---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When I am praying the most eloquently, I…"
description: "\"When I am praying the most eloquently, I am getting the least accomplished in my prayer life. But when I stop getting eloquent and give God less theolo..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0b4/aiden-wilson-tozer-296_accomplished_when-i-am-praying-the-most-eloquently-i_2245182.png"
---

#  When I am praying the most eloquently, I am getting the…

![“When I am praying the most eloquently, I am getting the least accomplished in my prayer life. But when I stop getting eloquent and give God less theology and shut up and just gaze upward and wait for God to speak to my heart He speaks with such power that I have to grab a pencil and a notebook and…” quote by Aiden Wilson Tozer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0b4/aiden-wilson-tozer-296_accomplished_when-i-am-praying-the-most-eloquently-i_2245182.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0b4/aiden-wilson-tozer-296_accomplished_when-i-am-praying-the-most-eloquently-i_2245182.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0b4/aiden-wilson-tozer-296_accomplished_when-i-am-praying-the-most-eloquently-i_2245182.png)

> “When I am praying the most eloquently, I am getting the least accomplished in my prayer life. But when I stop getting eloquent and give God less theology and shut up and just gaze upward and wait for God to speak to my heart He speaks with such power that I have to grab a pencil and a notebook and take notes on what God is saying to my heart.”

[Aiden Wilson Tozer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aiden-wilson-tozer/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Prayer becomes effective when it is simple, sincere, and attentive rather than verbose and intellectual.

**In simple terms:** Simple prayer works better than eloquent prayer.

Key Takeaway

Listen quietly and write down what you feel.

Themes

prayer humility spiritual listening

Mood

contemplative reverent

Type

spiritual practical

When to use this quote

- personal worship
- group prayer
- spiritual retreats

Key Concepts

faith communication divine guidance

Questions to Reflect On

- How can you simplify your prayer?
- What does God reveal when you are silent?

A Different Perspective

Eloquence can distract from true listening.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Eloquent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/eloquent/) [Giving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/giving/) [Heart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/heart/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Notebook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/notebook/) [Prayer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prayer/) [Prayer life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prayer-life/) [Praying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/praying/) [Theology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theology/)

## Related quotes

> [God is not silent. It is the nature of God to speak. The second person of the Holy Trinity is called "The Word." The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aiden-wilson-tozer/god-is-not-silent-it-is-the-nature-of-god-to-speak-the-second-person/)

[Aiden Wilson Tozer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aiden-wilson-tozer/)

> [A satisfying prayer life elevates and purifies every act of body and mind and integrates the entire personality into a single spiritual unit. In…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aiden-wilson-tozer/a-satisfying-prayer-life-elevates-and-purifies-every-act-of-body-and/)

[Aiden Wilson Tozer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aiden-wilson-tozer/)

> [Silence is often the most eloquent answer to our critics.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aiden-wilson-tozer/silence-is-often-the-most-eloquent-answer-to-our-critics/)

[Aiden Wilson Tozer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aiden-wilson-tozer/)

> [“those who wish to serve God should speak to Him frequently, confidingly, lovingly. Be”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfonso-maria-de-liguori/those-who-wish-to-serve-god-should-speak-to-him-frequently/)

[Alfonso Maria de Liguori](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfonso-maria-de-liguori/)

> [“Are you learning to listen to God before you speak, or are you saying things and then trying to make God’s Word fit what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oswald-chambers/are-you-learning-to-listen-to-god-before-you-speak-or-are-you-saying/)

[Oswald Chambers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oswald-chambers/)

> [God must speak to us before we have any liberty to speak to him. He must disclose to us who he is before we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-stott/god-must-speak-to-us-before-we-have-any-liberty-to-speak-to-him-he/)

[John Stott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-stott/)

> [Abraham Lincoln suggested never presume to know what God's will is, and I would never presume to know God's will or to speak God's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-palin/abraham-lincoln-suggested-never-presume-to-know-what-god-s-will-is/)

[Sarah Palin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-palin/)

> [God sometimes seems to speak to us most intimately when he catches us, as it were, off our guard.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis/god-sometimes-seems-to-speak-to-us-most-intimately-when-he-catches-us/)

[C. S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis/)

> [“Sometimes you have to get out of your routine so God can speak to you in a non-routine way.” 9”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georgia-shaffer/sometimes-you-have-to-get-out-of-your-routine-so-god-can-speak-to-you/)

Georgia Shaffer

> [Now God has never shouted out to me. I've never heard God speak audibly. He doesn't have to.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-warren/now-god-has-never-shouted-out-to-me-i-ve-never-heard-god-speak/)

[Rick Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-warren/)

> [If you stay in the word of God then you'll get a fresh leading of new things to share. I share my testimony of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-camp/if-you-stay-in-the-word-of-god-then-you-ll-get-a-fresh-leading-of-new/)

[Jeremy Camp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-camp/)

> [“Be particularly careful in speaking of yourself: You may not, indeed, deny the work of God; but speak of it, when you are called…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mildred-bangs-wynkoop/be-particularly-careful-in-speaking-of-yourself-you-may-not-indeed/)

