Matt. 6:7 And 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. 8 Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.

By this logic, shouldn't you not pray at all?

Martin Q. Blank said:

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Matt. 6:7 And 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. 8 Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.

By this logic, shouldn't you not pray at all?

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The entire context around that verse is not to put on a show for the benefit of others around us. Prayer is to commune with God, not show off our piety for an audience.

At my church, public prayer by the pastors and anyone in leadership is usually very brief and to the point, with maybe direct quotation of a relevant verse. For example, at a mens night the prayer before the meal was basically just paraphrasing a verse:

"Thank you, Father, that you are the lord who blesses our food and water and takes sickness and disease away from our midst according to exodus 23:25. In the name of Jesus, Amen".

Conversely, whenever I go to my parents church in Dallas I felt like the prayers are at least 50% focused on the speaker hearing themself be pious. I know I'm being overly harsh, but coming from my church and our relative brevity in prayer its a stark contrast.

I think I have and can be judgmental when it comes to others prayer requests. That being said, I am reminded of this shirt I really want.

If that were true than Jesus would not have prayed in the Bible but He did full well knowing that God knew beforehand what he was praying for. Jesus teaches us that we too must pray faithfully and give thanks to God for everything. Personally I try not asking for things during prayer for this reason, He already knows. Mainly I give thanks, not that you were asking.

I just listen and occasionally say something.

Prayer helps make the presence of God tangible, and helps us to have a closer relationship. It can be encouraging to pray, to vocalize your emotions, and to reinforce in your mind the nature of your relationship with God.

When my prayer life is good, it is probably more like 50 - 200 prayers a day that are as short as four or five words each. My most common prayer is probably "We can do this." (We, being me and the Holy Spirit).