“And when you come before God, don’t turn that into a theatrical production either. All these people making a regular show out of their prayers, hoping for stardom! Do you think God sits in a box seat?”
(Matthew 6:5 MSG)
I’ve listened to people pray over the years. There have been prayers that have moved me to tears and lifted me up, while others just made my weary soul wearier. You know, those long prayers that at some point make you wonder what it is that is being prayed for. Sometimes I question whether long prayers are a way to reassure ourselves that God has heard us, or an attempt to impress our brothers and sisters. Either way, Jesus addressed this issue when He taught about prayer:
The world is full of so-called prayer warriors who are prayer-ignorant. They’re full of formulas and programs and advice, peddling techniques for getting what you want from God. Don’t fall for that nonsense. This is your Father you are dealing with, and he knows better than you what you need. With a God like this loving you, you can pray very simply. (Matthew 6:7-13)
It’s the quality and not the quantity of prayer that matters to God. It’s the intent of our heart and the genuineness of our words that please Him, and not the amount of time spent in prayer. Prayer was never meant to be a show. Be real with God. Be yourself. Pray with simplicity.
It is the quality of our prayer which pleases God and not the quantity.
Rising with the Son 