What Jesus Did! 'Few Words Are Needed' — Matthew 6:7-8

Monday, March 10, 2025

[Jesus continued:] "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

Key Thought

The Stoic philosopher Seneca made fun of the pagans of his day "fatiguing the gods" with their prayers. Jesus warns his followers not to follow the same course. Senseless babbling and the heaping up of repetitious phrases do not win us an audience with God. Prayer is not about magic formulas or fancy speech. Prayer is about our confidence in the Father's knowing us and responding to our needs. With this understanding, our words don't need to be special or effusive, just heartfelt and genuine! And sometimes, words are not even needed (Romans 8:26-27).

Today's Prayer

Holy and righteous Father, thank you for hearing my simple words that come from the bottom of my heart. Thank you for blessings. Please forgive me for my sins and guard me from evil. Use me in astounding ways that bring you glory! Empower me to do your will. In Jesus' name, I pray. Amen.

Related Scripture Readings

Have thoughts on this devotional? Leave a comment

11 Related Resources by Heartlight

God Knows, but Still Wants You to Pray
Devo: Spiritual Warfare
"When you pray, go to your room and close the door. Pray privately to your Father who is with you. Your Father sees what you do in private. He will..."
With Arms Uplifted and On Our Knees
Article by Phil Ware
God is faithful to us through all the seasons of our lives. He isn't a fair-weather God. Phil Ware invites us to share in prayer in all the seasons of life and especially know we have an all-season God who longs to hear our prayers, especially prayers for a change in our world's messes.
How Much Does He Know?
Article by Paul Faulkner
Does God really know all about me? Paul Faulkner talks about God knowing all about us and still loving us immensely and how his love is better than the best dad and compensates for the worst dad.
Don't Be a Show-Off!
Devo: A Year with Jesus
"Dear Disciple, I have a question: Why are you doing spiritual things? Are you trying to impress someone and prove you are religious? Are you trying....."
See All 11 Related Resources about Matthew 6:7-8

Illustration

Illustration of Matthew 6:7-8 NLT — They think their prayers are answered merely by repeating their words again and again.

Other Devotionals from Heartlight for Monday, March 10, 2025

Morning & Evening
The classic twice-daily devotional from Charles H. Spurgeon.
Morning Thought: Deuteronomy 33:27
"God-the eternal God-is himself our support at all times, and especially when we are sinking in deep trouble. There are seasons when the Christian..."
Spiritual Warfare
A daily devotional about God's power for our battles.
'Don’t Focus on Getting Revenge' (Ro. 12:19-21)
"My friends, do not try to punish others when they wrong you, but wait for God to punish them with his anger. It is written: ‘I will punish those who....."
God's Holy Fire
A daily devotional about the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives.
'Jesus Sees and Cares' (Re. 5:6)
"Then I [John] saw a Lamb that looked as if it had been slaughtered, but it was now standing between the throne and the four living beings and among the..."
Daily Wisdom
A daily devotional featuring wise counsel found in Scripture.
Deuteronomy 11:1
"Love the Lord your God and keep his requirements, his decrees, his laws and his commands always."

About This Devotional

What Jesus Did! is a series of one-year devotional guides through each gospel, using one short scripture passage each day and following the Gospel in sequential order. Each devotional consists of a scripture passage and a reflection and a prayer which open up the day's scripture and show how it challenges you to live for Jesus.

What Jesus Did! is written by Phil Ware and is available in book form.

Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2007, 2013, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

More What Jesus Did!