Let us take a look at another lesson of Jesus on prayer:

And in praying do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do; for they think that they will be heard for their many words.
Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.
Matthew 6:7,8, RSV

What are those "empty phrases", or "vain repetitions", as the King James Version of the Bible translates it? In order to comprehend it, we need to skip to the end of the same chapter, where the mode of life of so-called "Gentiles" is described.

Therefore do not be anxious, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' For the Gentiles seek all these things; and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all.
Matthew 6:31,32, RSV

It is customary to mean by "the Gentiles" people of certain religious convictions, in particular those who do not belong to the Judaism, but it is clear enough that Jesus had in mind something totally different. For Him, "the Gentiles" were individuals whose life was not centered in God. They were "servants of two masters", lacking the fundamental wholeness.

Attention of such people is scattered, because they do not have "the single eye". As the result, their faith is shaky, and their powers are dissipated. No wonder why their hearts are filled with the anxiety.

Anxiety is the reason why some individuals are compelled to pray for a long time. "They think that they will be heard for their many words". They presume that God is not willing to fulfill their needs, and therefore needs to be begged. And it could be so that the longer they pray, the less confident and the more anxious they become. When the mind of a person is darkened, his/her prayers often reinforce the feeling of powerlessness.

Jesus teaches that the realization of God in our lives is more important than the amount of words we speak. His own realization of God was perfect; that is why there were cases of instant demonstration of tremendous spiritual power after short verbal prayers. However, we will not be praying in vain as long as our goal is to become aware of God's presence in our life in greater measure.

This awareness brings us knowledge of the vital truth that "our Father knows that we need before our asking". We realize ourselves to be sons and daughters of the Almighty, having the authority to ask and to receive all we need. Our minds and hearts become cleansed from anxiety and filled with gratitude.

Gratitude is the opposite of anxiety. "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God which passes all understanding shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus" (Philippians 4:6,7), writes Paul.

We made our desires known to God not because He is not aware of them, that would be ridiculous, but because we are co-creators with God in bringing of those things into the manifestation. To pray and to have our prayers answered is not a demand of necessity, it is the high privilege.

Prayers of a person of deep realization of God are characterized by peace. This is not a shallow peace of one who hides away from life's challenges. It is the abiding peace of one who beholds the Power and the Presence which surpass all our understanding. This peace will sustain us in all our experiences, and will lead us to the best path.