Speaking for myself, prayer at times can be a difficult thing. I tend to get caught up in pondering what I would like to go to the Lord with. However, when it comes time to pray I tend to ask and say a handful of the same things.
‘But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions.’ – Matthew 6:7
I don’t set out to be repetitious in my prayers. I am genuine in the things I say and ask. But I fear that I’m not ‘wrestling with God in mighty prayer.’ (Alma 8:10)
Again, I think about the things I would present to the Lord in prayer, but feel that I have a long way to go.
Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin offered this on how we can improve and strengthen our prayers:
“Do your prayers at times sound and feel the same? Have you ever said a prayer mechanically, the words pouring forth as though cut from a machine? Do you sometimes bore yourself as you pray?
“Prayers that do not demand much of your thought will hardly merit much attention from our Heavenly Father. When you find yourself getting into a routine with your prayers, step back and thing. Meditate for a while on the things for which you really are grateful.” (Improving Our Prayers, BYU 2002-2003 Speeches)
It seems as though this was speaking directly to me. Almost calling me out. My heart and mind are in the right spot, but I feel that I have a lot of work ahead of me.