We are trying not so much to make God listen to us as to make ourselves listen to Him; we are trying not to persuade God to do what we want, but to find out what he wants us to do. It so often happens that in prayer we are really saying, “Thy will be changed,” when we ought to be saying, “Thy will be done.” The first object of prayer is not so much to speak to God as to listen to Him.
— William Barclay (1907–1978), Bibelkommentator
Topics: Prayer & Silence, Guidance & God's Will
Occasions: For Reflection
William Barclay
William Barclay (1907–1978) war ein schottischer presbyterianischer Pfarrer und Professor für biblische Kritik an der University of Glasgow. Weithin bekannt wurde er durch seine Kommentarreihe *The Daily Study Bible*, stieß jedoch bei konservativ-evangelikalen Theologen wegen seiner universalistischen Heilslehre und rationaler Deutungen von Wunderberichten auf Kritik. Für heutige Bibelleser bietet sein Werk einen anschaulichen und leicht verständlichen Zugang zur griechischen Begriffsgeschichte sowie zur Umwelt des Neuen Testaments.
All quotes by William Barclay (12)
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