Is it wrong to repeat our prayers?

The Bible does not forbid us to repeat our prayers. Jesus says: “When you pray, do not use a lot of meaningless words, as the pagans do, who think that their gods wil hear them because their prayers are long” (Matthew 6:7). The Lord warns against the use of senseless repetitions – i.e. saying the same words over and over again until you are hypnotized. The priests of Baal prayed like that in 1Kings 18:26. They called from morning until noon: “O Baal, hear us.”

The Lord warns against such practices as shouting slogans over and over in prayers. He says, on the other hand: We must pray without ceasing (Luke 18:1; 1 Thess 5:17). That is, our attitude must be right, we must be in contact with him always, without repeating empty phrases. We should not be discouraged if He does not answer us immediately in the way we expected.