--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The “poor in spirit” are eminently…" description: "\"“The “poor in spirit” are eminently competent to pray.”\" — E. M. Bounds" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/944/e-m-bounds-2-66512_competent_the-poor-in-spirit-are-eminently-compete_2942592.jpg" --- # The “poor in spirit” are eminently competent to pray. ![“The “poor in spirit” are eminently competent to pray.” quote by E. M. Bounds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/944/e-m-bounds-2-66512_competent_the-poor-in-spirit-are-eminently-compete_2942592.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/944/e-m-bounds-2-66512_competent_the-poor-in-spirit-are-eminently-compete_2942592.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/944/e-m-bounds-2-66512_competent_the-poor-in-spirit-are-eminently-compete_2942592.jpg) > ““The “poor in spirit” are eminently competent to pray.”” [E. M. Bounds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-m-bounds-2/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Those who are spiritually humble are especially capable of sincere prayer. **In simple terms:** Humility aids prayer. Key Takeaway Cultivate humility for deeper spirituality. Themes spirituality humility prayer Mood contemplative reverent Type religious philosophical When to use this quote - religious devotion - personal meditation Key Concepts faith practice inner growth Questions to Reflect On - How does humility affect your prayers? - What practices deepen spiritual humility? A Different Perspective Humility alone may not guarantee effectiveness. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Competent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/competent/) [Competent Pray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/competent-pray-4394022/) [Eminently](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/eminently-561209/) [Eminently Competent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/eminently-competent-4394024/) [Poor in spirit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poor-in-spirit/) [Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion/) [Spirit Eminently](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spirit-eminently-4394023/) ## Related quotes > [“is pre-eminently a redemptive system. It”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-wharton/is-pre-eminently-a-redemptive-system-it/) [Ed Wharton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-wharton/) > [It is eminently possible for just about anybody, to live life in such a manner that it's essentially problem-free.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-is-eminently-possible-for-just-about-anybody-to-live-life-in-such/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“A poor man is not disposed to quick and high resentment when he is among the rich: he is apt to yield to others,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-edwards/a-poor-man-is-not-disposed-to-quick-and-high-resentment-when-he-is/) [Jonathan Edwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-edwards/) > [Heaven must be an awfully dull place if the poor in spirit live there.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-goldman/heaven-must-be-an-awfully-dull-place-if-the-poor-in-spirit-live-there/) [Emma Goldman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-goldman/) > [“Mortify your pride by cultivating humility. “Put on, therefore,” says Paul, “as the elect of God, holy and beloved, . . . humbleness of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-l-moody/mortify-your-pride-by-cultivating-humility-put-on-therefore-says-paul/) [D.L. Moody](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-l-moody/) > [The man who is poor in spirit desires and says with his whole heart, Hallowed be Thy name, Thy kingdom come, Thy will be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-of-kronstadt/the-man-who-is-poor-in-spirit-desires-and-says-with-his-whole-heart/) [John of Kronstadt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-of-kronstadt/) > [“He only who is reduced to nothing in himself, and relies on the mercy of God is poor in spirit”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-calvin/he-only-who-is-reduced-to-nothing-in-himself-and-relies-on-the-mercy/) [John Calvin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-calvin/) > [Ultimate Reality is not clearly and immediately apprehended except by those who have made themselves loving, pure in heart and poor in spirit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aldous-huxley/ultimate-reality-is-not-clearly-and-immediately-apprehended-except-by/) [Aldous Huxley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aldous-huxley/) > [“Here is the sweet paradox in how God works. He blesses those who admit that they need help: The poor in spirit are blessed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-a-powlison/here-is-the-sweet-paradox-in-how-god-works-he-blesses-those-who-admit/) [David A. Powlison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-a-powlison/) > [A truly Christian love, either to God or men, is a humble broken-hearted love. The desires of the saints, however earnest, are humble desires.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-edwards/a-truly-christian-love-either-to-god-or-men-is-a-humble-broken/) [Jonathan Edwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-edwards/) > [“Blessings on the poor in spirit! The kingdom of heaven is yours” (Matt. 5:3) doesn’t mean, “You will go to heaven when you die.”…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/n-t-wright/blessings-on-the-poor-in-spirit-the-kingdom-of-heaven-is-yours-matt-5/) [N.T. Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/n-t-wright/) > [“Remaining poor in spirit, combined with a first love passion for Jesus are the keys God created to anchor us to the center of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-johnson/remaining-poor-in-spirit-combined-with-a-first-love-passion-for-jesus/) [Bill Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-johnson/) > [“...for the interests of rulers require that their subjects should be poor in spirit, and that there should be no strong bond of friendship…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/for-the-interests-of-rulers-require-that-their-subjects-should-be/) [Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/) > [“Truth is the world and falseness is man who lives within his mind world which has copied the world of Truth. Therefore, man must…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woo-myung/truth-is-the-world-and-falseness-is-man-who-lives-within-his-mind/) [Woo Myung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woo-myung/) > [Catch {a man} at the moment when he is really poor in spirit and smuggle into his mind the gratifying reflection, "By jove, I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis/catch-a-man-at-the-moment-when-he-is-really-poor-in-spirit-and/) [C. S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis/) ## More by E. M. Bounds > [“The preacher must be surrendered to God in the holiest devotion. He is not a professional man, his ministry is not a profession; it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-m-bounds-2/the-preacher-must-be-surrendered-to-god-in-the-holiest-devotion-he-is/) [E. M. Bounds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-m-bounds-2/) > [“The men who have done the most for God in this world have been early on their knees. He who fritters away the early…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-m-bounds-2/the-men-who-have-done-the-most-for-god-in-this-world-have-been-early/) [E. M. Bounds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-m-bounds-2/) > [“For trust in the person of God must precede trust in the Word of God.