St. Paul\u2019s exhortation to pray \u201cwithout ceasing\u201d\u009d highlights the importance of regular prayer in the life of the Christian. Luther\u2019s years of monastic life modeled a regulated daily life of prayer. The various monastic daily prayer offices seem to have influenced Luther\u2019s teaching of prayer in the Small Catechism. Not only is a prayer for morning provided, but Luther places that prayer within a simple liturgy: first, the name of the Triune God is spoken and the sign of the holy cross is made, then the Creed and Lord\u2019s Prayer (two of the Chief Parts!) are spoken. Finally, Luther suggests his little prayer may be said \u201cif you choose.\u201d\u009d Humbly, Luther considers his own contribution optional and the handed-down texts of the Faith essential.<\/p>\n
Luther\u2019s modeling of prayer seems deliberately designed to avoid the type of praying that Jesus warns against: \u201cAnd when you pray, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do, for they think that they will be heard for their many words.\u201d\u009d (Matthew 6:7) With many words comes much work; Luther aims at a simple liturgy of prayer that can be adopted in the daily lives of Christians both in his time and in our present day.<\/p>\n