--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The primary purpose of prayer is not to…" description: "\"The primary purpose of prayer is not to get something, but to know Someone.\" — David Platt" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/234/david-platt-1251_goals_the-primary-purpose-of-prayer-is-not-to_675687.png" --- # The primary purpose of prayer is not to get something, but… ![“The primary purpose of prayer is not to get something, but to know Someone.” quote by David Platt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/234/david-platt-1251_goals_the-primary-purpose-of-prayer-is-not-to_675687.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/234/david-platt-1251_goals_the-primary-purpose-of-prayer-is-not-to_675687.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/234/david-platt-1251_goals_the-primary-purpose-of-prayer-is-not-to_675687.png) > “The primary purpose of prayer is not to get something, but to know Someone.” [David Platt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-platt/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Prayer is meant to deepen relationship with the divine, not to act as a request list. **In simple terms:** Prayer builds connection, not wishes. Key Takeaway Focus on knowing God, not asking. Themes faith relationship spirituality Mood reflective contemplative Type spiritual inspirational When to use this quote - personal worship - group prayer - counseling - daily meditation Key Concepts theology humility communication Questions to Reflect On - How does your view of prayer affect your daily practice? - What does “knowing Someone” mean to you? A Different Perspective It may feel unsatisfying if expectations are transactional. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Goals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/goals/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) [Prayer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prayer/) [Purpose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/purpose/) ## Related quotes > [The first purpose of prayer is to know God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-l-allen/the-first-purpose-of-prayer-is-to-know-god/) [Charles L. Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-l-allen/) > [We look upon prayer simply as a means of getting things for ourselves, but the biblical purpose of prayer is that we may get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oswald-chambers/we-look-upon-prayer-simply-as-a-means-of-getting-things-for-ourselves/) [Oswald Chambers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oswald-chambers/) > [“The primary purpose of prayer is to bring us into such a life of communion with the Father that, by the power of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-foster/the-primary-purpose-of-prayer-is-to-bring-us-into-such-a-life-of/) [Richard Foster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-foster/) > [The primary purpose of prayer is not to make requests. The primary purpose is to praise, to sing, to chant. Because the essence of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-joshua-heschel/the-primary-purpose-of-prayer-is-not-to-make-requests-the-primary/) [Abraham Joshua Heschel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-joshua-heschel/) > [The primary purpose of adoption is to provide a home for a child, not a child for a home.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/virginia-linder/the-primary-purpose-of-adoption-is-to-provide-a-home-for-a-child-not/) Virginia Linder > [“My love for you is a prayer, she thought. Love is the only prayer I know.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marion-zimmer-bradley/my-love-for-you-is-a-prayer-she-thought-love-is-the-only-prayer-i-know/) [Marion Zimmer Bradley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marion-zimmer-bradley/) > [Prayer changes things. Prayer changes us. Prayer changes life. Sometimes an event has been manifested that needs to be stopped, midair. Don't pray just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melody-beattie/prayer-changes-things-prayer-changes-us-prayer-changes-life-sometimes/) [Melody Beattie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melody-beattie/) > [Our primary purpose in this life is to help others. And if you can't help them at least don't hurt them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/our-primary-purpose-in-this-life-is-to-help-others-and-if-you-can-t/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I don't know exactly what a prayer is. 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Do we not know that he is a rewarder of those that diligently seek him (Heb. 11:6)?…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/unknown-christian/oh-let-us-rely-more-upon-prayer-do-we-not-know-that-he-is-a-rewarder/) Unknown Christian > [A wise woman once said that every morning when you wake up you say a little prayer. After all, you never know what your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gossip-girl/a-wise-woman-once-said-that-every-morning-when-you-wake-up-you-say-a/) [Gossip Girl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gossip-girl/) > [“I don't know exactly what a prayer is. I do know how to pay attention, how to fall down into the grass, how to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-oliver/i-don-t-know-exactly-what-a-prayer-is-i-do-know-how-to-pay-attention/) [Mary Oliver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-oliver/) > [“The prayer we know as “The Lord’s Prayer” came from the Lord Jesus in direct response to His disciples’ request: “Lord, teach us to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-jeremiah/the-prayer-we-know-as-the-lord-s-prayer-came-from-the-lord-jesus-in/) [David Jeremiah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-jeremiah/) ## More by David Platt > [Every saved person this side of heaven owes the gospel to every lost person this side of hell.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-platt/every-saved-person-this-side-of-heaven-owes-the-gospel-to-every-lost/) [David Platt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-platt/) > [He (Jesus) came so that we might receive new life through supernatural regeneration.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-platt/he-jesus-came-so-that-we-might-receive-new-life-through-supernatural/) [David Platt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-platt/) > [The road that leads to heaven is risky, lonely, and costly in this world, and few are willing to pay the price. Following Jesus…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-platt/the-road-that-leads-to-heaven-is-risky-lonely-and-costly-in-this/) [David Platt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-platt/) > [Some people think that if they will do certain things, they will somehow earn the favor of God, but this misses the whole point…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-platt/some-people-think-that-if-they-will-do-certain-things-they-will/) [David Platt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-platt/) > [What if the word of God was enough to inspire passionate worship among his people?