Easiness of desire is a great enemy to the success of a good man’s prayer. It must be an intent, zealous, busy, operative prayer. For consider what a huge indecency it is that a man should speak to God for a thing that he values not. Our prayers upbraid our spirits when we beg tamely for those things for which we ought to die. Things which are more precious than Imperial Scepters, richer than the spoils of the sea or the treasures of the Indian hills.
— Jeremy Taylor (1613–1667), Bischof, Theologe
Topics: Prayer & Silence, Faith & Trust
Occasions: For Reflection
Jeremy Taylor
Jeremy Taylor (1613–1667) war ein englischer Theologe, königlicher Kaplan und späterer anglikanischer Bischof in Irland. Er wurde durch sprachmächtige Erbauungsschriften wie „Holy Living“ und „Holy Dying“ bekannt, geriet jedoch wegen Abweichungen von der traditionellen Erbsündenlehre und seiner Amtsführung in Irland auch in die Kritik. Heutigen Bibellesern bieten seine Werke klassische Anleitungen zu christlicher Lebensführung, Gebet und seelsorgerlicher Sterbebegleitung.
All quotes by Jeremy Taylor (10)
When we pray, the circumstances often remain the same, but we become different.
Oswald Chambers
Prayer does not change God, but the one who prays.
Søren Kierkegaard
Courage is fear that has said its prayers.
Corrie ten Boom
To pray is to draw breath from God.
Dietrich Bonhoeffer
Charles Haddon Spurgeon
Prayer does not equip us for greater works – prayer is the greater work.
Oswald Chambers
God has his ear at your heart.
Augustine of Hippo
Prayers are tools not for doing or getting, but for being and becoming.
Eugene Peterson