When You Notice the Prayers Are Longer
When people visit a church with a more Reformed liturgy, there are often several things they notice. Some point out the use of historic confessions or catechisms, the Christ-centered preaching, or even the particular style of music. But by far the most common question I hear is about the prayers.
Newer attendees often remark that the prayers are longer and more detailed than they’re used to. Many express appreciation for the content, while also admitting it’s sometimes hard to follow or stay engaged. Among the many adjustments people make when settling into a new church, the manner and frequency of prayer is an important one to consider.
Why We Pray This Way
It’s reasonable to ask: Why does this church pray like this? In our context, we typically include five prayers in each worship service.
- After the call to worship, we begin with a prayer of adoration, praising God for who He is.
- We then pray a corporate confession of sin, often after reflecting on a passage of Scripture.
- The pastoral prayer follows, usually lasting 5–7 minutes, in which the pastor prays for the needs of the church, our gospel partners, and the broader world.
- Before and after the sermon, we pray for illumination, for help in preaching and hearing, and for the Word to bear fruit in our lives.
It’s usually the pastoral prayer that raises the most questions, as it’s longer and broader in scope than many people have experienced.
So why do we pray like this? The structure reflects a biblical pattern, often summarized by the helpful acronym ACTS:
- Adoration – Nehemiah 9:5–6; Revelation 4:11
- Confession – Psalm 51:4; Daniel 9:4–6
- Thanksgiving – Philippians 4:6; 1 Thessalonians 5:18
- Supplication – Philippians 4:6; 1 Timothy 2:1
We also see these categories reflected in longer biblical prayers—Jesus in John 17, Daniel in Daniel 9, and the Levites in Nehemiah 9 (which takes about seven minutes to read aloud). These are not brief, vague prayers, but rich, thoughtful, Scripture-shaped prayers that reflect dependence on God.
In other words, churches pray longer prayers because they’re following biblical patterns and prescriptions for prayer. We’re not praying longer just for the sake of it (as though we’ll be heard for our many words), but because we believe certain kinds of prayers belong in the assembly—and including them means they’ll take more time.
And it’s worth it.
What Longer Prayers Are Meant to Do
When we follow biblical patterns, our prayers do more than communicate requests—they form us.
Longer, Scripture-saturated prayers:
- Teach us how to pray
- Reveal what matters most to God
- Model reverence, intercession, and humility
- Cultivate spiritual focus in a hurried world
The pastor, as a shepherd and example to the flock (1 Peter 5:3), has the privilege of modeling prayer for the congregation. These prayers are not simply functional—they are formative. They shape how we think, what we desire, and who we trust.
Longer prayers, assuming biblical content, lead us to focus longer on biblical truth. And that’s good for our souls.
As a church, we believe that prayer isn’t a formality—it’s a vital part of worship. Through it, we seek God’s help, confess sin, give thanks, and pray for one another. These longer prayers aren’t meant to show off or drag on, but to shepherd the congregation by leading them into communion with God.
Jesus’s teaching on prayer in Matthew 6 instructs us to pray beginning with God (his honor, kingdom, and will)—then after this he moves on to teach us to ask for daily bread, forgiveness, and protection. This ordering helps reorient our hearts to what matters most.
Longer prayers also slow us down. They resist the tyranny of the urgent and invite us to dwell in the presence of God. In our fast-paced culture—especially in a place like Boston—this is a needed counter-rhythm.
Longer prayers, assuming biblical content, lead us to focus longer on biblical truth. And that’s good for our souls.
How to Stay Engaged During Longer Prayers
One of the most encouraging things I hear is when someone asks, “How can I better engage during those prayers?” That question reflects humility and a desire to grow.
Let’s be honest—the temptation to drift off is not new. That’s why the Bible calls us to self-control:
“The end of all things is at hand; therefore be self-controlled and sober-minded for the sake of your prayers.”(1 Peter 4:7)
“Devote yourselves to prayer, keeping alert in it with an attitude of thanksgiving.” (Colossians 4:2)
These verses place some responsibility on the worshiper to fight distraction and engage with intentionality. It’s a mental and spiritual discipline—one that the Holy Spirit enables and matures in us.
In a world filled with noise and hurry, long prayers are a quiet act of resistance—a declaration that God is worth lingering before, listening to, and depending on.
Here are a few practical ways to stay engaged:
- Follow the flow of the prayer: adoration, confession, thanksgiving, supplication.
- Echo the pastor’s words in your heart—or say “amen” aloud or silently when you agree.
- When your mind wanders, gently bring it back. Don’t quit—just return.
- Use the prayer as a trail. Think of the pastor as a guide leading a hike. If you wander into the brush, just look up, get back in step, and follow him again.
It takes active participation, but it’s worth it. And if you want to grow in this, ask God for help. Pray that He would help you pray.
In a world filled with noise and hurry, long prayers are a quiet act of resistance—a declaration that God is worth lingering before, listening to, and depending on.
Keep Going: Growth Takes Time
Like learning a new language, the vocabulary of prayer grows over time. Don’t feel pressure to master it overnight—just keep listening. Let the prayers of the church wash over you and shape you.
If longer prayers still feel unfamiliar, that’s okay. Give it time. The hope is that you’ll not only grow accustomed to them, but grow through them.
In a world filled with noise and hurry, long prayers are a quiet act of resistance—a declaration that God is worth lingering before, listening to, and depending on.
