--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Our prayers may be an index of how small…" description: "\"Our prayers may be an index of how small and self-centered our world is.\" — D. A. Carson" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/869/d-a-carson-4044_may_our-prayers-may-be-an-index-of-how-small_719911.png" --- # Our prayers may be an index of how small and self-centered… ![“Our prayers may be an index of how small and self-centered our world is.” quote by D. A. Carson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/869/d-a-carson-4044_may_our-prayers-may-be-an-index-of-how-small_719911.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/869/d-a-carson-4044_may_our-prayers-may-be-an-index-of-how-small_719911.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/869/d-a-carson-4044_may_our-prayers-may-be-an-index-of-how-small_719911.png) > “Our prayers may be an index of how small and self-centered our world is.” [D. A. Carson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-a-carson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Prayer reflects humanity's tendency toward self‑interest and limited perspective. **In simple terms:** Prayer shows human self‑centeredness. Key Takeaway Cultivate humility and broader empathy in spiritual practice. Themes humility spirituality self‑awareness Mood thoughtful serious Type theological philosophical When to use this quote - personal prayer - group worship - interfaith dialogue - ethical discussions Key Concepts theology human nature Questions to Reflect On - In what ways can prayer expand beyond self? - How does humility shape your faith? A Different Perspective Prayer can also be selfless and communal. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Our world](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/our-world/) [Prayer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prayer/) [Prayers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prayers/) [Self](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self/) [Self centered](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self-centered/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) ## Related quotes > [Fling away your soul once for all, your own small self; if you will find it again. Count not even on immortality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-anthony-froude/fling-away-your-soul-once-for-all-your-own-small-self-if-you-will/) [James Anthony Froude](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-anthony-froude/) > [We can believe we are being self-reliant and independent, and yet there is still clearly an overarching destiny, a Great Maker. So when we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-cameron/we-can-believe-we-are-being-self-reliant-and-independent-and-yet/) [Julia Cameron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-cameron/) > [“I will still feel some importance in altering the room, because there you were, the pastiche of some lovely distant star as I surrounded…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-burkard/i-will-still-feel-some-importance-in-altering-the-room-because-there/) [Michael Burkard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-burkard/) > [“Fortunately, all you have to get rid of is the illusion. People think they have to get rid of the small self in order…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jan-esmann/fortunately-all-you-have-to-get-rid-of-is-the-illusion-people-think/) Jan Esmann > [To live and breathe with an exclusive focus on one's small self, disconnected from the whole, is the definition of egotism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharon-gannon/to-live-and-breathe-with-an-exclusive-focus-on-one-s-small-self/) [Sharon Gannon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharon-gannon/) > [I'd like to get something small and self-generated in before Black Rock has whatever life that it has.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katie-aselton/i-d-like-to-get-something-small-and-self-generated-in-before-black/) [Katie Aselton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katie-aselton/) > [“Let go of your small self and become your true self.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kazuaki-tanahashi/let-go-of-your-small-self-and-become-your-true-self/) [Kazuaki Tanahashi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kazuaki-tanahashi/) > [The self of which you speak, whether it is the great self or the small self, is only a concept that does not correspond…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gautama-buddha/the-self-of-which-you-speak-whether-it-is-the-great-self-or-the-small/) [Gautama Buddha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gautama-buddha/) > [Our prayer must not be self-centered. 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Rather it is our mischievous, dishonest attributes that provide the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yehuda-berg/our-good-nature-and-endearing-qualities-will-not-arouse-the-answers/) [Yehuda Berg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yehuda-berg/) > [Daily fervent prayers seeking forgiveness and special help and direction are essential to our lives and the nourishment of our testimonies. When we become…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-l-staheli/daily-fervent-prayers-seeking-forgiveness-and-special-help-and/) Donald L. Staheli > [Tonight, I ask for your prayers for all those who grieve, for the children whose worlds have been shattered, for all whose sense of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/tonight-i-ask-for-your-prayers-for-all-those-who-grieve-for-the/) [George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/) > [Sometimes it is best for men not to attempt to interfere with destiny. Our prayers can be answered in ways which we do not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilbur-smith/sometimes-it-is-best-for-men-not-to-attempt-to-interfere-with-destiny/) [Wilbur Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilbur-smith/) > [Heavenly Father hears your prayers, He loves you. He knows your name. He loves you beyond your ability to comprehend.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-b-eyring/heavenly-father-hears-your-prayers-he-loves-you-he-knows-your-name-he/) [Henry B. Eyring](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-b-eyring/) ## More by D. A. Carson > [Unchecked, the new tolerance will sooner or later put many people in chains.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-a-carson/unchecked-the-new-tolerance-will-sooner-or-later-put-many-people-in/) [D. A. Carson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-a-carson/) > [God's wrath is not an implacable, blind rage. However emotional it may be, it is an entirely reasonable and willed response to offenses against…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-a-carson/god-s-wrath-is-not-an-implacable-blind-rage-however-emotional-it-may/) [D. A. Carson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-a-carson/) > [Others have questions about how it is that God and human beings can both be speaking through the one document such that you can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-a-carson/others-have-questions-about-how-it-is-that-god-and-human-beings-can/) [D. A. Carson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-a-carson/) > [The New Testament writers did not invent a doctrine of Scripture they inherited it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-a-carson/the-new-testament-writers-did-not-invent-a-doctrine-of-scripture-they/) [D. A. Carson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-a-carson/) > [The Bible is not interested in precisionism unless the context indicates that precision is particularly important.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-a-carson/the-bible-is-not-interested-in-precisionism-unless-the-context/) [D. A. Carson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-a-carson/) > [Effectiveness in teaching the Bible is purchased at the price of much study, some of it lonely, all of it tiring.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-a-carson/effectiveness-in-teaching-the-bible-is-purchased-at-the-price-of-much/) [D. A. Carson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-a-carson/) > [Do you wish to see God's love? Look at the cross. Do you wish to see God's wrath? Look at the cross.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-a-carson/do-you-wish-to-see-god-s-love-look-at-the-cross-do-you-wish-to-see/) [D. A. 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