A Beginner's Guide to Prayer Quotes

“prayer is the intimate conversation of lovers, in which any kind of deceit is inexcusable.”
― Michael Keiser, A Beginner’s Guide to Prayer: The Orthodox Way to Draw Close to God

“Our problem is that we often find it hard to love ourselves as we are, so we assume that God doesn’t love us either. We hold back the bad parts, so that our prayer is neither as bold nor as honest as it should be.”
― Michael Keiser, A Beginner’s Guide to Prayer: The Orthodox Way to Draw Close to God

“You need God’s help to see what needs to change, and then you need His help to change it. The ability to see yourself clearly is a gift from God, and you must ask Him for it.”
― Michael Keiser, A Beginner’s Guide to Prayer: The Orthodox Way to Draw Close to God

“Your knowledge and love of God grows through prayer, study, and experience, as you seek to do His will and draw close to Him.”
― Michael Keiser, A Beginner’s Guide to Prayer: The Orthodox Way to Draw Close to God

“It may just seem that nothing happens. No matter how genuine our faith, there will be times when we question whether or not God pays attention. And we will ask for things our entire lives that we will never receive.”
― Michael Keiser, A Beginner’s Guide to Prayer: The Orthodox Way to Draw Close to God

“The first level of prayer is one of awkward discovery, like dating for the first time. There we are, praying along, when we catch a glimpse of our Beloved, walking among the valleys and skipping atop the hills. Before we know it, we have fallen for Him, and then what do we do? Probably try to think of something original to say. But, as on that first date, we will likely blurt out something embarrassingly stupid that does not express our true feelings at all. We need the experience of someone older and wiser in the ways of love—a Cyrano de Bergerac who can give us some great lines. Thus the need for the written prayers.”
― Michael Keiser, A Beginner’s Guide to Prayer: The Orthodox Way to Draw Close to God

“The more of our sinful self we discover that needs to be purged by God’s light, the more of God’s light we discover already dwelling inside of us. The more dark places are disclosed, the more light shines, and we are transformed into God’s image.”
― Michael Keiser, A Beginner’s Guide to Prayer: The Orthodox Way to Draw Close to God

“Love breaks down separation because we want to be one with the person we love. If we love God, we want to become one with Him. St. Dimitri of Rostov wrote, “No unity with God is possible without an exceeding great love.” Loving and joining go together. But you cannot become one with someone if you never talk to him. You cannot be in love with someone you do not know. Genuine lovers are always discovering things about each other. The more you know about the one you love, the more you will be in love with him.”
― Michael Keiser, A Beginner’s Guide to Prayer: The Orthodox Way to Draw Close to God