---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I don't think there's such a thing as a…"
description: "\"I don't think there's such a thing as a selfish prayer. Prayer puts you in communication so you can talk about whatever you want to talk about.\" — Iyan..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/562/iyanla-vanzant-557_communication_i-don-t-think-there-s-such-a-thing-as-a_1030040.png"
---

#  I don't think there's such a thing as a selfish prayer…

![“I don't think there's such a thing as a selfish prayer. Prayer puts you in communication so you can talk about whatever you want to talk about.” quote by Iyanla Vanzant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/562/iyanla-vanzant-557_communication_i-don-t-think-there-s-such-a-thing-as-a_1030040.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/562/iyanla-vanzant-557_communication_i-don-t-think-there-s-such-a-thing-as-a_1030040.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/562/iyanla-vanzant-557_communication_i-don-t-think-there-s-such-a-thing-as-a_1030040.png)

> “I don't think there's such a thing as a selfish prayer. Prayer puts you in communication so you can talk about whatever you want to talk about.”

[Iyanla Vanzant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iyanla-vanzant/)

## 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 a personal dialogue, not selfish; it connects you to your desires.

**In simple terms:** Prayer is a personal dialogue.

Key Takeaway

Use prayer to clarify your intentions.

Themes

spirituality self‑reflection communication

Mood

reflective hopeful

Type

advice spiritual

When to use this quote

- daily meditation
- journaling
- counseling

Key Concepts

religious practice personal growth

Questions to Reflect On

- What do you truly seek in prayer?
- How does prayer shape your actions?

A Different Perspective

May become escapist if misused.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Communication](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/communication/) [Prayer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prayer/)

## Related quotes

> [It's a good thing selfish people like themselves so much; they usually end up alone!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-moores/it-s-a-good-thing-selfish-people-like-themselves-so-much-they-usually/)

[Sarah Moores](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-moores/)

> [“If you do the right thing for selfish reasons, does that detract from the rightness of the act itself?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-trimnell/if-you-do-the-right-thing-for-selfish-reasons-does-that-detract-from/)

[Edward Trimnell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-trimnell/)

> [A personal selfish prayer is bad whether made before an image or an unseen God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/a-personal-selfish-prayer-is-bad-whether-made-before-an-image-or-an/)

[Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/)

> [“I prayed for you. Did you know that? Of course not. I’ve prayed for him to have someone like you since before we left…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debra-anastasia/i-prayed-for-you-did-you-know-that-of-course-not-i-ve-prayed-for-him/)

[Debra Anastasia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debra-anastasia/)

> [“that is the thing about selfish people. they gamble entire beings. entire souls to please their own. one second they are holding you like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rupi-kaur/that-is-the-thing-about-selfish-people-they-gamble-entire-beings/)

[Rupi Kaur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rupi-kaur/)

> [Prayer puts God's work in his hands-and keeps it there.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-mckendree-bounds/prayer-puts-god-s-work-in-his-hands-and-keeps-it-there/)

[Edward McKendree Bounds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-mckendree-bounds/)

> [We can all be self-destructive. I make terrible choices all the time. It's uncomfortable to admit that you did a thing that was selfish…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clare-hope-ashitey/we-can-all-be-self-destructive-i-make-terrible-choices-all-the-time/)

[Clare-Hope Ashitey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clare-hope-ashitey/)

> [When we say that prayer puts God to work, it is simply to say that man has it in his power by prayer to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-mckendree-bounds/when-we-say-that-prayer-puts-god-to-work-it-is-simply-to-say-that-man/)

[Edward McKendree Bounds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-mckendree-bounds/)

> [Prayer puts you in touch with the infinite and prepares your mind for the finite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-daniel/prayer-puts-you-in-touch-with-the-infinite-and-prepares-your-mind-for/)

Peter Daniel

> [Prayer works in the mind as a healing force. It calms the patient, enlightens the physician, guides the surgeon, and it often victoriously applies…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilferd-peterson/prayer-works-in-the-mind-as-a-healing-force-it-calms-the-patient/)

[Wilferd Peterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilferd-peterson/)

> [Doubtful prayer is no prayer at all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-calvin/doubtful-prayer-is-no-prayer-at-all/)

[John Calvin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-calvin/)

> [Virtues are formed by prayer. Prayer preserves temperance. Prayer suppresses anger. Prayer prevents emotions of pride and envy. Prayer draws into the soul the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/virtues-are-formed-by-prayer-prayer-preserves-temperance-prayer/)

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

> [Jesus’ example of fidelity to prayer challenges us to examine the time and effort we devote to our own prayer. While prayer is a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-benedict-xvi/jesus-example-of-fidelity-to-prayer-challenges-us-to-examine-the-time/)

[Pope Benedict XVI](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-benedict-xvi/)

