“But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking. Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him” (Matthew 6:7-8).
God never intended for you to wear yourself out in prayer just to get Him to do something for you. As a matter of fact, He never asked you to pray so He could do whatever it is you’re asking for, because there’s nothing He hasn’t already done for you.
He asked us not to pray like the heathen, using vain repetitions, why? It’s because He already knew everything you’d ever need, ever before you came on the scene, and made them available to you. So, why then does He want you to pray?
The role of prayer
The reason for prayer is to get you synchronized with God’s will and destiny for your life. Not so you can ask Him for things. The privilege and opportunity granted us to pray in the Holy Ghost and groan in the spirit is to help position us in God’s place, in God’s time, for God’s purpose in God’s way.
So, as you spend time to fast and pray. Do so with this understanding. Make it a time of fellowship; a moment of divine ecstasy and intimate worship of the Lord, in spirit and in truth.
Really, what would you want to ask of someone who already gave you everything? According to the provisions of the Gospel, there’s nothing today that you’ll like to have that you don’t already have. The Bible says, “all things are yours” (1 Corinthians 3:21).
When you know this, it becomes really superfluous, and even foolish to start asking God for things. I get ashamed to ask God for anything; there’s nothing for me to ask for. He already gave us all things in Christ Jesus. He’ll see to it that whatever you need at every point is available to you, and that takes the stress out of your life.