What Is Prayer?

Posted on September 6, 2026 by mitchteemley
Photo © by Mitch Teemley

What Is Prayer? It’s a deceptively simple question. Consider pondering each of the following perspectives thoughtfully and, of course, prayerfully. 

“Prayer is a refusal to settle for what is.”
~Walter Brueggemann

“To clasp the hands in prayer is the beginning of an uprising against the disorder of the world.”
~Karl Barth

“Real prayer comes not from gritting teeth but from falling in love.”
~Richard Foster

“Is prayer your steering wheel, or your spare tire?”
~Corrie ten Boom

“Prayer changes the world because it first changes us.”
~Laurence Freeman

“Prayer is not an escape from the world but an entrance into it.”
~Ann and Barry Ulanov

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About mitchteemley

Writer, Filmmaker, Humorist, Thinker-about-stuffer
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23 Responses to What Is Prayer?

  1. Estrella says:
    September 6, 2026 at 10:13 am

    👏🙏🙏

    Reply
  2. pcviii03 says:
    September 6, 2026 at 10:38 am

    Great phrases, words to take to heart.
    Blessings

    Reply
  3. Eileen Norman says:
    September 6, 2026 at 11:41 am

    Prayer is caring. In this year of losses in memory, the only names I can count on remembering are the people in grocery stores and doctor offices that I offer to pray for.

    Reply
  4. Ezekiel Fish says:
    September 6, 2026 at 3:49 pm

    When praying for ourselves, first ask, are we deserving of it? I came across this piece of advice somewhere on this site. I don’t remember the author. But it’s changed my whole outlook on prayer.

    Reply
  5. Alabastersky says:
    September 6, 2026 at 5:52 pm

    Great quotes! I really like the one from Karl Barth, good stuff!

    Reply
  6. Nancy Homlitas says:
    September 6, 2026 at 8:20 pm

    Powerfully insightful quotes about prayer. Thanks, Mitch. 🙂

    Reply
  7. cswatts says:
    September 6, 2026 at 11:29 pm

    Once upon a time, many years ago, I participated in a cursillo. Readers who are familiar with the program will know that being prayed for by name by people (one has never even met and around the world) is an incredibly powerful and moving experience.

    Reply
  8. Andrew McDowell says:
    September 7, 2026 at 6:58 am

    It helps me to voice and let out what’s going on inside me.

    Reply
  9. Maren says:
    September 7, 2026 at 9:00 am

    I do love the Corrie ten Boom! My morning laugh of self-recognittion.

    Reply
  10. Jeff says:
    September 7, 2026 at 9:58 am

    I LOVE the Richard Foster quote! I have truly been “falling in love” with Christ for the last year and a half!

    Reply
  11. Nancy Ruegg says:
    September 7, 2026 at 11:26 am

    I love Karl Barth’s idea of “beginning of an uprising against the disorder of the world” with our prayers. Such wonderful imagery to carry with us as we present our requests before God!

    Reply
  12. byngnigel says:
    September 8, 2026 at 6:28 am

    I do believe that prayed changes us.

    Reply
  13. bruce@ssa says:
    September 8, 2026 at 1:37 pm

    “Prayer is not an escape from the world but an entrance into it.” – I think you saved the best for last here, Mitch. Prayer takes us where we should always have our eyes and hearts focused on.

    Reply
  14. alsavignano says:
    September 9, 2026 at 8:17 pm

    Corrie Ten Boom nailed it.

    Reply

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