I firmly believe a great many prayers are not answered because we are not willing to forgive someone.
—Dwight L. Moody (1837–99) Christian Religious Leader, Publisher
Keep us, Lord, so awake in the duties of our calling that we may sleep in thy peace and wake in thy glory.
—John Donne (1572–1631) English Poet, Cleric
Many of our prayers were not answered, and for this we are now grateful.
—William Feather (1889–1981) American Publisher, Author
In prayer it is better to have a heart without words, than words without a heart.
—John Bunyan (1628–88) English Puritan Writer, Preacher
Prayer enlarges the heart until it is capable of containing God’s gift to himself.
—Mother Teresa (1910–97) Roman Catholic Missionary, Nun
In Gethsemane the holiest of all petitioners prayed three times that a certain cup might pass from Him. It did not. After that the idea that prayer is recommended to us as a sort of infallible gimmick may be dismissed.
—C. S. Lewis (1898-1963) Irish-born British Academic, Author, Literary Scholar
Prayer and provender hinder no man’s journey.
—Common Proverb
In the morning will I direct my prayer unto thee.
—The Holy Bible Scripture in the Christian Faith
Whether we like it or not, asking is the rule of the Kingdom.
—Charles Spurgeon (1834–92) English Baptist Preacher
Help yourself, and Heaven will help you.
—Jean de La Fontaine (1621–95) French Poet, Short Story Writer
God answers sharp and sudden on some prayers, And thrusts the thing we have prayed for in our face. A gauntlet with a gift in’t.
—Elizabeth Barrett Browning (1806–61) English Poet
Praying is no easy matter. It demands a relationship in which you allow someone other than yourself to enter into the very center of your person, to see there what you would rather leave in darkness, and to touch there what you would rather leave untouched.
—Henri Nouwen (1932–96) Dutch Catholic Theologian, Writer
It is only when the whole heart is gripped with the passion of prayer that the life-giving fire descends, for none but the earnest man gets access to the ear of God.
—Edward McKendree Bounds (1835–1913) American Methodist Clergyman, Author, Lawyer
The body of our prayer is the sum of our duty; and as we must ask of God whatsoever we need, so we must watch and labor for all that we ask.
—Jeremy Taylor
Prayer only from the mouth is no prayer
—Jamaican Proverb
Search me, O God, and know my heart: tiy me, and know my thoughts: and see if there be any wicked way in me.
—The Holy Bible Scripture in the Christian Faith
Prayer, in its simplest definition, is merely a wish turned God-ward.
—Phillips Brooks (1835–93) American Episcopal Clergyman, Author
We should pray for a sane mind in a sound body.
—Juvenal (c.60–c.136 CE) Roman Poet
Prayer changes things.
—Unknown
For we know not what we should pray for.
—The Holy Bible Scripture in the Christian Faith
The more praying there is in the world, the better the world will be; the mightier the forces against evil everywhere.
—Edward McKendree Bounds (1835–1913) American Methodist Clergyman, Author, Lawyer
When we pray to God we must be seeking nothing – nothing.
—Francis of Assisi (1181-1226) Italian Monk, Founder of the Franciscan Order
You must pray that the way be long, full of adventures and experiences.
—Constantine P. Cavafy (1863–1933) Egyptian Greek Poet
Prayer is the spirit speaking truth to Truth.
—Philip James Bailey (1816–1902) English Poet
Even when the gates of heaven are shut to prayer, they are open to those of tears.
—The Talmud Sacred Text of the Jewish Faith
Restraining prayer, we cease to fight; Prayer keeps the Christian’s armor bright; And Satan trembles when he sees The weakest saint upon his knees.
—William Cowper (1731–1800) English Anglican Poet, Hymn writer
Earth gets its price for what Earth gives us,
The beggar is taxed for a corner to die in,
The priest hath his fee who comes and shrives us,
We bargain for the graves we lie in;
At the devil’s booth are all things sold,
Each ounce of dross costs its ounce of gold;
For a cap and bells our lives we pay.
Bubbles we buy with a whole soul’s tasking,
‘Tis heaven alone that is given away,
‘Tis only God may be had for the asking,
No price is set on the lavish summer;
June may be had by the poorest comer.
—James Russell Lowell (1819–91) American Poet, Critic
Prayer is a sincere, sensible, affectionate pouring out of the soul to God, through Christ, in the strength and assistance of the Spirit, for such things as God has promised.
