--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We impoverish God in our minds when we…" description: "\"We impoverish God in our minds when we say there must be answers to our prayers on the material plane; the biggest answers to our prayers are in the re..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/03d/oswald-chambers-205_answered-prayers_we-impoverish-god-in-our-minds-when-we-s_2385606.png" --- # We impoverish God in our minds when we say there must be… ![“We impoverish God in our minds when we say there must be answers to our prayers on the material plane; the biggest answers to our prayers are in the realm of the unseen.” quote by Oswald Chambers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/03d/oswald-chambers-205_answered-prayers_we-impoverish-god-in-our-minds-when-we-s_2385606.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/03d/oswald-chambers-205_answered-prayers_we-impoverish-god-in-our-minds-when-we-s_2385606.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/03d/oswald-chambers-205_answered-prayers_we-impoverish-god-in-our-minds-when-we-s_2385606.png) > “We impoverish God in our minds when we say there must be answers to our prayers on the material plane; the biggest answers to our prayers are in the realm of the unseen.” [Oswald Chambers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oswald-chambers/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. We limit divine help by demanding material answers, while true answers lie beyond physical perception. **In simple terms:** We limit God by seeking only material answers. Key Takeaway Seek spiritual insight beyond the material. Themes faith spirituality perception prayer Mood reflective hopeful Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - personal crisis - decision making - seeking purpose - spiritual growth Key Concepts theology metaphysics faith Questions to Reflect On - How do you balance material needs with spiritual trust? - What unseen forces guide you? A Different Perspective Material expectations can distract from deeper spiritual truths. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Answered prayers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/answered-prayers/) [Christian inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christian-inspirational/) [Faith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/faith/) [God](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/god/) [God is in control](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/god-is-in-control/) [Instruments of god](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/instruments-of-god/) [Lord](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lord/) [Mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mind/) [Planes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/planes/) [Prayer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prayer/) [Prayers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prayers/) [Psychology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/psychology/) [Realms](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/realms/) [Spiritual wisdom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spiritual-wisdom/) [Trust in god](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trust-in-god/) [Unanswered prayers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unanswered-prayers/) ## Related quotes > [I think Christians fail so often to get answers to their prayers because they do not wait long enough on God. They just drop…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-mckendree-bounds/i-think-christians-fail-so-often-to-get-answers-to-their-prayers/) [Edward McKendree Bounds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-mckendree-bounds/) > [God sometimes answers our prayers by giving us what we would have asked for had we known what He knows.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-d-greear-2/god-sometimes-answers-our-prayers-by-giving-us-what-we-would-have/) [J. D. Greear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-d-greear-2/) > [We are commanded to love God with all our minds, as well as with all our hearts, and we commit a great sin if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angelina-grimke/we-are-commanded-to-love-god-with-all-our-minds-as-well-as-with-all/) [Angelina Grimke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angelina-grimke/) > [Our Lord never referred to unanswered prayer. He taught that prayers are always answered: “Everyone who asks receives”. And He implied that prayers are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oswald-chambers/our-lord-never-referred-to-unanswered-prayer-he-taught-that-prayers/) [Oswald Chambers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oswald-chambers/) > [Our Lord never referred to unanswered prayer; he taught that prayers are always answered. He ever implied that prayers were answered rightly because of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oswald-chambers/our-lord-never-referred-to-unanswered-prayer-he-taught-that-prayers-2/) [Oswald Chambers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oswald-chambers/) > [Unanswered prayers of lowly birth/On wings of folly round the earth/Illusion clouds the eyes that raise/To the emerald gods they praise.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-miller/unanswered-prayers-of-lowly-birth-on-wings-of-folly-round-the-earth/) [Kate Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-miller/) > [Some of God's greatest gifts are unanswered prayers, there aren't any that go 'unanswered.' His silence speaks volumes if you're listening.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/some-of-god-s-greatest-gifts-are-unanswered-prayers-there-aren-t-any/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [In life, we are tested by major changes. Delayed promises, impossible problems, unanswered prayers, undeserved criticism, and even senseless tragedies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hwang-mi-young/in-life-we-are-tested-by-major-changes-delayed-promises-impossible/) Hwang Mi Young > [Sometimes I thank God for unanswered prayers. Remember when you're talkin' to the man upstairs; that just because he doesn't answer doesn't mean he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/garth-brooks/sometimes-i-thank-god-for-unanswered-prayers-remember-when-you-re/) [Garth Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/garth-brooks/) > [If we rejoice in the acts of God without discovering His ways, we'll question who He is when He doesn't do what we've asked.