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The inattentive, slovenly way we drift into the presence of God is an indication that we are not bothering to think about Him. Whenever our Lord spoke of prayer, He said, "Ask." It is impossible to ask if you do not concentrate.
Oswald Chambers
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Interpretation

What this quote means

Being careless in prayer signifies a lack of genuine engagement with God.

In this quote, Oswald Chambers emphasizes the importance of being attentive and focused when approaching God in prayer. He suggests that a casual or careless attitude reflects a lack of true contemplation and desire to connect with the divine. Prayer requires concentration, and genuine asking stems from a sincere effort to engage with God, rather than a mere routine gesture.

Themes

PrayerAttentionGodFocusSpirituality

In practice

Example use cases

In a church sermon about the importance of prayer.

More from Oswald Chambers

Certainty is the mark of the commonsense life-gracious uncertainty is the mark of the spiritual life.
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Never make the blunder of trying to forecast the way God is going to answer your prayer.
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Service is the overflow which pours from a life filled with love and devotion. But strictly speaking, there is no call to that. Service is what I bring to the relationship and is the reflection of my identification with the nature of God.
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When we preach the love of God there is a danger of forgetting that the Bible reveals not first the love of God but the intense, blazing holiness of God, with His love at the center of that holiness.
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It is much easier to do something than to trust in God; we mistake panic for inspiration.
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Service is the overflow which pours from a life filled with love and devotion.
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