--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Prayer is no fitful, short-lived thing…" description: "\"Prayer is no fitful, short-lived thing. It is no voice crying unheard and unheeded in the silence. It is a voice which goes into God's ear, and it live..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9c2/edward-mckendree-bounds-1955_alive_prayer-is-no-fitful-short-lived-thing-it_2746142.jpg" --- # Prayer is no fitful, short-lived thing. It is no voice… ![“Prayer is no fitful, short-lived thing. It is no voice crying unheard and unheeded in the silence. It is a voice which goes into God's ear, and it lives as long as God's ear is open to holy pleas, as long as God's heart is alive to holy things.” quote by Edward McKendree Bounds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9c2/edward-mckendree-bounds-1955_alive_prayer-is-no-fitful-short-lived-thing-it_2746142.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9c2/edward-mckendree-bounds-1955_alive_prayer-is-no-fitful-short-lived-thing-it_2746142.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9c2/edward-mckendree-bounds-1955_alive_prayer-is-no-fitful-short-lived-thing-it_2746142.jpg) > “Prayer is no fitful, short-lived thing. It is no voice crying unheard and unheeded in the silence. It is a voice which goes into God's ear, and it lives as long as God's ear is open to holy pleas, as long as God's heart is alive to holy things.” [Edward McKendree Bounds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-mckendree-bounds/) ## 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 portrayed as a lasting, intimate communication with the divine, persisting as long as the divine is receptive to sincere pleas. **In simple terms:** Prayer is a lasting, heartfelt dialogue with God. Key Takeaway Cultivate sincere, persistent prayer. Themes faith spirituality communication divine perseverance Mood contemplative hopeful reverent Type spiritual philosophical When to use this quote - worship - meditation - personal crisis - spiritual counseling Key Concepts theology religious practice personal devotion Questions to Reflect On - How does sincere prayer affect you? - What does openness of the divine mean? A Different Perspective Skeptics may view prayer as ineffective. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Alive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/alive/) [Cry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cry/) [Heart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/heart/) [Holy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/holy/) [Prayer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prayer/) [Short lived](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/short-lived/) [Silence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/silence/) [Voice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/voice/) ## Related quotes > [We may not all live holy lives, but we live in a world alive with holy moments.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kent-nerburn/we-may-not-all-live-holy-lives-but-we-live-in-a-world-alive-with-holy/) [Kent Nerburn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kent-nerburn/) > [Don't no but there is something special in you ... whatever it is credit goes to god who made you](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/self/don-t-no-but-there-is-something-special-in-you-whatever-it-is-credit/) Self > [There but for the grace of God, goes God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/there-but-for-the-grace-of-god-goes-god/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [There he goes. One of God's own prototypes. A high-powered mutant of some kind never even considered for mass production. Too weird to live,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/there-he-goes-one-of-god-s-own-prototypes-a-high-powered-mutant-of/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [God doesn't do things halfway. He goes all out! When God does something, it's not just barely enough, mediocre or lukewarm.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joyce-meyer/god-doesn-t-do-things-halfway-he-goes-all-out-when-god-does-something/) [Joyce Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joyce-meyer/) > [“When the number of children goes over one, God becomes miserly in granting intelligence; he takes it from the living child and gives it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/when-the-number-of-children-goes-over-one-god-becomes-miserly-in/) [Mehmet Murat ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) > [May nothing wind you up, nothing affright you; everything comes and goes. God, still, just there; through patience all will be achieved. If you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/teresa-of-vila/may-nothing-wind-you-up-nothing-affright-you-everything-comes-and/) [Teresa of Avila](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/teresa-of-vila/) > [Love come and goes but god does not come and go he stays with you for ever and ever](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chica/love-come-and-goes-but-god-does-not-come-and-go-he-stays-with-you-for/) Chica > [God goes with me everywhere, because God is in my mind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marianne-williamson/god-goes-with-me-everywhere-because-god-is-in-my-mind/) [Marianne Williamson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marianne-williamson/) > [When someone goes out of himself to find God or fetch God, he is wrong.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meister-eckhart/when-someone-goes-out-of-himself-to-find-god-or-fetch-god-he-is-wrong/) [Meister Eckhart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meister-eckhart/) > [All glory goes to God. I can't describe what He's done for me and my family.