So God doesn't like repetiive prayer?

Question

Many enjoy criticizing those who pray the Rosary and similar traditional prayers, claiming that there is something intrinsicaly wrong with repetetive prayer, and they base this solely on one new testament passage that refers only to the practices of pagans, who pray to false gods.

This passage from Revelation seems to indicate that God appeciates and even mandates repetetive prayer:

Rev 4:6 And before the throne [there was] a sea of glass like unto crystal: and in the midst of the throne, and round about the throne, [were] four beasts full of eyes before and behind.
Rev 4:7 And the first beast [was] like a lion, and the second beast like a calf, and the third beast had a face as a man, and the fourth beast [was] like a flying eagle.
Rev 4:8 And the four beasts had each of them six wings about [him]; and [they were] full of eyes within: and they rest not day and night, saying, Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come.

What do you think?

Answer 1

During our daily prayer time, and throughout the day as well, repetitive prayer can bring us close to God. This type of prayer involves slowly repeating a prayer, again and again, and entering into the rhythm of the prayer, which helps to banish distractions and focus our attention on God.

Our most common repetitive prayer is the rosary. The prayers of the rosary are an excellent compendium of the Christian life.

Answer 2

1) I think this passage of scripture is an example of worship and praise.

2) I think what God asks of us is that our prayers be heartfelt, rather than rote repetition.
I do not know the rosary for example and do not know the words but I do know what is called the Lord's prayer, (the Our Father who art in heaven) and I think even that could be offensive to God IF it is said without any thought given to the meaning and intent of the prayer.
For example, I went through a season of praying the Lord's prayer morning, noon and night and each time I meditated on different portions and earnestly gave my heart to the prayer and the communication with God my Father. It came to my awareness that the Lord was well pleased with that practice for that time. And now when I repeat it I give it my all. Therefore, I would think praying the rosary is subject to the same criteria. Let it be prayed with all the heart, with the intent of truly communicating with the Lord.
3) As for other traditional prayers the same thing. I just checked out a book on some of the traditional Catholic prayers and have found them beautiful. I do think God is well pleased with hearing these over and over from the sincere heart.
4) What God speaks against in that New Testament is vain repetition... Which I take to mean the repetition which has more of a "Look at me, I am praying and praying good!" sort of feel to it. Or again... the vanity of "ho hum, here we go again" without any thought of God who is listening to our hearts.

Answer 3

I think that many of these people don't own a bible, leave alone have ever read a bible. Therefore, they don't have a clue as to where rev. is in a bible or what rev. 4:8 says.
However if they continue to keep playing around in religion and spirituality, they might just fool around and learn something. God has mysterious ways of teaching us sometimes, or helping us find our way to him. I am learning a lot of things I did not know. But then I am not fooling around, I am really seeking. And lets not forget, everybody doesn't understand what they read. I'll say a Rosary for them.

Answer 4

good question. i don't even know the Rosary but i believe that it hinders your faith to pray the exact same prayers. God wants you to stand on what you prayed and believe it. I'm not talking about just saying a quick little prayer (not that there is anything wrong with that) but i'm talking about sincerely praying, getting real with God, and absolutely believing what you asked for. And by standing and Believing it by faith, i mean do as Abraham did.
Romans 4
16 Therefore it is of faith, that it might be by grace; to the end the promise might be sure to all the seed; not to that only which is of the law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham; who is the father of us all,

17 (As it is written, I have made thee a father of many nations,) before him whom he believed, even God, who quickeneth the dead, and calleth those things which be not as though they were.

So pray with sincerity and earnestly with faith. Matt 21:22 ((And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive)). Pray from your heart about the things the Lord puts on it. The Lord's Prayer was an example for us also...

Hope this helps someone

Take care and God RICHLY Bless!

Answer 5

I do believe that God likes repetitive prayer, but not mindless rambling. its is like saying I Love You, you can't say that to much if you mean it. As for repeating the Rosary if you really think about all you are saying then that is Good. If not then you are acting like the Pharisee's that prayed only for Show.God Loves Humility and Sincerity. God Bless You

Answer 6

Another issue here is that the Rosary is not a prayer to God but to Mary. This is committing idolatry and is paganistic as we are not to pray to anyone but God.

As others have said it is the heart intent behind the prayer that counts-if it is repeated without sincerity then it is offensive to God. Im sure those in Revelation in God's physical presence would be sincere and heartfelt in their worship of Him-also agree that this is a form of praise moreso than prayer.

Answer 7

I think it's funny that so many Protestants come down on Catholics for repeating the Rosary and other prayers, but don't seem to have a problem reciting the Lord's Prayer at every church service. Where's the difference, I ask?

Answer 8

I think it may be that method of "worship in Spirit" that Jesus spoke about... it has been practiced in the East for thousands of years and does bring stillness.

"Be still and know that I am God" is from the Psalms... and there appears to be many references in the Gospel that have that inference. Take for example "Sitting in Sackcloth and Ashes." That is probably a person who has given up everything to culture inner stillness.

I think repetitive prayer is just fine.

Answer 9

We are to pray -- formally and spontaneously -- at all times without ceasing.

Our lives are to be a prayer.

Aside from the liturgical imperative of formalized prayer as rooted in Old Testament liturgy, memorized prayers are a common language and heritage that help cement group identity and allow us to worship God corporately. It must always be remembered that Christianity is the Old Testament religion fulfilled, not some radical departure that amounted to spiritual anarchy. As far away as modern Talmudism is from the Old Testament religion, one need only look at modern religious Jewish practice to get a sense of how formal prayer fit into the ancient synagogues and daily Jewish life. And one need only look at the Jews Matthew, Mark, John, Peter, Paul, etc., and the rest of the Church of the first few centuries, to understand how it is to fit into our modern liturgy and daily Christian life.

Formal prayers can be thought of, too, as the "phonics" of prayer life. Just as one learns to read by memorizing the sounds of letters, diphthongs, and digraphs, one learns to pray by learning the great prayers of those who've gone before us. They are templates which also act to catechize; the child who learns the Glory Be 2 learns something about the nature of the Trinity. The child whose parents teach him the Prayer to Guardian Angel not only learns of God's protecting angelic emissaries, but of God's goodness itself -- and he falls asleep safe in that knowledge.

Answer 10

That is correct. Note what Jesus Christ said: “In your prayer do not rattle on like the pagans. They think they will win a hearing by the sheer multiplication of words. Do not imitate them.”—Matt. 6:7, 8