“The function of prayer is not to influence God, but rather to change the nature of the one who prays.”
— Søren Kierkegaard
updated 4mo ago
“The function of prayer is not to influence God, but rather to change the nature of the one who prays.” — Søren Kierkegaard
We ask not to change God but to change ourselves. We pray to form a living relationship, not to get things done. Prayer is a symbiotic relationship with life and with God, a synergy which creates a result larger than the exchange itself.
from Breathing Under Water : Spirituality and the Twelve Steps by Richard Rohr
“Prayer is the desire to pray.”
from Running the Spiritual Path: A Runner's Guide to Breathing, Meditating, and Exploring the Prayerful Dimension of the Sport by Roger Joslin
we pray not so much to please or change God, but to change ourselves—not because God needs our prayers, but because we do.
from Here All Along: Finding Meaning, Spirituality, and a Deeper Connection to Life--in Judaism (After Finally Choosing to Look There) by Sarah Hurwitz