--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Part of me knows that prayer is…" description: "\"“Part of me knows that prayer is essential; another part of me would rather turn on the TV and check out. And that whole bit about being long-suffering..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9bd/john-eldredge-1487_drunk_part-of-me-knows-that-prayer-is-essentia_2460101.png" --- # Part of me knows that prayer is essential; another part of… ![“Part of me knows that prayer is essential; another part of me would rather turn on the TV and check out. And that whole bit about being long-suffering-no way. Part of me wants to just get drunk.” quote by John Eldredge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9bd/john-eldredge-1487_drunk_part-of-me-knows-that-prayer-is-essentia_2460101.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9bd/john-eldredge-1487_drunk_part-of-me-knows-that-prayer-is-essentia_2460101.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9bd/john-eldredge-1487_drunk_part-of-me-knows-that-prayer-is-essentia_2460101.png) > ““Part of me knows that prayer is essential; another part of me would rather turn on the TV and check out. And that whole bit about being long-suffering-no way. Part of me wants to just get drunk.”” [John Eldredge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-eldredge/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. There is an inner conflict between spiritual discipline and worldly distractions, leading to escapism. **In simple terms:** Inner conflict between faith and distraction. Key Takeaway Find balance between spiritual practice and leisure. Themes spirituality addiction escapism self-control inner conflict Mood contemplative honest Type reflective inspirational When to use this quote - church attendance - TV binge-watching - drinking - personal reflection - stress relief Key Concepts theology psychology habit formation Questions to Reflect On - What distractions dominate your life? - How can you integrate faith without avoidance? A Different Perspective Escapism can become a habit that avoids deeper issues. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Drunk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/drunk/) [Knows Prayer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knows-prayer-646837/) [Prayer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prayer/) [Prayer Essential](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prayer-essential-646838/) [Suffering Way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/suffering-way-646836/) [The-truth-is](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/the-truth-is-189050/) ## Related quotes > [“In the mid 1980's I was asked by an american legal institution known as the Christic Legal Institute to compile a comic book that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-moore/in-the-mid-1980-s-i-was-asked-by-an-american-legal-institution-known/) [Alan Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-moore/) > [Prayer is our essential lifeline to God's throne and heart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franklin-graham/prayer-is-our-essential-lifeline-to-god-s-throne-and-heart/) [Franklin Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franklin-graham/) > [The stillness of prayer is the most essential condition for fruitful action. Before all else, the disciple kneels down.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gianna-beretta-molla/the-stillness-of-prayer-is-the-most-essential-condition-for-fruitful/) [Gianna Beretta Molla](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gianna-beretta-molla/) > [“Reading and teaching about contemplative prayer and spiritual warfare in prayer are essential. Although sermons and books and mentors can be very helpful, we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-thomas-ashbrook/reading-and-teaching-about-contemplative-prayer-and-spiritual-warfare/) [R. Thomas Ashbrook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-thomas-ashbrook/) > [“God aims to exalt himself by working for those who wait for him. Prayer is the essential activity of waiting for God: acknowledging our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-piper/god-aims-to-exalt-himself-by-working-for-those-who-wait-for-him/) [John Piper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-piper/) > [“Just as the expansion and contraction of our lungs in necessary for the continuance of our physical life, so regular fellowship with God in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-tautges/just-as-the-expansion-and-contraction-of-our-lungs-in-necessary-for/) [Paul Tautges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-tautges/) > [“Prayer is an essential part of conveying appreciation to our Heavenly Father. He awaits our expressions of gratefulness each morning and night in sincere,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-d-hales/prayer-is-an-essential-part-of-conveying-appreciation-to-our-heavenly/) [Robert D. Hales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-d-hales/) > [We think of prayer as a preparation for work, or a calm after having done work, whereas prayer is the essential work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oswald-chambers/we-think-of-prayer-as-a-preparation-for-work-or-a-calm-after-having/) [Oswald Chambers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oswald-chambers/) > [Her face is puffy and red, while painful tears stream down her sad face. She cries out loudly, hoping someone will hear her silent…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/her-face-is-puffy-and-red-while-painful-tears-stream-down-her-sad/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [We should try our best to relieve the suffering of others in whatever way we can.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mata-amritanandamayi/we-should-try-our-best-to-relieve-the-suffering-of-others-in-whatever/) [Mata Amritanandamayi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mata-amritanandamayi/) > [“all were suffering; that whatever way one took in this world, one must try to remember that all were suffering (none content; all wronged,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-saunders/all-were-suffering-that-whatever-way-one-took-in-this-world-one-must/) [George Saunders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-saunders/) > [“Jane felt that he would write from the depths of a wretchedness that would not necessarily be insincere because its outward signs were so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-pym/jane-felt-that-he-would-write-from-the-depths-of-a-wretchedness-that/) [Barbara Pym](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-pym/) > [We are closest to Christ when sharing the world’s misery. Think you Jesus came to remove our pains? Wherever did you get that notion?…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-r-lawhead/we-are-closest-to-christ-when-sharing-the-world-s-misery-think-you/) [Stephen R. Lawhead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-r-lawhead/) > [I would rather die than ever see you suffering this way. I don't want you or any child I ever have or any woman…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melina-marchetta/i-would-rather-die-than-ever-see-you-suffering-this-way-i-don-t-want/) [Melina Marchetta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melina-marchetta/) > [“The Buddha was not full of shit when he said the cause of suffering could be uprooted and that you can put an end…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brad-warner/the-buddha-was-not-full-of-shit-when-he-said-the-cause-of-suffering/) [Brad Warner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brad-warner/) ## More by John Eldredge > [To find God, you must look with all your heart. To remain present to God, you must remain present to your heart. To hear…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-eldredge/to-find-god-you-must-look-with-all-your-heart-to-remain-present-to/) [John Eldredge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-eldredge/) > [ “There is a satisfaction we don't want to come to until we come to it in God…\[Disappointments\] serve to remind us every day that… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-eldredge/there-is-a-satisfaction-we-don-t-want-to-come-to-until-we-come-to-it/) [John Eldredge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-eldredge/) > [The early Celtic Christians called the Holy Spirit 'the wild goose.' 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I have three children. I have a mortgage to pay. The plumbing breaks and the yard needs trimming. However, what my wife…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-eldredge/i-m-married-i-have-three-children-i-have-a-mortgage-to-pay-the/) [John Eldredge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-eldredge/) > [“He is on a mission to rescue a people who are so utterly deceived most of them don’t even want to be rescued.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-eldredge/he-is-on-a-mission-to-rescue-a-people-who-are-so-utterly-deceived/) [John Eldredge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-eldredge/) > [“Something has gone wrong in us, very wrong indeed. 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