—John Bunyan (1628–88) English Puritan Writer, Preacher
My prayer to God is a very short one: “O Lord, make my enemies look ridiculous!” God has granted it.
—Voltaire (1694–1778) French Philosopher, Author
Prayer is the ascending vapor which supplies the showers of blessing, and the stream that flows through earth’s dry places, till on every side “The wilderness shall blossom as the rose”.
—Albert Benjamin Simpson (1843–1919) Canadian Protestant Preacher, Theologian, Author
The less I pray, the harder it gets; the more I pray, the better it goes.
—Martin Luther (1483–1546) German Protestant Theologian
The fewer the words, the better the prayer.
—Martin Luther (1483–1546) German Protestant Theologian
Prayer is a strong wall and fortress of the church; it is a goodly Christian weapon.
—Martin Luther (1483–1546) German Protestant Theologian
Everybody prays whether you think of it as praying or not. The odd silence you fall into when something very beautiful is happening or something very good or very bad. The ah-h-h-h! that sometimes floats up out of you as out of a Fourth of July crowd when the sky-rocket bursts over the water. The stammer of pain at somebody else’s pain. The stammer of joy at somebody else’s joy. Whatever words or sounds you use for sighing with over your own life. These are all prayers in their way. These are all spoken not just to yourself but to something even more familiar than yourself and even more strange than the world.
—Frederick Buechner (b.1926) American Presbyterian Clergyman, Novelist, Short Story Writer, Essayist, Theologian
We, one and all of us, have an instinct to pray, and this fact constitutes an invitation from God to pray.
—Charles Sanders Peirce (1839–1914) American Philosopher, Logician, Mathematician
If we are to pray aright, perhaps it is quite necessary that we pray contrary to our own heart. Not what we want to pray is important, but what God wants us to pray. The richness of the Word of God ought to determine our prayer, not the poverty of our heart.
—Dietrich Bonhoeffer (1906–45) German Lutheran Pastor, Theologian
The entire day receives order and discipline when it acquires unity. This unity must be sought and found in morning prayer. The morning prayer determines the day.
—Dietrich Bonhoeffer (1906–45) German Lutheran Pastor, Theologian
It is necessary for us to withdraw at regular intervals and enable our souls to attain that quietude and inward composure which are essential if we would hear the voice of God.
—Ole Hallesby (1879–1961) Norwegian Lutheran Theologian
When it becomes clear to us that prayer is a part of our daily program of work, it will also become clear to us that we must arrange our daily program in such a way that there is time also for this work, just as we set aside time for other necessary things, such as eating and dressing.
—Ole Hallesby (1879–1961) Norwegian Lutheran Theologian
The quiet hour of prayer is one of the most favorable opportunities He has in which to speak to us seriously. In quietude and solitude before the face of God our souls can hear better than at any other time.
—Ole Hallesby (1879–1961) Norwegian Lutheran Theologian
Prayer is man’s greatest means of trapping the infinite resources of God.
—J. Edgar Hoover (1895–1972) American Lawyer, Government Official
He who cannot pray when the sun is shining will not know how to pray when the clouds come.
—Unknown
It is hard to wait and press and pray, and hear no voice, but stay till God answers.
—Edward McKendree Bounds (1835–1913) American Methodist Clergyman, Author, Lawyer
It is the will of our heavenly Father that we should come to Him freely and confidently and make known our desires to Him, just as we would have our children come freely and of their own accord and speak to us about the things they would like to have.
—Ole Hallesby (1879–1961) Norwegian Lutheran Theologian
There are many things that are essential to arriving at true peace of mind, and one of the most important is faith, which cannot be acquired without prayer.
—John Wooden (1910–2010) American Sportsperson
Cause me to hear thy loving kindness in the morning.
—The Holy Bible Scripture in the Christian Faith
I have never made but one prayer to God, a very short one: “O Lord, make my enemies ridiculous”. And God granted it.
—Voltaire (1694–1778) French Philosopher, Author
The prayer that is faithless is fruitless.
—Thomas J. Watson, Sr. (1874–1956) American Business Executive
God is in heaven, and thou upon earth: therefore let thy words be few.
—The Holy Bible Scripture in the Christian Faith
God’s ear lies close to the believer’s lip.
—Unknown