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-johnson/if-we-rejoice-in-the-acts-of-god-without-discovering-his-ways-we-ll/) [Bill Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-johnson/) > [“Bold prayers honor God, and God honors bold prayers. God isn’t offended by your biggest dreams or boldest prayers. He is offended by anything…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-batterson/bold-prayers-honor-god-and-god-honors-bold-prayers-god-isn-t-offended/) [Mark Batterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-batterson/) > [The greatest tragedy of life is not unanswered prayer, buy unoffered prayer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-greatest-tragedy-of-life-is-not-unanswered-prayer-buy-unoffered/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“At times, it can feel like the loneliest place on Earth, because it’s just us. Alone with our unanswered prayers”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-elizabeth-anderson/at-times-it-can-feel-like-the-loneliest-place-on-earth-because-it-s/) [Suzanne Elizabeth Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-elizabeth-anderson/) > [“I think we all know—somewhere deep inside, somewhere we don’t want to explore, somewhere maybe close to the subconscious—that the chances of us living…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-han-mattson/i-think-we-all-know-somewhere-deep-inside-somewhere-we-don-t-want-to/) James Han Mattson > [“So many prayers request catastrophe, But God opts not to listen mercifully.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jawid-mojaddedi/so-many-prayers-request-catastrophe-but-god-opts-not-to-listen/) Jawid Mojaddedi ## More by Oswald Chambers > [“If we deliberately choose to obey God, then He will tax the remotest star and the last grain of sand to assist us with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oswald-chambers/if-we-deliberately-choose-to-obey-god-then-he-will-tax-the-remotest/) [Oswald Chambers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oswald-chambers/) > [Realize that the Lord is here now, and the freedom you receive is immediate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oswald-chambers/realize-that-the-lord-is-here-now-and-the-freedom-you-receive-is/) [Oswald Chambers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oswald-chambers/) > [You will never cease to be the most amazed person on earth at what God has done for you on the inside.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oswald-chambers/you-will-never-cease-to-be-the-most-amazed-person-on-earth-at-what/) [Oswald Chambers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oswald-chambers/) > [When Jesus Christ shed his blood on the cross, it was not the blood of a martyr; or the blood of one man for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oswald-chambers/when-jesus-christ-shed-his-blood-on-the-cross-it-was-not-the-blood-of/) [Oswald Chambers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oswald-chambers/) > [Sorrow burns up a great amount of shallowness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oswald-chambers/sorrow-burns-up-a-great-amount-of-shallowness/) [Oswald Chambers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oswald-chambers/) > [“Let circumstances take you where they will, but keep drawing on the grace of God in whatever condition you may find yourself.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oswald-chambers/let-circumstances-take-you-where-they-will-but-keep-drawing-on-the/) [Oswald Chambers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oswald-chambers/) > [The goal of faithfulness is not that we will do work for God, but that He will be free to do His work through…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oswald-chambers/the-goal-of-faithfulness-is-not-that-we-will-do-work-for-god-but-that/) [Oswald Chambers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oswald-chambers/) > [We are in danger of forgetting that we cannot do what God does, and that God will not do what we can do. We…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oswald-chambers/we-are-in-danger-of-forgetting-that-we-cannot-do-what-god-does-and/) [Oswald Chambers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oswald-chambers/) > [“It is a solemn thing, and no small scandal in the Kingdom, to see God's children starving while actually seated at the Father's table.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oswald-chambers/it-is-a-solemn-thing-and-no-small-scandal-in-the-kingdom-to-see-god-s/) [Oswald Chambers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oswald-chambers/) > [“If my holiness is not drawing towards Him, it is not holiness of the right order, but an influence that will awaken inordinate affection…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oswald-chambers/if-my-holiness-is-not-drawing-towards-him-it-is-not-holiness-of-the/) [Oswald Chambers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oswald-chambers/) > [“My spiritual history must have as its underlying foundation a personal knowledge of Jesus Christ. To be born again means that I see Jesus.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oswald-chambers/my-spiritual-history-must-have-as-its-underlying-foundation-a/) [Oswald Chambers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oswald-chambers/) > [We always have visions, before a thing is made real. When we realize that although the vision is real, it is not real in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oswald-chambers/we-always-have-visions-before-a-thing-is-made-real-when-we-realize/) [Oswald Chambers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oswald-chambers/) > [The lasting value of our public service for God is measured by the depth of the intimacy of our private times of fellowship and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oswald-chambers/the-lasting-value-of-our-public-service-for-god-is-measured-by-the/) [Oswald Chambers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oswald-chambers/) > [The thing that awakens the deepest fountain of gratitude in a human being is that God has forgiven his sin.