“And in praying use not vain repetitions.” Notice that Jesus does not condemn repetition, but vain repetition. Jesus, Himself, used repetition, on one occasion He repeated the same prayer three times. Prayer is to lift consciousness—yours, not God’s. If the repetition is the effort to condition your mind with the thoughts of God, then it is good. However, if you parrot a prayer or affirmation over and over with the idea of conditioning God to your needs, then it is vain. Nowhere in Christian practice has Jesus’ clear instruction been so disregarded as in this matter of prayer repetition.