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tua-tagovailoa/all-glory-goes-to-god-i-can-t-describe-what-he-s-done-for-me-and-my/) [Tua Tagovailoa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tua-tagovailoa/) > [One who truly meets the world goes out also to God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-buber/one-who-truly-meets-the-world-goes-out-also-to-god/) [Martin Buber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-buber/) > [So you walk up to this man sinner and you say, "God loves you and He has a wonderful plan for your life!" and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-washer/so-you-walk-up-to-this-man-sinner-and-you-say-god-loves-you-and-he/) [Paul Washer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-washer/) > [He who believes in hard work, god comes to him. And he, who believes in fortune, goes to God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/he-who-believes-in-hard-work-god-comes-to-him-and-he-who-believes-in/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“But if you eat this chap who's God,' said Llewelyn stoutly, 'how can it be horrible? If it's alright to eat God why is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-burgess/but-if-you-eat-this-chap-who-s-god-said-llewelyn-stoutly-how-can-it/) [Anthony Burgess](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-burgess/) ## More by Edward McKendree Bounds > [Importunity is a condition of prayer. We are to press the matter, not with vain repetitions, but with urgent repetitions. We repeat, not to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-mckendree-bounds/importunity-is-a-condition-of-prayer-we-are-to-press-the-matter-not/) [Edward McKendree Bounds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-mckendree-bounds/) > [The pride of learning is against the dependent humility of prayer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-mckendree-bounds/the-pride-of-learning-is-against-the-dependent-humility-of-prayer/) [Edward McKendree Bounds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-mckendree-bounds/) > [Men who pray are, in reality, the only religious men, and it takes a full-measured man to pray.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-mckendree-bounds/men-who-pray-are-in-reality-the-only-religious-men-and-it-takes-a/) [Edward McKendree Bounds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-mckendree-bounds/) > [If God is not first in our thoughts and efforts in the morning, He will be in the last place the remainder of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-mckendree-bounds/if-god-is-not-first-in-our-thoughts-and-efforts-in-the-morning-he/) [Edward McKendree Bounds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-mckendree-bounds/) > [Prayer is a specific divine appointment, an ordinance of Heaven, whereby God purposes to carry out His gracious designs on earth and to execute…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-mckendree-bounds/prayer-is-a-specific-divine-appointment-an-ordinance-of-heaven/) [Edward McKendree Bounds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-mckendree-bounds/) > [It is necessary to iterate and reiterate that prayer, as a mere habit, as a performance gone through by routine or in a professional…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-mckendree-bounds/it-is-necessary-to-iterate-and-reiterate-that-prayer-as-a-mere-habit/) [Edward McKendree Bounds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-mckendree-bounds/) > [There is power through prayer. For many Christians, prayer is nothing special, just something we're supposed to do - go to church, tithe, read…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-mckendree-bounds/there-is-power-through-prayer-for-many-christians-prayer-is-nothing/) [Edward McKendree Bounds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-mckendree-bounds/) > [The most important lesson we can learn is how to pray. Prayers do not die, prayers live before God, and God's heart is set…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-mckendree-bounds/the-most-important-lesson-we-can-learn-is-how-to-pray-prayers-do-not/) [Edward McKendree Bounds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-mckendree-bounds/) > [If we would have God in the closet, God must have us out of the closet. There is no way of praying to God,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-mckendree-bounds/if-we-would-have-god-in-the-closet-god-must-have-us-out-of-the-closet/) [Edward McKendree Bounds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-mckendree-bounds/) > [They are not leaders because of brilliancy. ...but because, by the power of prayer, they could command the power of God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-mckendree-bounds/they-are-not-leaders-because-of-brilliancy-but-because-by-the-power/) [Edward McKendree Bounds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-mckendree-bounds/) > [God's Word does not say, "Call unto me, and you will thereby be trained into the happy art of knowing how to be denied.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-mckendree-bounds/god-s-word-does-not-say-call-unto-me-and-you-will-thereby-be-trained/) [Edward McKendree Bounds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-mckendree-bounds/) > [The resurrection of Jesus Christ was necessary to establish the truth of his mission and put the stamp of all-conquering power on his gospel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-mckendree-bounds/the-resurrection-of-jesus-christ-was-necessary-to-establish-the-truth/) [Edward McKendree Bounds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-mckendree-bounds/) > [Jesus taught that perseverance is the essential element of prayer. Men must be in earnest when they kneel at God's footstool. Too often we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-mckendree-bounds/jesus-taught-that-perseverance-is-the-essential-element-of-prayer-men/) [Edward McKendree Bounds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-mckendree-bounds/) > [Prayer makes a godly man, and puts within him "the mind of Christ," the mind of humility, of self-surrender, of service, of pity, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-mckendree-bounds/prayer-makes-a-godly-man-and-puts-within-him-the-mind-of-christ-the/) [Edward McKendree Bounds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-mckendree-bounds/) > [Prayer, like faith, obtains promises, enlarges their operation, and adds to the measure of their results.