You’re So Vain

You’re so vain, you probably think this post is about you.

(Thanks Carly Simon for the pun intro).

Vain, I’m sure you’ve heard the word before, especially when it’s attached to a very beautiful woman who can’t stop looking at herself in the mirror. But, have you ever heard of vain repetition praying? Vain repetition praying is a new term I just learned.  Look at this post for further explanation just as that vain girl would with her mirror.

When we pray, remember that Heaven hears you. If you find yourself praying the same prayer over and over and over again like a robot stuck on a loop, you are performing vanity repetition praying. With vanity prayers, it’s all about you and nothing about trust. How so?

God knows everything about you; HE knows the beginning from the end. God knows every prayer and prayer request you’re ever going to make…from the ones yesterday to the ones ten years from now; Take comfort in this. If God knows everything, does that mean I still have to pray? YES. Think of prayer as a conversation. You can have conversation with the creator of the universe…how awesome is that?!?!?!

Back to the trust question; how is vanity repetition prayer a lack of trust? If you prayed to God and asked HIM to take care of a situation, then you need to trust HIM to take care of the situation. If you keep asking and asking, it is a form of fear. Maybe you fear that the situation won’t work out, so you keep praying. Maybe you fear HE didn’t hear you because you don’t see change, so you keep praying. Maybe you keep praying which turns into begging- as if you’re convincing God to work. This is all fear and a lack of trust.

God never leaves us. God always answers prayer (just not always in the way we wanted). God has a great plan for our life. God can do anything and can turn any situation around. Having these thoughts grounded in your prayer life, should give you confidence.

This is how you should pray over a concern:

Go to God and talk to HIM, just as you would with a dear old friend.

Give HIM your request over the concern in your life.

 Finish your prayer by asking it in Jesus’ Name.

Then surrender; Don’t continue to pray over and over and over about the same issue. Instead, continue to praise HIM for working on the situation. Remind HIM of your prayer through positive confessions. Confessions can be scripture that you find that align with your situation. Confessions can be giving thanks and thanking HIM for working behind the scenes bringing everything together. Confessions can even be thanking HIM for handling the situation the best way HE sees fit instead of how you see fit.

Always be praying. Always be talking to God. God is always available to talk to. Just remember to pray and trust. Pray and release it to HIM. Keep the answer in front of you instead of the problem.

Go to God about everything. When you’re done with one concern, go to HIM for another; always keep going to HIM.

Let the vain stand before the mirror, not before our God.