Does God Want Us To Spend Long Periods Of Time In Prayer?

Does God Want Us To Spend Long Periods Of Time In Prayer?

Dear John:
Does God want us to pray for hours at a time? Will lengthy prayer sessions make us more spiritual?
-Jerry

Dear Jerry:
It certainly is never wrong to pray. Prayer is a vital aspect of the Christian's spiritual life. The scriptural instructions, examples and exhortations to prayer are numerous. On one occasion Christ prayed throughout the night (Luke 6:12). However, most of the prayers recorded for us were spoken in a few moments of time. Think of the brevity of the Lord's Prayer (Matt. 6:9-15).

The following conclusions can be drawn from the teaching of the N. T.:

Prayer is a duty of every Christian (Luke 18:1).

In prayer we draw night to God and he promises to draw nigh to us (Jas. 4:8).

Prayer is of two kinds, public as in the worship assembly and private.

Prayer is especially important when the church undertakes some important activity for th Lord (Acts 13:3; 13:23).

We have no example of ritual prayers, read or memorized and spoken.

Prayers of the Bible are spontaneous, reflecting the occasion and the needs of the one praying.

There might be situations so momentous that one would spend extended time talking to God about the problem or need.

Prayer can be the occasion of pretense and drawing attention to oneself (Matt. 6:5).

Vain, repetitious prayers are not pleasing to God (Matt. 6:7-8).

Prayer is not an acceptable substitute for godly living and obedience to God's reveal will (luke 6:46).

While we are taught to pray often (I Thess. 5:17), there is no special reward promised to those who labor to pray long prayers or who might pray through the night. It is vain to think God is impressed by our much speaking (Matt. 6:7).

One should feel free to talk with God in prayer at any time he feels the need to do so. He should freely talk with God as long as he feels is necessary. Such prayers should not be prescribed or orchestrated by others.

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