More on: Worship that pleases God by Rick Warren

"God-pleasing worship is thoughtful
Four times Jesus commanded, "Love God with all your mind." God is not pleased with unconscious worship -- thoughtless singing of hymns, perfunctory praying of clichés, or careless exclamations of "Praise the Lord" because we can’t think of anything else to say at that moment. Unless your mind is engaged, worship becomes meaningless motion or empty emotion. This is the problem Jesus called "vain repetitions."

Rick brings up the topic of “vain repetitions,” then he goes into talking about “breath prayers.”  How interesting is that?  Is this to somehow to validate them as not being the “vain repetitions" that they obviously are?” Tricky tricky, for these BREATH prayers are repetitious.   Obviously however, Rick doesn’t think so, or maybe he just doesn't want the reader to think so.

"Even biblical terms can become tired clichés from overuse; we stop thinking about the meaning. It’s so much easier to offer clichés in worship instead of making the effort to honor God with fresh words and ways.... "

"Fresh" words and "fresh" ways?  This should wake you up Christian.  Does this mean he  recommends Christians use new words and new ways that are not in the Bible? 

 "...Two classic books can teach you how. The first, from the 17th century, is The Practice of the Presence of God by Brother Lawrence, a humble cook in a French monastery. Brother Lawrence was able to turn even the most commonplace and menial tasks, like preparing meals and washing dishes into acts of praise and communion with God. The key to friendship with God, he said, was not changing what you do, but in changing your attitude toward what you do. What you normally do for yourself, you begin doing for God, whether it is eating, bathing, working, relaxing, or taking out the trash!

Today we often feel we must "get away" from our daily routine in order to worship God, but that is only because we haven’t learned to practice his presence all the time. Brother Lawrence found it so easy to worship God through the common tasks of life, he didn’t have to go away for special spiritual retreats. This is God’s ideal. In Eden, worship was not an event to attend, but a perpetual attitude; Adam and Eve were in constant communion with God. Since God is with you all the time, no place is any closer to God than the place where you are right now. The Bible says, "He rules everything and is everywhere and is in everything." 

Another of Brother Lawrence’s helpful ideas was to pray shorter conversational prayers continually throughout the day, rather than trying to pray long sessions of complex prayers. To maintain focus, and counteract wandering thoughts, he said "I do not advise you to use a great multiplicity of words in prayer, since long discourses are often the occasions for wandering." In an age of attention deficit, this 450-year-old suggestion to keep it simple seems to be particularly relevant.  Many Christians use "Breath Prayers" throughout their day. You choose a brief sentence, or a simple phrase that can be repeated to Jesus in one breath: "You are with me." "I receive your grace." "I’m depending on you." "I want to know you." "I belong to you." "Help me trust you." You can also use a short phrase of Scripture: "For me to live is Christ." "You will never leave me." "You are my God." Pray it as often as possible so it is rooted deeply into your heart. Just be sure that your motive is to honor God, not control him.

"O God, we give glory to you all day long and
constantly praise your name." 

"Pray all the time." 

The fastest way to reconnect with God throughout your day is to pause and be silent for a few second. Stop what you are doing, look around you with new awareness, and listen in silence for the voice of God. Silence honors God and allows us to hear him speak to our hearts. If you love God, you’ll listen to him.

Practicing the presence of God is a skill, a habit you can develop. Just as musicians practice scales everyday in order to play beautiful music with ease, you must force yourself to think about God at different times in your day. You must train your mind to remember God."

Jesus never taught his disciples to pray without words, in silence...or to pray using repetitive mantras like Rick teaches his listeners/readers to do.  Jesus said, (Matthew 6:9,) " 

“And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full.  But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.  And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.
    “This, then, is how you should pray:

   “‘Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,  

your kingdom come,
your will be done,
   on earth as it is in heaven.  

 Give us today our daily bread.  

 And forgive us our debts,
   as we also have forgiven our debtors.  

 And lead us not into temptation,
   but deliver us from the evil one.’

    For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, 

                                       your heavenly Father will also forgive you.  

But if you do not forgive others their sins, 

                                                                   your Father will not forgive your sins."