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-mckendree-bounds/prayer-like-faith-obtains-promises-enlarges-their-operation-and-adds/) [Edward McKendree Bounds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-mckendree-bounds/) [Explore all 195 Edward McKendree Bounds quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-mckendree-bounds/) ## More Alive quotes > [I understand that it's the music that keeps me alive... That's my lifeblood. And to give that up for, like, the TV, the cars,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-springsteen/i-understand-that-it-s-the-music-that-keeps-me-alive-that-s-my/) [Bruce Springsteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-springsteen/) > [I feel very grateful to be alive and well enough to make music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-ant/i-feel-very-grateful-to-be-alive-and-well-enough-to-make-music/) Adam Ant > [I don't crave applause. I'm not one of those guys who comes alive on stage. I'm much more alive at home, I think.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-bowie/i-don-t-crave-applause-i-m-not-one-of-those-guys-who-comes-alive-on/) [David Bowie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-bowie/) > [We must master our egoism, and through this mastery, step outside ourselves and educate ourselves in giving. Fasting requires that we rediscover all that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tariq-ramadan/we-must-master-our-egoism-and-through-this-mastery-step-outside/) [Tariq Ramadan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tariq-ramadan/) > [I can't say that there are 'things' that make me come alive. There are thoughts that make me come alive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marianne-williamson/i-can-t-say-that-there-are-things-that-make-me-come-alive-there-are/) [Marianne Williamson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marianne-williamson/) > [We're like the wicked witch. We promise gingerbread, then eat the little brats alive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orson-scott-card/we-re-like-the-wicked-witch-we-promise-gingerbread-then-eat-the/) [Orson Scott Card](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orson-scott-card/) > [If Jovan Belcher didn't possess a gun, he and Kasandra Perkins would both be alive today.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-costas/if-jovan-belcher-didn-t-possess-a-gun-he-and-kasandra-perkins-would/) [Bob Costas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-costas/) > [Peace is an ongoing process. It begins with the first step and it does not end. We, all of us alive today, are the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-krieger/peace-is-an-ongoing-process-it-begins-with-the-first-step-and-it-does/) [David Krieger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-krieger/) > [I think adoption becomes complicated whenever the biological parents are alive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-haven/i-think-adoption-becomes-complicated-whenever-the-biological-parents/) [James Haven](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-haven/) > [The pain of love is the pain of being alive. It is a perpetual wound.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maureen-duffy/the-pain-of-love-is-the-pain-of-being-alive-it-is-a-perpetual-wound/) [Maureen Duffy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maureen-duffy/) > [I have tried to resign myself, and to console myself; and that, I hope, I may have done imperfectly; but what I cannot firmly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/i-have-tried-to-resign-myself-and-to-console-myself-and-that-i-hope-i/) [Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/) > [If Melanchthon were alive today, he might not weep because of controversies that surround the Lord's Supper, but he might well sorrow because of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erwin-w-lutzer/if-melanchthon-were-alive-today-he-might-not-weep-because-of/) [Erwin W. Lutzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erwin-w-lutzer/) > [If you’re alive, don’t move, if you’re dead, don’t worry about it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurell-k-hamilton/if-you-re-alive-don-t-move-if-you-re-dead-don-t-worry-about-it/) [Laurell K. Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurell-k-hamilton/) > [Here Greek and Roman find themselves alive along these crowded shelves; and Shakespeare treads again his stage, and Chaucer paints anew his age.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-greenleaf-whittier/here-greek-and-roman-find-themselves-alive-along-these-crowded/) [John Greenleaf Whittier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-greenleaf-whittier/) > [You're alive!" Fezzik cried. The man in black sat immobile, like a ventriloquist's dummy, just his mouth moving. "That is perhaps the most childishly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-goldman/you-re-alive-fezzik-cried-the-man-in-black-sat-immobile-like-a/) [William Goldman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-goldman/) [Browse all 7,282 Alive quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/alive/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Prayer is no fitful, short-lived thing. It is no voice crying unheard and unheeded in the silence. 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