[Mildred Bangs Wynkoop](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mildred-bangs-wynkoop/)

> [I would rather speak the truth to ten men than blandishments and lying to a million. Try it, ye who think there is nothing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-ward-beecher/i-would-rather-speak-the-truth-to-ten-men-than-blandishments-and/)

[Henry Ward Beecher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-ward-beecher/)

> [God has spoken very boldly about his desire to be a presence in our lives. If I want to heal the ache and loneliness…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-hansel/god-has-spoken-very-boldly-about-his-desire-to-be-a-presence-in-our/)

[Tim Hansel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-hansel/)

> [God speaks once, yea twice, yet Man perceiveth it not, in a Dream, in a Vision of the night, when deep Sleep falleth upon…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-bunyan/god-speaks-once-yea-twice-yet-man-perceiveth-it-not-in-a-dream-in-a/)

[John Bunyan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-bunyan/)

## More by Aiden Wilson Tozer

> [I think a new world will arise out of the religious mists when we approach our Bible with the idea that it is not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aiden-wilson-tozer/i-think-a-new-world-will-arise-out-of-the-religious-mists-when-we/)

[Aiden Wilson Tozer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aiden-wilson-tozer/)

> [One thing the young Christian should be taught as quickly as possible after his conversion is that Jesus Christ is all he needs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aiden-wilson-tozer/one-thing-the-young-christian-should-be-taught-as-quickly-as-possible/)

[Aiden Wilson Tozer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aiden-wilson-tozer/)

> [The idea that this world is a playground instead of a battleground has now been accepted in practice by the vast majority of Christians.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aiden-wilson-tozer/the-idea-that-this-world-is-a-playground-instead-of-a-battleground/)

[Aiden Wilson Tozer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aiden-wilson-tozer/)

> [God often hides His blessing in trouble or trial, which makes it all the sweeter when it comes our way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aiden-wilson-tozer/god-often-hides-his-blessing-in-trouble-or-trial-which-makes-it-all/)

[Aiden Wilson Tozer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aiden-wilson-tozer/)

> [Pay no heed to the passing religious vogue. Go back to the grass roots. Open your hearts and search the Scriptures. Bear your cross,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aiden-wilson-tozer/pay-no-heed-to-the-passing-religious-vogue-go-back-to-the-grass-roots/)

[Aiden Wilson Tozer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aiden-wilson-tozer/)

> [To pray without expectation is to misunderstand the whole concept of prayer and relationship with God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aiden-wilson-tozer/to-pray-without-expectation-is-to-misunderstand-the-whole-concept-of/)

[Aiden Wilson Tozer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aiden-wilson-tozer/)

> [It's time for us to rise up, get out of the rut and routine, and begin to take our Christian faith seriously.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aiden-wilson-tozer/it-s-time-for-us-to-rise-up-get-out-of-the-rut-and-routine-and-begin/)

[Aiden Wilson Tozer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aiden-wilson-tozer/)

> [The true Christian ideal is not to be happy but to be holy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aiden-wilson-tozer/the-true-christian-ideal-is-not-to-be-happy-but-to-be-holy/)

[Aiden Wilson Tozer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aiden-wilson-tozer/)

> [The goodness of God is infinitely more wonderful than we will ever be able to comprehend.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aiden-wilson-tozer/the-goodness-of-god-is-infinitely-more-wonderful-than-we-will-ever-be/)

[Aiden Wilson Tozer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aiden-wilson-tozer/)

> [A holy man isn't aware that he's holy..As soon as we begin to talk about how holy we are, we aren't holy any more.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aiden-wilson-tozer/a-holy-man-isn-t-aware-that-he-s-holy-as-soon-as-we-begin-to-talk/)

[Aiden Wilson Tozer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aiden-wilson-tozer/)

> [There is a strain of loneliness infecting many Christians, which only the presence of God can cure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aiden-wilson-tozer/there-is-a-strain-of-loneliness-infecting-many-christians-which-only/)

[Aiden Wilson Tozer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aiden-wilson-tozer/)

> [Where God is not glorified, that place is sick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aiden-wilson-tozer/where-god-is-not-glorified-that-place-is-sick/)

[Aiden Wilson Tozer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aiden-wilson-tozer/)

> [Hope is the music of the whole Bible, the heartbeat, the pulse and the atmosphere of the whole Bible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aiden-wilson-tozer/hope-is-the-music-of-the-whole-bible-the-heartbeat-the-pulse-and-the/)

[Aiden Wilson Tozer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aiden-wilson-tozer/)

> [Christian liberty is freedom from sin, not freedom to sin.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aiden-wilson-tozer/christian-liberty-is-freedom-from-sin-not-freedom-to-sin/)

[Aiden Wilson Tozer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aiden-wilson-tozer/)

> [Outside of the will of god, there is nothing I want. And in the will of god there is nothing I fear.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aiden-wilson-tozer/outside-of-the-will-of-god-there-is-nothing-i-want-and-in-the-will-of/)

[Aiden Wilson Tozer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aiden-wilson-tozer/)

