Should prayer be continuous or brief??

Question

Jesus condemned the long and repititious prayers of the Pharasees who attempted to "be heard for their many words" ( Matt: 6:7). Yet in this parable Jesus encourages incessant prayer of those "who cry out day and night" to God (Luke 18:7). These passages seem to be in conflict.

What do you think this means? Tell me your opinion.

Do you pray? If/when you pray, what is your favorite praying style.
Do you thank more or ask more or just talk to God overall?

Answer 1

Jesus condemned the long prayers of the Pharasees because they were only praying for show. They thought that people would think more highly of them if they prayed out loud for as long as possible. God does not want your fake prayers. He wants them meaningful. So Jesus wants you to pray continuously, but only if you mean it.

I pray alot. I try to pray to God through out the day. But I always set aside a time right before bed and usually pray for about 30 minutes after reading 2 chapters from the Bible. This is a very nice way to end the day because you have time to reflect and figure out what to change for the next day. I always thank God for everything he has given me first, and then I just talk to Him about how I am feeling. Then I usually ask/tell him what I would like to see happen, but only if it's HIS will, not mine. Then I ask for forgiveness for my sins, and all that usually takes around a half hour. Throughout the day I mainly just talk to God and tell Him what I'm feeling.

Answer 2

Christ's beef witht the Pharasees was that they prayed aloud, so that everyone around could hear them. It became less about being in contact with God and more about showing off how 'devout' they were to the neighbors.
Prayerful attitude is the goal. Now, this does not mean that you constantly have a string of dialogue going on in your head. It means that you remain mindful that God knows your thoughts and feelings, thus you are aware that He is in constant 'interaction' with you and you should be humble, compassionate, generous, loving, and graceful in as many of your daily thoughts and actions as you can be. If God is the Universe than all matter is a part of His body and you are never outside of His presence.
Praying generally has three stages.
Invocation. You call upon God to hear your prayers. Say some kind things about Him and His attributes. Call Him Lord of Lords, King of Kings, Father of all Creation, stuff like that.
Petition. Ask God to help you with something or to grant you the power to do it yourself. This is the time to make requests.
Thanksgiving. Thank God for all the good things in your life, and thank Him in advance for fulfilling your request.

Answer 3

Jesus condemned the paharasees because their prayers were meant for men, not God. They shouted them from street corners so everyone could see how holy they were. I pray often through out the day. I call them "arrow prays" a short request or two that I shoot up to God. I also pray longer and more incessantly for things of greater importance. I pray until I get an answer or realize the answer is no (sometimes it is). There is no conflict in the passages, just a warning not to be boastful and public in your prayers for the sake of drawing attention to yourself. I think anyway you pray is ok as long as it is heartfelt.

Answer 4

There are appropriate times and places for both kinds of prayer. When in a group setting, such as a worship service prayers usually are encompasing a great number of topics. Often when we pray alone, at home, or whenever, short and to the point is ok. God just wants to hear from us.

I say prayers before I go to bed thanking God for the day and all the blessings he sent me and for my family and friends.

In the morning I say a prayer thanking God for the day ahead and asking himto keep my froends and family safe.

Outrside of the worshuip service setting, I say little prayers all day long. Sometimes I'm asking him to.bless someone I've just heard about who needs prayers. Or asking him to help me get through some "thing:. Sometimes I'm just asking or thanking Him whenever either crosses my mind.

I really do as much thanking as asking, and I do just talk to God, trying to figure things out. So I guess you could say all three tie.

Answer 5

The Pharisees of Jesus' time would pray in public, often repeating the same memorized prayers over and over many times a day. (Like what the Muslim's do). This is the type of prayer that Jesus condemned. It was not being done to talk to God, or to get an answer, but to make them look good.

As far as "long" prayer, in the Garden, Jesus asked his disciples, "Could you not pray with me for even one hour?". So there is a time for long and involved prayer.

I mix my prayers between praise and thanks, asking for what I need, asking Him what He needs from me, and praying for others.

I also make sure that I spend time praying in the spirit (or tongues) since that is perfect prayer controlled by God's Spirit, not ours. It is that kind of prayer that "makes all things work together for good." (See Romans 8).

Answer 6

The Pharasees where praying to be seen by people not by God. We are commanded to "pray without ceasing". I am currently reading a book "The Hour that Changes the World". Great book on prayer.

Answer 7

Actually jesus repremanded the pharases because they were trying to be known for their prayer not just because of their bableing and they weren't genuinely speaking to god from their hearts. Prayer can be in many different styes depending on the person. There are many pathways of prayer. Some prefer silience in their prayer while other shout to lord. But one thing the lord never likes is for someone to boast about their praying or praying for attention. Genuinely speak to the lord from you heart whatever it may be.
You also don't have to just pray to the lord when you have a problem either. Sometimes just praying to praise him nice.

Answer 8

He condemned long and repititious prayers because pharisees were not praying to talk and communicate with God, but rather for show. They would utter the same thing in their head over and over. He also doesn't want us to waste too much time saying the same thing to him over and over. "Be still and know that I am God." He wants to make sure we slow down, shut up and listen for a bit.
All too often we keep asking God for the same thing when he's already said no. We don't listen to him and don't choose to hear him. Prayer is one sided for many people. It should be communication.
Prayer should be continuous. It shoud be a constant communiccation with God, A TRUE RELATIOINSHIP. That's what it's about.

Answer 9

The purpose of the question is to find out the audibility range of God. Like, how long do we ring the door bell, how loud should the door bell be, to get the door opened to us?
The answer is quite simple if we look at it from God's viewpoint. Does he require a lengthy prayer?
I think, when you become prayerful, you get established in that attitude and then it actually becomes 24 X 7 X 365/366(leap years too !). Then out of your prayful attitude, what ever you do in life, it becomes an offering to God , and no better form of prayer than that.

Answer 10

Prayer should be whatever you wish it to be, whatever you and God have to work out or if you just need someone to talk to. I pray constantly everyday, I am a truck driver so I just sometimes like to talk to God and sometimes I get direct awncers, othertimes I really know the awncer but i may be looking for something else. There are just 2 certain things in this life, 1. There is a God, 2. I am not Him.