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-m-bounds-2/for-trust-in-the-person-of-god-must-precede-trust-in-the-word-of-god/) [E. M. Bounds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-m-bounds-2/) [Explore all 4 E. M. Bounds quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-m-bounds-2/) ## More Competent quotes > [Almost everywhere we find . . . the use of various coercive measures, to rid ourselves as quickly as possible of the child withinus--i.e.,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-miller/almost-everywhere-we-find-the-use-of-various-coercive-measures-to-rid/) [Alice Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-miller/) > [“In your goals to go the extra mile, prepare to pay an extra cost. Excellence is to be exceptional, surpassing, more competent and a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/israelmore-ayivor/in-your-goals-to-go-the-extra-mile-prepare-to-pay-an-extra-cost/) [Israelmore Ayivor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/israelmore-ayivor/) > [You basically have a group of four spies who are chosen for a mission they feel for the fact of how competent they are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-leblanc/you-basically-have-a-group-of-four-spies-who-are-chosen-for-a-mission/) [Matt LeBlanc](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-leblanc/) > [While photography is the easiest medium in which to be competent, it is the hardest in which to develop an idiosyncratic personal vision.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-close/while-photography-is-the-easiest-medium-in-which-to-be-competent-it/) [Chuck Close](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-close/) > [There's always, I guess, a philosophy that if you come in, you want to change all the parts, you want to change everything over.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-gillick/there-s-always-i-guess-a-philosophy-that-if-you-come-in-you-want-to/) [Pat Gillick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-gillick/) > [If you are any competent musician, if you have creative ideas, ideas of songs, of arrangements, in a band like the Stones, where these…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-wyman/if-you-are-any-competent-musician-if-you-have-creative-ideas-ideas-of/) [Bill Wyman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-wyman/) > [I remember when President Bush, George W. Bush, came into office, he focused on No Child Left Behind, and with - and before very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lamar-alexander/i-remember-when-president-bush-george-w-bush-came-into-office-he/) [Lamar Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lamar-alexander/) > [I have so many positive points. I am not corrupt, I am competent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tamilisai-soundararajan/i-have-so-many-positive-points-i-am-not-corrupt-i-am-competent/) [Tamilisai Soundararajan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tamilisai-soundararajan/) > [We could encourage the best qualities of youthfulness - curiosity, adventure, resilience, the capacity for surprising insight simply by being more flexible about time,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-taylor-gatto/we-could-encourage-the-best-qualities-of-youthfulness-curiosity/) [John Taylor Gatto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-taylor-gatto/) > [As part of our ongoing series of reports on the environment, 'America Goes Green,' we take on the question that can make otherwise competent…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-williams/as-part-of-our-ongoing-series-of-reports-on-the-environment-america/) [Brian Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-williams/) > [As for mathematicians themselves: don't expect too much help. Most of them are too far removed in their ivory towers to take up such…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/apostolos-doxiadis/as-for-mathematicians-themselves-don-t-expect-too-much-help-most-of/) [Apostolos Doxiadis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/apostolos-doxiadis/) > [But medicine has long had all its means to hand, and has discovered both a principle and a method, through which the discoveries made…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hippocrates/but-medicine-has-long-had-all-its-means-to-hand-and-has-discovered/) [Hippocrates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hippocrates/) > [Not everyone in an organization is in a position to accumulate power through competent performance because most people are just carrying out the ordinary…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rosabeth-moss-kanter/not-everyone-in-an-organization-is-in-a-position-to-accumulate-power/) [Rosabeth Moss Kanter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rosabeth-moss-kanter/) > [How infinitely happier and more grateful is the whole personality or spirit when it finds something nourishing in art or writing or thinking, than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenny-smith/how-infinitely-happier-and-more-grateful-is-the-whole-personality-or/) [Kenny Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenny-smith/) > [One could count on one's fingers the number of scientists throughout the world with a general idea of the history and development of their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simone-weil/one-could-count-on-one-s-fingers-the-number-of-scientists-throughout/) [Simone Weil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simone-weil/) [Browse all 395 Competent quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/competent/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“The “poor in spirit” are eminently competent to pray.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "E. M. Bounds" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-m-bounds-2/the-poor-in-spirit-are-eminently-competent-to-pray/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Competent" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-m-bounds-2/the-poor-in-spirit-are-eminently-competent-to-pray/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/944/e-m-bounds-2-66512_competent_the-poor-in-spirit-are-eminently-compete_2942592.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/944/e-m-bounds-2-66512_competent_the-poor-in-spirit-are-eminently-compete_2942592.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/944/e-m-bounds-2-66512_competent_the-poor-in-spirit-are-eminently-compete_2942592.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The “poor in spirit” are eminently competent to pray.” — E. M. Bounds", "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": "E. M. Bounds", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-m-bounds-2/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“The “poor in spirit” are eminently...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-m-bounds-2/the-poor-in-spirit-are-eminently-competent-to-pray/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-m-bounds-2/the-poor-in-spirit-are-eminently-competent-to-pray/#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 } } ] } ```