> [White and shining virgin of all human virtues, ark of the covenant between earth and heaven, tender and strong companion partaking of the lion…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/honor-de-balzac/white-and-shining-virgin-of-all-human-virtues-ark-of-the-covenant/)

[Honore de Balzac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/honor-de-balzac/)

> [The only way to Heaven is prayer; a prayer of the heart, which every one is capable of, and not of reasonings which are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeanne-marie-bouvier-de-la-motte-guyon/the-only-way-to-heaven-is-prayer-a-prayer-of-the-heart-which-every/)

[Jeanne Marie Bouvier de la Motte Guyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeanne-marie-bouvier-de-la-motte-guyon/)

## More by Iyanla Vanzant

> [For some reason,we keep forgetting some of our experience. We look back but don't bring the value forward. We bring the anger, the upset.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iyanla-vanzant/for-some-reason-we-keep-forgetting-some-of-our-experience-we-look/)

[Iyanla Vanzant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iyanla-vanzant/)

> [All things are lessons that God would have us learn.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iyanla-vanzant/all-things-are-lessons-that-god-would-have-us-learn/)

[Iyanla Vanzant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iyanla-vanzant/)

> [“Life would be so much easier if, when we hit a snag in a relationship, any relationship, we would stop, address it, and move…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iyanla-vanzant/life-would-be-so-much-easier-if-when-we-hit-a-snag-in-a-relationship/)

[Iyanla Vanzant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iyanla-vanzant/)

> [How do you spell peace? P-R-A-Y-E-R! Anything you believe you need is available to you through prayer. We are not talking here about a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iyanla-vanzant/how-do-you-spell-peace-p-r-a-y-e-r-anything-you-believe-you-need-is/)

[Iyanla Vanzant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iyanla-vanzant/)

> [We are distracted from our greatness because are greatness is what scares us. Right where you are…God is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iyanla-vanzant/we-are-distracted-from-our-greatness-because-are-greatness-is-what/)

[Iyanla Vanzant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iyanla-vanzant/)

> [Some children do what they’re told to do; some children do what they’re told not to do; all children do what they’re parents have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iyanla-vanzant/some-children-do-what-they-re-told-to-do-some-children-do-what-they/)

[Iyanla Vanzant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iyanla-vanzant/)

> [Life doesn't have to be hard, life is on your side.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iyanla-vanzant/life-doesn-t-have-to-be-hard-life-is-on-your-side/)

[Iyanla Vanzant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iyanla-vanzant/)

> [You can accept or reject the way you are treated by other people, but until you heal the wounds of your past, you will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iyanla-vanzant/you-can-accept-or-reject-the-way-you-are-treated-by-other-people-but/)

[Iyanla Vanzant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iyanla-vanzant/)

> [We must each learn to feel comfortable in our own uniqueness by rising above the fear of being wrong and the aversion to being…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iyanla-vanzant/we-must-each-learn-to-feel-comfortable-in-our-own-uniqueness-by/)

[Iyanla Vanzant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iyanla-vanzant/)

> [I am not seeking anything but service to my creator. I do not need a house, I do not need a car, I do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iyanla-vanzant/i-am-not-seeking-anything-but-service-to-my-creator-i-do-not-need-a/)

[Iyanla Vanzant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iyanla-vanzant/)

> [The remedy for life's broken pieces is not classes, workshops or books. Don't try to heal the broken pieces. Just forgive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iyanla-vanzant/the-remedy-for-life-s-broken-pieces-is-not-classes-workshops-or-books/)

[Iyanla Vanzant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iyanla-vanzant/)

> [When someone entrusts their heart to you they are giving you a piece of their soul. You cannot treat the soul casually. You must…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iyanla-vanzant/when-someone-entrusts-their-heart-to-you-they-are-giving-you-a-piece/)

[Iyanla Vanzant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iyanla-vanzant/)

> [When you have something to do life will not allow you to ove foward until you do it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iyanla-vanzant/when-you-have-something-to-do-life-will-not-allow-you-to-ove-foward/)

[Iyanla Vanzant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iyanla-vanzant/)

> [Have you doubted your progress, regretted your choices, put yourself down? Remember that you are doing just fine. Remind yourself right now that no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iyanla-vanzant/have-you-doubted-your-progress-regretted-your-choices-put-yourself/)

[Iyanla Vanzant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iyanla-vanzant/)

> [The only relationship we can have in this life is the relationship we have with ourselves. We cannot love anybody more than we love…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iyanla-vanzant/the-only-relationship-we-can-have-in-this-life-is-the-relationship-we/)

[Iyanla Vanzant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iyanla-vanzant/)

[Explore all 476 Iyanla Vanzant quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iyanla-vanzant/)

