Prayer Practices to Avoid in Scripture and Tradition
Scripture and Christian tradition identify several prayer practices and attitudes that believers should avoid. These include engaging in prayer for outward show, using vain repetition, and praying with improper motives such as malice or strife.
One significant caution in the New Testament concerns the motivation behind prayer. Jesus instructs his followers to avoid praying in public places merely to be seen by others, contrasting this with private prayer in a secluded space [10]. The "Lord's Prayer" itself is presented as a model of simplicity, standing in opposition to the "vain repetition of pagan prayers" [9]. This suggests that the quality and sincerity of prayer are more important than its length or public display.
Beyond outward practices, certain internal dispositions are also identified as hindrances to effective prayer. The Apostle Paul warns against "profane and old wives' fables," urging believers instead to exercise themselves "unto godliness" [1, 3, 11]. This implies that prayer should be rooted in sound doctrine and genuine piety, rather than in speculative or unedifying narratives. Similarly, believers are exhorted to avoid "fleshly covetings" that "take the field against the soul" [2], as such desires can impede spiritual growth and worship.
Other attitudes and behaviors explicitly discouraged in scripture that would naturally impact prayer include:
- Strife and Contentiousness Scripture identifies strife as a "work of the flesh" and an "evidence of a carnal spirit" [4]. It is forbidden and can be excited by pride, wrath, and "curious questions" [4]. Believers are encouraged to avoid strife, as Christ exemplified [4].
- Malice Malice, stemming from an evil heart, is forbidden and incompatible with the worship of God [5]. It is seen as a hindrance to grace, and Christians are called to pray for those who injure them with malice [5].
- Overmuch Care for Earthly Things Excessive worry about worldly matters is forbidden, with Jesus teaching against it in Matthew 6:25 and Luke 12:22, 29 [7]. Such care can obstruct the Gospel and is deemed useless and vain [7]. Instead, believers are encouraged to cast their cares upon God [7].
- Procrastination Delaying obedience or seeking God is condemned, with scripture emphasizing the urgency of the present moment for hearkening to God, seeking Him, and glorifying Him [8].
- Alliance with God's Enemies Forming alliances or societies with those hostile to God is forbidden, as it can lead to idolatry, provoke God's anger, and ensnare believers [6].
In some extreme cases, God may even forbid prayer for a particular people due to their persistent disobedience, as seen in Jeremiah's instruction not to pray for the people of Judah [12]. This highlights the seriousness of unrepentant sin in the eyes of God.
Sources
- King James Version “[KJV] 1 Timothy 4:7 — But refuse profane and old wives' fables, and exercise thyself rather unto godliness.”
- I Peter “I Peter 2:11 (Rotherham) — Beloved! I exhort you, as sojourners and pilgrims, to abstain from fleshly covetings, such as take the field against the soul;”
- I Timothy “I Timothy 4:7 (Darby) — But profane and old wives' fables avoid, but exercise thyself unto piety;”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Strife — Christ, an example of avoiding -- Isa 42:2; Mt 12:15-19; Lu 9:52-56; 1Pe 2:23. Forbidden -- Pr 3:30; 25:8. A work of the flesh -- Ga 5:20. An evidence of a carnal spirit -- 1Co 3:3. Existed in the church -- 1Co 1:11. Excited by Hatred. -- Pr 10:12. Pride. -- Pr 13:10; 28:25. Wrath. -- Pr 15:18; 30:33. Frowardness. -- Pr 16:28. A contentious disposition. -- Pr 26:21. Tale-bearing. -- Pr 26:20. Drunkenness. -- Pr 23:29,30. Lusts. -- Jas 4:1. Curious questions. -- 1Ti 6:4; 2Ti 2:23. Scorning. -- Pr 22:10. Difficulty of stopping, a reason for avoiding it -- Pr 1”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Malice — Springs from an evil heart -- Mt 15:19,20; Ga 5:19. Forbidden -- 1Co 14:20; Col 3:8; Eph 4:26,27. A hindrance to growth in grace -- 1Pe 2:1,2. Incompatible with the worship of God -- 1Co 5:7,8. Christian liberty not to be a cloak for -- 1Pe 2:16. Saints avoid -- Job 31:29,30; Ps 35:12-14. The wicked Speak with. -- 3Jo 1:10. Live