@Amanaki, I often wonder about the use of repetitious prayers and saying the same things over and over by rote......it is practiced in just about every religion, but interestingly, not in Christianity (in its original form that is).
If we worship an intelligent God, Why would he want us to say the same things over and over, day after day? When our own children pester us by requesting the same thing over and over, how does it make us feel? Don’t we find it annoying?
Jesus gave us important counsel in regard to prayers....he said in Matthew 6:5-15....
“
Also, when you pray, do not act like the hypocrites, for they like to pray standing in the synagogues and on the corners of the main streets to be seen by men. Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full. 6 But when you pray, go into your private room and, after shutting your door, pray to your Father who is in secret. Then your Father who looks on in secret will repay you. 7 When praying, do not say the same things over and over again as the people of the nations do, for they imagine they will get a hearing for their use of many words. 8 So do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need even before you ask him.
9 “You must pray, then, this way:.....”
Then he went on to pray what is known as “the Lord’s Prayer”. But he did not tell his disciples to “pray this prayer”...but to “pray this way”.....this prayer was a model for our own prayers, outlining things to include in order of importance. Not something showy in public, but personal quiet prayer in a secluded place. An intimate conversation with a beloved Father.
First was the sanctification of God’s name.....the coming of his kingdom, so that the doing of his will can be done on earth as it is in heaven....giving us our portion of bread for that day, not asking more than what was needed on a daily basis. And not forgetting the value of forgiveness, being the basis upon which God forgives us.
This to me stands out as different to all other prayers offered by any other religion, including those who profess to be Christians.
Something to consider I think......what do you think?