LDS - Do you ever feel like your nightly prayers are repetitive?

Question

I always say our family prayer - it's just my husband and I and he always wants me to say it - and I feel like sometimes I am just saying the same things...I guess anyone can answer this, not just LDS.
How can I make my prayers less repetative when I am really trying to thank for all we have and ask for what we need???

Buff - sorry LDS is short for Latter-day Saints, Mormons...members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Thanks for answering.

Answer 1

I struggle with the same issue at times... A couple of suggestions though:

1) Convince your husband to say it sometimes.
2) Be creative in what you are thankful for. Don't just say (for example) "I'm thankful for everything I have". Come up with specific things, and don't say everything every night... Also, try not to focus on material things that you don't need (i.e. when you are praying, don't say things like "I'm thankful that I have a laptop, a plasma tv, etc.", and don't be like the Zoramites on the Rameumptom... Be thankful for spiritual things, such as that you have been brought up correctly in the right church and are able to help people, that you have a means of living, etc.
3) When you are asking for things you need, don't only pray for material things you might need (e.g., don't go on about how you need a new washing machine, or something like that... you probably knew that, but I'm trying to be inclusive...) Pray for spiritual qualities you wish to obtain such as (not saying you in particular need these, just giving examples) humility, courage, kindness, etc.
4) Pray for help that you will be able to be less repetitive in your prayers. I know this sound silly, but I am serious. God can give you far more help on what to say than I can.
5) The scriptures say that your prayers shouldn't be filled with "vain repetitions". If you truly mean everything you are saying, and you are doing everything you should while praying, than this is OK - take the sacrament prayer for example. They don't change the sacrament prayer do they?

Hope this helps.

Answer 2

I go through times when I feel my prayers are repetitive too.
I like Cookies answer about preparing to pray. For some reason I got out of the habit of doing that, but I used to. I would make notes about what I needed to spend some time praying about and at night be sure to cover that item. I'm a single adult convert so I'm not sure about family prayer (how one prays in that setting), but I would think it's similar to being the voice in any other group prayer. You might ask your husband to be the voice, because you feel your being repetitive and would appreciate getting some ideas from him. You might also try the 5-finger prayer, I think it's something like pinkie - children, ring finger - spouse, middle finger - your enemies (those you don't get along with), temporal needs/wants, index finger - the One who is mighty to save, thumb - self. Of course if it's just you and your husband then you might make the pinkie representative of something else, (maybe Church leaders, national leaders, etc).

However, I would really suggest asking your husband to be the voice in the prayer. It doesn't seem right that you're always the one having to be the voice.

Answer 3

There are already some good answers on here. I went through the same train of thought a couple of years ago and started studying Jewish prayers to see what they did while praying. There is a Jewish /Hebrew term called kavanah, where you have to prepare to pray. You have to visualize who you are praying to first of all, God the Creator of the Universe, someone worthy of all your praise and admiration and devotion and loyalty. You have to get a sense of coming before the presence of God. If you can't get achieve that sense of reverence wait a little bit and see if it comes in a few minutes. That helped me start being much more focused, although I have to remember it instead of slacking off.
Another possibility is to start tracking specific questions and answers, and then write those answers down as they come. I could improve on that myself. The more specific you are with prayers, the more specific the answers will be. Even if the answer is "wait a while," you can start tracking when you started waiting and when the answer(s) finally start coming, in whatever form they come.

Answer 4

If you struggle with what to say, perhaps you could write your prayers out. I mean, we should pray "normally" as well, but this way you could put all your thoughts in an order. With the beginning of the new year, it might be good to write them down and see how God answers/answered your prayers specifically at the end of the year. Just an idea.

Answer 5

Try the ACTS approach to your evening prayers ...

Adoration
Confession
Thanksgiving
Supplocation

It will help you make sure you're focusing on all the areas you need to be talking to God.
Other than that, just pray from the heart. As long as you are praying from your heart, it doesn't matter if the topics of your prayers get sometimes repetative.

God bless!

Answer 6

I am going for an open apartment the next day and I rather desire a process. Times are difficult. Grant it, I will have yo pray that I win a few cash-now not thousands however sufficient-to shop for me a auto, to have hire for subsequent month, and many others. But, pray that I get this process. Prayer is a strong factor. I am going to do that earlier than I move to mattress. And, with you requesting requests, I rather do thanks. Have a well night time and say a bit prayer for me. Thank you.

Answer 7

Wait for the feeling to come over..... Brigham says to pray until you feel that coming over you.

My husband and I are in our 40's. Been married 9 yrs today, and I can testify to you there IS a real POWER in a COUPLE prayer. I have seen it. I have been amazed at COUPLE prayers.

Talk to your hubby about it....... I think couple prayers can move mountains. I would much rather take the big stuff to the Lord in couple prayer.

See you in Zion!!!

Answer 8

I am sure God knows you are tired at night and the only thing you're thinking is how to get to sleep so you can talk to Him in the morning again! ;-)
But really, the greatest answers to prayers came after long and sincere prayers, when prophets cried to God, knelt in prayer for days, in times of greatest tribulations and hardships.
Don't think God abandoned you, he just prepares you for peaceful night of rest.

Answer 9

I don't know what LDS is but... (i've heard of LSD ; )~
God wants us to talk to Him just like we would have a conversation with anyone else. He wants a relationship!
Would you have the same scripted conversation with your child or husband each and every night??
God wants to talk to YOU, He doesn't want to hear chanting or a broken record every night.
God Bless You and Your Family!

Your question started me thinking of my morning prayers....I do ask for the same things but I do try to focus on what I am saying and mix it up....like not only praises to Him and asking for blessing and protection for my family, but one day I try to focus on blessing for all people who work within the church, and one day try to focus on all the world's children or people who do missions work......or whatever.
I do shoot arrow prayers out all day long...whenever something comes up. I shoot alot of arrow prayers while I'm on Yahoo answers : )

Answer 10

I think it's something we all get into because our daily thanks and needs are often the same. Still, it's not vain repetition if you really mean it.

Maybe take a few seconds to think of something special that your grateful for or have need of that day. Try to always throw at least one different thing in there.

best wishes