You could:
- Choose different prayer focuses for each day of the week (Sunday—church leaders, Monday—family, Tuesday—neighbors, etc.).
- Pull Christmas cards or family photos from a box and pray for a different person each morning.
- Keep a list of answered prayers so you can celebrate God’s faithfulness.
There are endless ways to make your prayers more sincere and less repetitive. The goal isn’t to sound better; it’s to connect deeper.
So how will you change your prayer life today?
