What If Jesus Was Serious About Prayer? Quotes

“What if the underlying malady afflicting Christians today isn't that we take Jesus too seriously, but that we've failed to take Him seriously enough? What if much of the culture's judgement of Christians isn't the result of obeying Jesus, but the result of Christians ignoring Him?”
― Skye Jethani, What If Jesus Was Serious About Prayer?: A Visual Guide to the Spiritual Practice Most of Us Get Wrong

“The truly radical Christian is not the one whose life appears extraordinary, but the one whose unseen communion with God is extraordinary. Living radically is about prayer, not prominence.”
― Skye Jethani, What If Jesus Was Serious About Prayer?: A Visual Guide to the Spiritual Practice Most of Us Get Wrong

“Desolation—the sense of God’s absence When, today, did I sense being drawn away from God? When did I feel most dissatisfied and restricted today? Was there any time today when I felt discouraged? What was the most draining part of my day? Was there time today when I felt guilty, ashamed, or lonely? Consolation—the sense of God’s presence When, today, did I feel closest to the presence of God? What events, relationships, or thoughts of the day drew me nearer to God? When did I feel most free? What was the most life-giving part of my day? What was most joyful about my day?”
― Skye Jethani, What If Jesus Was Serious About Prayer?: A Visual Guide to the Spiritual Practice Most of Us Get Wrong

“Consider how you've been taught to engage the Bible. Do you see it primarily as a book of answers--a guide to the way to live your best life now? Or, do you engage the Bible as a window through which you see and know God? If the Bible is primarily a manual you'll find its value in prayer to be minimal. If you approach it as a window, however, it may be the most important way you learn to pray.”
― Skye Jethani, What If Jesus Was Serious About Prayer?: A Visual Guide to the Spiritual Practice Most of Us Get Wrong

“This way of prayer, this simple relationship to your Lord, is so suited for everyone; it is just as suited for the dull and the ignorant as it is for the well-educated. This prayer, this experience which begins so simply, has as its end a totally abandoned love to the Lord. Only one thing is required—Love.”
― Skye Jethani, What If Jesus Was Serious About Prayer?: A Visual Guide to the Spiritual Practice Most of Us Get Wrong

“Jesus saw prayer as the intimate connection between a dependent child and a loving parent.”
― Skye Jethani, What If Jesus Was Serious About Prayer?: A Visual Guide to the Spiritual Practice Most of Us Get Wrong

“It isn’t enough to pray in desperation. We must also pray in faith—and very often the faith of a child is more than enough.”
― Skye Jethani, What If Jesus Was Serious About Prayer?: A Visual Guide to the Spiritual Practice Most of Us Get Wrong

“In common upward prayer, we lift our desires, concerns, needs, and confessions to God. Downward prayer, which is much less common but shouldn’t be, means calling upon the resources available to us in the heavens. If that idea sounds strange to you, it may be because we teach about Jesus’ death and resurrection but often ignore His ascension.”
― Skye Jethani, What If Jesus Was Serious About Prayer?: A Visual Guide to the Spiritual Practice Most of Us Get Wrong

“Unlike other rabbis and teachers who saw prayers almost like magical incantations—formulaic words designed to control and compel a reluctant God to act—Jesus saw prayer as the intimate connection between a dependent child and a loving parent.”
― Skye Jethani, What If Jesus Was Serious About Prayer?: A Visual Guide to the Spiritual Practice Most of Us Get Wrong

“And while Jesus’ disciples wanted to learn how to pray above all else, our priorities are precisely the opposite. A nationwide survey asked pastors to identify their highest ministry priorities. Among the top results were evangelism and outreach (46%) and preaching (35%). Prayer ranked dead last (3%).1”
― Skye Jethani, What If Jesus Was Serious About Prayer?: A Visual Guide to the Spiritual Practice Most of Us Get Wrong