in. -- Tit 3:3. Conceive. -- Ps 7:14. Filled with. -- Ro 1:29. Visit saints with. -- Ps 83:3; Mt 22:6. Pray for those who injure you through -- Mt 5:44. Brings its own punishment -- Ps 7:15,16. God requites -- Ps 10:14; Eze 36:5. Pun”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Alliance and Society With the Enemies of God — Forbidden -- Ex 23:32; 34:12; De 7:2,3; 13:6,8; Jos 23:6,7; Jdj 2:2; Ezr 9:12; Pr 1:10,15; 2Co 6:14-17; Eph 5:11. Lead to idolatry -- Ex 34:15,16; Nu 25:1-8; De 7:4; Jdj 3:5-7; Re 2:20. Have led to murder and human sacrifice -- Ps 106:37,38. Provoke the anger of God -- De 7:4; 31:16,17; 2Ch 19:2; Ezr 9:13,14; Ps 106:29,40; Isa 2:6. Provoke God to leave mean to reap the fruits of them -- Jos 23:12,13; Jdj 2:1-3. Are ensnaring -- Ex 23:33; Nu 25:18; De 12:30; 13:6; Ps 106:36. Are enslaved -- 2Pe 2:18,19. Are defiling -- Ez”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Care, Overmuch — About earthly things, forbidden -- Mt 6:25; Lu 12:22,29; Joh 6:27. God's providential goodness should keep us from -- Mt 6:26,28,30; Lu 22:35. God's promises should keep us from -- Heb 13:5. Trust in God should free us from -- Jer 17:7,8; Da 3:16. Should be cast on God -- Ps 37:5; 55:22; Pr 16:3; 1Pe 5:7. An obstruction to the Gospel -- Mt 13:22; Lu 8:14; 14:18-20. Be without -- 1Co 7:32; Php 4:6. Unbecoming in saints -- 2Ti 2:4. Uselessness of -- Mt 6:27; Lu 12:25,26. Vanity of -- Ps 39:6; Ec 4:8. Warning against -- Lu 21:34. Sent as a punishment to”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Procrastination — Condemned by Christ -- Lu 9:59-62. Saints avoid -- Ps 27:8; 119:60. To be avoided in Hearkening to God. -- Ps 95:7,8; Heb 3:7,8. Seeking God. -- Isa 55:6. Glorifying God. -- Jer 13:16. Keeping God's commandments. -- Ps 119:60. Making offerings to God. -- Ex 22:29. Performance of vows. -- De 23:21; Ec 5:4. Motives for avoiding The present the accepted time. -- 2Co 6:2. The present the best time. -- Ec 12:1. The uncertainty of life. -- Pr 27:1. Danger of illustrated -- Mt 5:25; Lu 13:25. Exemplified Lot. -- Ge 19:16. Felix. -- Ac 24:25.”
- Matthew (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Matthew 6:9: 6:9-13 The Lord’s Prayer is similar in form to a common Jewish prayer (the qaddish). Jesus gave this prayer to his followers as a succinct expression of their new faith. 6:9 Pray like this: In contrast to the vain repetition of pagan prayers (6:7-8), “the Lord’s Prayer” is a model of simplicity. • Jews rarely addressed God as Father, but Jesus did so in every prayer but one (Mark 15:34). • may your name be kept holy: God’s name is profaned by the sin of his people (Isa 29:22-24; Jer 34:15-16; Ezek 39:7; Amos 2:7).”
- Matthew (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Matthew 6:6: 6:6 go away by yourself: Jesus is not prohibiting corporate prayer (see 18:19-20; Luke 11:2-4) but is instructing his followers to avoid using prayer as a means of drawing attention to themselves.”
- 1 Timothy (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on 1 Timothy 4:7: But refuse profane and old wives' fables,.... Either Jewish ones, the traditions of the elders; or those of the Gnostics, concerning God, angels, and the creation of the world; or those doctrines of demons, and which forbad marriage, and commanded abstinence from meats before mentioned; which are called profane, because impious and ungodly, and old wives' fables, because foolish and impertinent; and which were to be rejected with abhorrence and contempt, in comparison of the words of faith and good doctrine. And exercise thyself rather unto godliness; either to th”
- Jeremiah (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Jeremiah 7:16: Therefore pray not thou for this people,.... These are the words of the Lord to the Prophet Jeremiah, forbidding him to pray for the people of the Jews; which he either was doing, or about to do, and which, from the great affection he had for them, he was inclined unto; wherefore, to show how much the Lord was displeased with them, and how determined he was to punish them with captivity, he orders the prophet not to make any supplication for them: neither lift up cry nor prayer for them; referring to the gestures of lifting up the eyes and hands in prayer, and als”