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-platt/what-if-the-word-of-god-was-enough-to-inspire-passionate-worship/) [David Platt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-platt/) > [May even the concept of unreached peoples be totally intolerable to us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-platt/may-even-the-concept-of-unreached-peoples-be-totally-intolerable-to-us/) [David Platt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-platt/) > [“Disciples like Peter, Andrew, James, and John show us that the call to follow Jesus is not simply an invitation to pray a prayer;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-platt/disciples-like-peter-andrew-james-and-john-show-us-that-the-call-to/) [David Platt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-platt/) > [A materialistic world will not be won to Christ by a materialistic church.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-platt/a-materialistic-world-will-not-be-won-to-christ-by-a-materialistic/) [David Platt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-platt/) > [“Note the contrast, however, when you diagnose the problem biblically. 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What he's getting at is that games in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-platt/the-boss-says-that-games-in-hand-are-no-good-unless-you-turn-them/) [David Platt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-platt/) > [God beckons storm clouds and they come. He tells the wind to blow and the rain to fall, and they obey immediately. He speaks…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-platt/god-beckons-storm-clouds-and-they-come-he-tells-the-wind-to-blow-and/) [David Platt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-platt/) [Explore all 266 David Platt quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-platt/) ## More Goals quotes > [I always say there are two things to be successful. The first is decide exactly what you want - set your goals - and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-tracy/i-always-say-there-are-two-things-to-be-successful-the-first-is/) [Brian Tracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-tracy/) > [The costs of the Bush-Obama wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are now estimated to run as high as $4.4 trillion - a major victory…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/the-costs-of-the-bush-obama-wars-in-iraq-and-afghanistan-are-now/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [Before I debuted, it was my goal to make my debut, and afterwards, I aimed at winning champion titles on television music shows, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hyuna/before-i-debuted-it-was-my-goal-to-make-my-debut-and-afterwards-i/) [Hyuna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hyuna/) > [I don't really like too much credit. I know nobody's going to believe this, but I'd rather be able to score goals and nobody…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bradley-wright-phillips/i-don-t-really-like-too-much-credit-i-know-nobody-s-going-to-believe/) [Bradley Wright-Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bradley-wright-phillips/) > [Leo, Cristiano Ronaldo, Neymar, Eden. Every year, you look at their numbers - score goals, assists, minutes - to see they play very well.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pedro/leo-cristiano-ronaldo-neymar-eden-every-year-you-look-at-their/) [Pedro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pedro/) > [“So Jace is my actual family," Kit said. "But I can't go live with him, because him and his hot girlfriend are going off…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/so-jace-is-my-actual-family-kit-said-but-i-can-t-go-live-with-him/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [The goal of spiritual practice is full recovery, and the only thing you need to recover from is a fractured sense of self.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marianne-williamson/the-goal-of-spiritual-practice-is-full-recovery-and-the-only-thing/) [Marianne Williamson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marianne-williamson/) > [Every drop of rain hits its appointed target.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-newton/every-drop-of-rain-hits-its-appointed-target/) [John Newton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-newton/) > [“Achieving mental harmony is one of the greatest goals and experiences in life.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kambiz-mostofizadeh/achieving-mental-harmony-is-one-of-the-greatest-goals-and-experiences/) [Kambiz Mostofizadeh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kambiz-mostofizadeh/) > [I don't think about the press or the crowds or the other leaders of the race. The focus is only on myself. As soon…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/magdalena-neuner/i-don-t-think-about-the-press-or-the-crowds-or-the-other-leaders-of/) [Magdalena Neuner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/magdalena-neuner/) > [Too many times we flitter our energy into too many goals and in the process don't achieve much. Focus is very important in life.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vaishali-kasture/too-many-times-we-flitter-our-energy-into-too-many-goals-and-in-the/) [Vaishali Kasture](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vaishali-kasture/) > [Plainly, the environment must be a living one, directed by a higher intelligence, arranged by an adult who is prepared for his mission.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-montessori/plainly-the-environment-must-be-a-living-one-directed-by-a-higher/) [Maria Montessori](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-montessori/) > [According to the best research, less than 3% of Americans have written goals, and less than 1% review and rewrite their goals on a daily basis.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-tracy/according-to-the-best-research-less-than-3-of-americans-have-written/) [Brian Tracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-tracy/) > [When you have accomplished your goal simply walk away. 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Tudor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-j-tudor/) [Browse all 21,276 Goals quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/goals/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The primary purpose of prayer is not to get something, but to know Someone.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "David Platt" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-platt/the-primary-purpose-of-prayer-is-not-to-get-something-but-to-know/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Goals" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-platt/the-primary-purpose-of-prayer-is-not-to-get-something-but-to-know/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/234/david-platt-1251_goals_the-primary-purpose-of-prayer-is-not-to_675687.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/234/david-platt-1251_goals_the-primary-purpose-of-prayer-is-not-to_675687.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/234/david-platt-1251_goals_the-primary-purpose-of-prayer-is-not-to_675687.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The primary purpose of prayer is not to get something, but to know Someone.” — David Platt", "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": "David Platt", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-platt/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "The primary purpose of prayer is...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-platt/the-primary-purpose-of-prayer-is-not-to-get-something-but-to-know/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-platt/the-primary-purpose-of-prayer-is-not-to-get-something-but-to-know/#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 } } ] } ```