Matthew 6:7
Groans and Tears
It isn’t wrong or unprofitable to spend much time in prayer as long as it doesn’t hinder us from doing other good and necessary works duty calls us to. For to spend a long time in prayer isn’t, as some think, the same thing as praying “with much speaking.” Multiplied words are one thing, but the sustained warmth of desire is another. It is written that the Lord continued all night in prayers and that His prayer was prolonged when He was in agony. Isn’t this an example for us from our Intercessor who, along with the Father, eternally hears our prayers?
If we are paying attention to our souls, far be it from us to use “much speaking” in prayer, or to refrain from prolonged prayer. To talk a lot in prayer is to cheapen and overuse our words while asking for something necessary. But to prolong prayer is to have our hearts throb with continual pious emotions toward the One we pray to. In most cases, prayer consists more of groaning than of speaking, of tears rather than words. He sees our tears. Our groaning isn’t hidden from Him. For He made everything by a word and doesn’t need human words.
Readings taken from Day by Day with the Early Church Fathers
Groans and Tears
It isn’t wrong or unprofitable to spend much time in prayer as long as it doesn’t hinder us from doing other good and necessary works duty calls us to. For to spend a long time in prayer isn’t, as some think, the same thing as praying “with much speaking.” Multiplied words are one thing, but the sustained warmth of desire is another. It is written that the Lord continued all night in prayers and that His prayer was prolonged when He was in agony. Isn’t this an example for us from our Intercessor who, along with the Father, eternally hears our prayers?
If we are paying attention to our souls, far be it from us to use “much speaking” in prayer, or to refrain from prolonged prayer. To talk a lot in prayer is to cheapen and overuse our words while asking for something necessary. But to prolong prayer is to have our hearts throb with continual pious emotions toward the One we pray to. In most cases, prayer consists more of groaning than of speaking, of tears rather than words. He sees our tears. Our groaning isn’t hidden from Him. For He made everything by a word and doesn’t need human words.
Readings taken from Day by Day with the Early Church Fathers
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