[Explore all 720 Aiden Wilson Tozer quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aiden-wilson-tozer/)

## More Accomplished quotes

> [I never believed in trying to do anything. Whatever I set out to do I found I had already accomplished.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/i-never-believed-in-trying-to-do-anything-whatever-i-set-out-to-do-i/)

[Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/)

> [This is, for an accomplished Latino, an accomplished African American, an accomplished anyone who disproves stereotypes, it's a constant battle in your life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonia-sotomayor/this-is-for-an-accomplished-latino-an-accomplished-african-american/)

[Sonia Sotomayor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonia-sotomayor/)

> [When you have accomplished your goal simply walk away. This is the path way to Heaven.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laozi/when-you-have-accomplished-your-goal-simply-walk-away-this-is-the/)

[Laozi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laozi/)

> [... even the most sublimely accomplished non-stop talker can't consistently please.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-d-salinger-2/even-the-most-sublimely-accomplished-non-stop-talker-can-t/)

[J. D. Salinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-d-salinger-2/)

> [ \[U\]nless oppressed groups stick together, and on alliances of self interest rather than do-goodism; nothing can be accomplished in the long run to dismantle… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shulamith-firestone/u-nless-oppressed-groups-stick-together-and-on-alliances-of-self/)

[Shulamith Firestone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shulamith-firestone/)

> [Alas, you don't need monsters for monstrous deeds to be accomplished.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zygmunt-bauman/alas-you-don-t-need-monsters-for-monstrous-deeds-to-be-accomplished/)

[Zygmunt Bauman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zygmunt-bauman/)

> [Like all writers, he measured the achievements of others by what they had accomplished, asking of them that they measure him by what he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jorge-luis-borges/like-all-writers-he-measured-the-achievements-of-others-by-what-they/)

[Jorge Luis Borges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jorge-luis-borges/)

> [I'm proud of what I've accomplished and that is empowering.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/violet-chachki/i-m-proud-of-what-i-ve-accomplished-and-that-is-empowering/)

[Violet Chachki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/violet-chachki/)

> [We do not know today whether we are busy or idle. In times when we thought ourselves indolent, we have afterwards discovered that much…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/we-do-not-know-today-whether-we-are-busy-or-idle-in-times-when-we/)

[Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/)

> [I don't know Beyoncé, but I have the impression that she's sincere, that she really is a feminist and wanted to put the word…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gloria-steinem/i-don-t-know-beyonc-but-i-have-the-impression-that-she-s-sincere-that/)

[Gloria Steinem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gloria-steinem/)

> [The gain in self-confidence of having accomplished a tiresome labour is immense.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arnold-bennett/the-gain-in-self-confidence-of-having-accomplished-a-tiresome-labour/)

[Arnold Bennett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arnold-bennett/)

> [With Epcot Center, the Disney corporation has accomplished something I didn't think possible in today's world. They have created a land of make-believe that's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/with-epcot-center-the-disney-corporation-has-accomplished-something-i/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [Listing the polar bear under the Endangered Species Act could harm bear conservation efforts by eliminating revenues from the carefully-regulated sport hunting of polar…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-ridenour/listing-the-polar-bear-under-the-endangered-species-act-could-harm/)

Amy Ridenour

> [“Great things can be accomplished, when it doesnt matter who gets the credit.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/great-things-can-be-accomplished-when-it-doesnt-matter-who-gets-the/)

[Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/)

> [If I could inspire you for even a moment to be yourself and love yourself, and not let what anyone has to say hinder…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshua-neal-hartry/if-i-could-inspire-you-for-even-a-moment-to-be-yourself-and-love/)

[Joshua Neal Hartry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joshua-neal-hartry/)

Browse all 1,379 Accomplished quotes

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "When I am praying the most eloquently, I am getting the least accomplished in my prayer life. But when I stop getting eloquent and give God less theology and shut up and just gaze upward and wait for God to speak to my heart He speaks with such power that I have to grab a pencil and a notebook and take notes on what God is saying to my heart.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Aiden Wilson Tozer"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aiden-wilson-tozer/when-i-am-praying-the-most-eloquently-i-am-getting-the-least/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Accomplished"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aiden-wilson-tozer/when-i-am-praying-the-most-eloquently-i-am-getting-the-least/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0b4/aiden-wilson-tozer-296_accomplished_when-i-am-praying-the-most-eloquently-i_2245182.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0b4/aiden-wilson-tozer-296_accomplished_when-i-am-praying-the-most-eloquently-i_2245182.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0b4/aiden-wilson-tozer-296_accomplished_when-i-am-praying-the-most-eloquently-i_2245182.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“When I am praying the most eloquently, I am getting the least accomplished in my prayer life. But when I…” — Aiden Wilson Tozer",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Aiden Wilson Tozer",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aiden-wilson-tozer/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "When I am praying the most...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aiden-wilson-tozer/when-i-am-praying-the-most-eloquently-i-am-getting-the-least/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aiden-wilson-tozer/when-i-am-praying-the-most-eloquently-i-am-getting-the-least/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
