Retire from the world each day to some private spot, even if it be only the bedroom (for a while I retreated to the furnace room for want of a better place). Stay in the secret place till the surrounding noises begin to fade out of your heart and a sense of God’s presence envelops you… Listen for the inward Voice till you learn to recognize it. Stop trying to compete with others. Give yourself to God and then be what and who you are without regard to what others think… Learn to pray inwardly every moment. After a while you can do this even while you work… Read less, but more of what is important to your inner life. Never let your mind remain scattered for very long. Call home your roving thoughts. Gaze on Christ with the eyes of your soul. Practice spiritual concentration. All the above is contingent upon a right relation to God through Christ and daily meditation on the Scriptures. Lacking these, nothing will help us; granted these, the discipline recommended will go far to neutralize the evil effects of externalism to make us acquainted with God and our own souls.
— A.W. Tozer (1897–1963), Pastor, Autor
Related Bible passage: MAT.6.6
Topics: Prayer & Silence, Meaning & Identity, Growth & Character
Occasions: For Reflection
A.W. Tozer
Aiden Wilson Tozer (1897–1963) war ein US-amerikanischer Pastor und Publizist der Christian and Missionary Alliance, der vor allem in Chicago und Toronto wirkte. Seine Schriften betonen die persönliche Ehrfurcht vor Gottes Heiligkeit, eine innige Gebetspraxis und eine scharfe Kritik an kirchlicher Oberflächlichkeit. Heutigen Bibellesern dient er als Mahner zu geistlicher Tiefe, wenngleich Biografen auf die gravierende Vernachlässigung seiner Familie infolge seines asketischen Arbeitspensums hinweisen.
All quotes by A.W. Tozer (128)
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