When you pray, don’t babble on and on as the Gentiles do.
They think their prayers are answered merely by repeating their words again and again.
Don’t be like them, for your Father knows exactly what you need even before you ask him!
Matthew 6:7-8 (NLT)
Echolalia is common in children with autism. They repeat, or “echo,” phrases or sounds they have heard instead of verbalizing their own thoughts. Echolalia is often due to an individual’s struggle with communication. Sometimes they will immediately repeat something they have heard, and other times they will echo a noise, a word, a sentence, or even an entire paragraph they heard hours or days beforehand.
I sometimes find myself doing the same when it comes to prayer. Not that rote prayers can’t be meaningful – there is a time and a place for them – yet there is a deeper level to prayer than mere repetition. Prayer is so much more than words; it is mindful and meaningful fellowship with the One who listens to us with the heart of a Father. He yearns to hear our innermost thoughts, our deepest longings, and whole-hearted praise.
The paradox of prayer is that it is as personal as a conversation between father and child yet it is our most potent weapon against the forces of evil.
Prayer opens the doors to the throne room of God, releasing the powers of heaven. When we truly grasp the privilege and the power of prayer then our response can be nothing less than heartfelt praise and adoration.
Thought: “True prayer is neither a mere mental exercise nor a vocal performance. It is far deeper than that – it is spiritual transaction with the Creator of Heaven and Earth.” – Charles Spurgeon
For further reading:
- Psalm 38:9
- Jeremiah 29:12
- Ephesians 6:18
- 1 John 5:14-15
Excerpt from my devotional, A Year in God’s Classroom