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oswald-chambers/the-thing-that-awakens-the-deepest-fountain-of-gratitude-in-a-human/) [Oswald Chambers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oswald-chambers/) > [The secret of the missionary is...I am His, and He is carrying out His work through me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oswald-chambers/the-secret-of-the-missionary-is-i-am-his-and-he-is-carrying-out-his/) [Oswald Chambers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oswald-chambers/) [Explore all 922 Oswald Chambers quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oswald-chambers/) ## More Answered prayers quotes > [“Dear Lord, thank You for answered prayers and humans who do Your work here on earth. Please send Your comfort to all the animals…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guideposts/dear-lord-thank-you-for-answered-prayers-and-humans-who-do-your-work/) Guideposts > [The third petition of the Lord's Prayer is repeated daily by millions who have not the slightest intention of letting anyone's will be done…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aldous-huxley/the-third-petition-of-the-lord-s-prayer-is-repeated-daily-by-millions/) [Aldous Huxley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aldous-huxley/) > [Our Lord never referred to unanswered prayer. He taught that prayers are always answered: “Everyone who asks receives”. And He implied that prayers are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oswald-chambers/our-lord-never-referred-to-unanswered-prayer-he-taught-that-prayers/) [Oswald Chambers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oswald-chambers/) > [Today, Jesus stands ready to hear your cry and to answer prayer for you. He is interested in every detail of your life. He…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathryn-kuhlman/today-jesus-stands-ready-to-hear-your-cry-and-to-answer-prayer-for/) [Kathryn Kuhlman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathryn-kuhlman/) > [Never have false hope for granted wishes, but always have true faith in answered prayers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/never-have-false-hope-for-granted-wishes-but-always-have-true-faith/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [There is a general kind of praying which fails for lack of precision. It is as if a regiment of soldiers should all fire…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-spurgeon/there-is-a-general-kind-of-praying-which-fails-for-lack-of-precision/) [Charles Spurgeon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-spurgeon/) > [Delays are as much a part of God plan as answered prayers. God wants you to trust him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-warren/delays-are-as-much-a-part-of-god-plan-as-answered-prayers-god-wants/) [Rick Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-warren/) > [The history of missions is the history of answered prayer. It is the key to the whole mission problem. All human means are secondary.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-marinus-zwemer/the-history-of-missions-is-the-history-of-answered-prayer-it-is-the/) [Samuel Marinus Zwemer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-marinus-zwemer/) > [On the ground of our own goodness we cannot expect to have our prayers answered. But Jesus is worthy, and for His sake we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-muller/on-the-ground-of-our-own-goodness-we-cannot-expect-to-have-our/) [George Muller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-muller/) > [“May God overflow your life with bountiful blessings of grace.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/may-god-overflow-your-life-with-bountiful-blessings-of-grace/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [Some of God's greatest gifts are unanswered prayers, there aren't any that go 'unanswered.' His silence speaks volumes if you're listening.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/some-of-god-s-greatest-gifts-are-unanswered-prayers-there-aren-t-any/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Prayer is not so much an act as it is an attitude - an attitude of dependency, dependency upon God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-w-pink/prayer-is-not-so-much-an-act-as-it-is-an-attitude-an-attitude-of/) [Arthur W. Pink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-w-pink/) > [The story of every great Christian achievement is the history of answered prayer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-mckendree-bounds/the-story-of-every-great-christian-achievement-is-the-history-of/) [Edward McKendree Bounds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-mckendree-bounds/) > [God has not always answered my prayers. If He had, I would have married the wrong man -- several times!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-graham/god-has-not-always-answered-my-prayers-if-he-had-i-would-have-married/) [Ruth Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-graham/) > [Often a healing takes place in ourselves as we pray for the healing of others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-e-debakey/often-a-healing-takes-place-in-ourselves-as-we-pray-for-the-healing/) [Michael E. DeBakey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-e-debakey/) [Browse all 132 Answered prayers quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/answered-prayers/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "We impoverish God in our minds when we say there must be answers to our prayers on the material plane; the biggest answers to our prayers are in the realm of the unseen.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Oswald Chambers" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oswald-chambers/we-impoverish-god-in-our-minds-when-we-say-there-must-be-answers-to/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Answered prayers" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oswald-chambers/we-impoverish-god-in-our-minds-when-we-say-there-must-be-answers-to/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/03d/oswald-chambers-205_answered-prayers_we-impoverish-god-in-our-minds-when-we-s_2385606.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/03d/oswald-chambers-205_answered-prayers_we-impoverish-god-in-our-minds-when-we-s_2385606.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/03d/oswald-chambers-205_answered-prayers_we-impoverish-god-in-our-minds-when-we-s_2385606.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“We impoverish God in our minds when we say there must be answers to our prayers on the material plane; the…” — Oswald Chambers", "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": "Oswald Chambers", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oswald-chambers/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "We impoverish God in our minds...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oswald-chambers/we-impoverish-god-in-our-minds-when-we-say-there-must-be-answers-to/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oswald-chambers/we-impoverish-god-in-our-minds-when-we-say-there-must-be-answers-to/#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 } } ] } ```