## More Communication quotes

> [Some people still believe you should just fall in line with what's going on - and that's scary. It makes a mockery of freedom…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-robison/some-people-still-believe-you-should-just-fall-in-line-with-what-s/)

[Emily Robison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-robison/)

> [The problem posed by indirect speech acts is the problem of how it is possible for the speaker to say one thing and mean…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-searle/the-problem-posed-by-indirect-speech-acts-is-the-problem-of-how-it-is/)

[John Searle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-searle/)

> [We should have a conversation when we hang up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benedict-cumberbatch/we-should-have-a-conversation-when-we-hang-up/)

[Benedict Cumberbatch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benedict-cumberbatch/)

> [Sing like no one's listening, love like you've never been hurt, dance like nobody's watching, and live like its heaven on earth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/sing-like-no-one-s-listening-love-like-you-ve-never-been-hurt-dance/)

[Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/)

> [A poet is wounded into speech, and he examines these wounds, meticulously, to discover how to heal them. The bad poet harangues at the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-r-delany/a-poet-is-wounded-into-speech-and-he-examines-these-wounds/)

[Samuel R. Delany](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-r-delany/)

> [“To engage in dialogue is to serve others via whatever is real inside you; to engage in debate is to ultimately serve the illusions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oli-anderson/to-engage-in-dialogue-is-to-serve-others-via-whatever-is-real-inside/)

[Oli Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oli-anderson/)

> [What it comes down to for me is this: Will the technologies of communication in our culture, serve to enlighten us and help us…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-waters/what-it-comes-down-to-for-me-is-this-will-the-technologies-of/)

[Roger Waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-waters/)

> [In dialogue, there is opposition, yes, but no head-on collision. Smashing heads does not open minds.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deborah-tannen/in-dialogue-there-is-opposition-yes-but-no-head-on-collision-smashing/)

[Deborah Tannen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deborah-tannen/)

> [A dialogue is very important. It is a form of communication in which question and answer continue till a question is left without an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jiddu-krishnamurti/a-dialogue-is-very-important-it-is-a-form-of-communication-in-which/)

[Jiddu Krishnamurti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jiddu-krishnamurti/)

> [I get afraid of the dark if I'm in a great deal of dark, and I have to move around inside of that fear...…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emil-ferris/i-get-afraid-of-the-dark-if-i-m-in-a-great-deal-of-dark-and-i-have-to/)

[Emil Ferris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emil-ferris/)

> [I've been in a serious conversation with one of my children, and a fan has come up. I've been in a public bathroom and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-reddy/i-ve-been-in-a-serious-conversation-with-one-of-my-children-and-a-fan/)

[Helen Reddy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-reddy/)

> [Life as we know it is fundamentally unsatisfying. I think most folks feel this to be true. They know that a life of aimless…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-yates/life-as-we-know-it-is-fundamentally-unsatisfying-i-think-most-folks/)

[Michael Yates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-yates/)

> [Disability, in general, hasn't been included in the conversation about inclusivity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-winston-george/disability-in-general-hasn-t-been-included-in-the-conversation-about/)

[Jason Winston George](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-winston-george/)

> [“Women will be at least 50 percent of the communications community workforce … from executive suite to interns. Why? The “integrated” agency will be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yoram-wind/women-will-be-at-least-50-percent-of-the-communications-community/)

Yoram Wind

> [There are certain things you must not say in spite of the fact that supposedly democracy means free speech. No. You are not allowed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-eubank-sr/there-are-certain-things-you-must-not-say-in-spite-of-the-fact-that/)

[Chris Eubank Sr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-eubank-sr/)

[Browse all 21,506 Communication quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/communication/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "I don't think there's such a thing as a selfish prayer. Prayer puts you in communication so you can talk about whatever you want to talk about.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Iyanla Vanzant"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iyanla-vanzant/i-don-t-think-there-s-such-a-thing-as-a-selfish-prayer-prayer-puts/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Communication"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iyanla-vanzant/i-don-t-think-there-s-such-a-thing-as-a-selfish-prayer-prayer-puts/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/562/iyanla-vanzant-557_communication_i-don-t-think-there-s-such-a-thing-as-a_1030040.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/562/iyanla-vanzant-557_communication_i-don-t-think-there-s-such-a-thing-as-a_1030040.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/562/iyanla-vanzant-557_communication_i-don-t-think-there-s-such-a-thing-as-a_1030040.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“I don't think there's such a thing as a selfish prayer. Prayer puts you in communication so you can talk…” — Iyanla Vanzant",
                "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": "Iyanla Vanzant",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iyanla-vanzant/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "I don't think there's such a...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iyanla-vanzant/i-don-t-think-there-s-such-a-thing-as-a-selfish-prayer-prayer-puts/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iyanla-vanzant/i-don-t-think-there-s-such-a-thing-as-a-selfish-prayer-prayer-puts/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
