--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We look upon prayer simply as a means of…" description: "\"We look upon prayer simply as a means of getting things for ourselves, but the biblical purpose of prayer is that we may get to know God Himself.\" — Os..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9be/oswald-chambers-205_biblical_we-look-upon-prayer-simply-as-a-means-of_1696556.png" --- # We look upon prayer simply as a means of getting things… ![“We look upon prayer simply as a means of getting things for ourselves, but the biblical purpose of prayer is that we may get to know God Himself.” quote by Oswald Chambers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9be/oswald-chambers-205_biblical_we-look-upon-prayer-simply-as-a-means-of_1696556.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9be/oswald-chambers-205_biblical_we-look-upon-prayer-simply-as-a-means-of_1696556.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9be/oswald-chambers-205_biblical_we-look-upon-prayer-simply-as-a-means-of_1696556.png) > “We look upon prayer simply as a means of getting things for ourselves, but the biblical purpose of prayer is that we may get to know God Himself.” [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. Prayer is meant to deepen relationship with God, not just to request personal benefits. **In simple terms:** Prayer aims to know God, not just get things. Key Takeaway Seek relationship over requests. Themes spirituality relationship purpose Mood contemplative inspirational Type spiritual personal When to use this quote - religious study - personal devotion Key Concepts personal prayer theological understanding faith practice Practical Applications - church services Questions to Reflect On - How can I shift focus from wants to worship? - What practices foster deeper connection? A Different Perspective Prayer can become transactional. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Biblical](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/biblical/) [Christian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christian/) [Christian living](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christian-living/) [Faith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/faith/) [Knowing god](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knowing-god/) [Prayer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prayer/) [Purpose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/purpose/) ## Related quotes > [When a man is born from above, the life of the Son of God is born in him, and he can either starve that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oswald-chambers/when-a-man-is-born-from-above-the-life-of-the-son-of-god-is-born-in/) [Oswald Chambers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oswald-chambers/) > [In all of its expressions, whether halting and short or flowing in beautiful, well-structured phrases, prayer is simply a conversation with God. If we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ravi-zacharias/in-all-of-its-expressions-whether-halting-and-short-or-flowing-in/) [Ravi Zacharias](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ravi-zacharias/) > [The first purpose of prayer is to know God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-l-allen/the-first-purpose-of-prayer-is-to-know-god/) [Charles L. Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-l-allen/) > [The primary purpose of prayer is not to get something, but to know Someone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-platt/the-primary-purpose-of-prayer-is-not-to-get-something-but-to-know/) [David Platt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-platt/) > [The biblical purpose of every conversation you have, in every personal interaction, is that they person who hears you will receive grace.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-biblical-purpose-of-every-conversation-you-have-in-every-personal/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The whole meaning of prayer is that we may know God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oswald-chambers/the-whole-meaning-of-prayer-is-that-we-may-know-god/) [Oswald Chambers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oswald-chambers/) > [Watch your motive before God; have no other motive in prayer than to know Him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oswald-chambers/watch-your-motive-before-god-have-no-other-motive-in-prayer-than-to/) [Oswald Chambers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oswald-chambers/) > [The purpose of prayer is to reveal the presence of God equally present, all the time, in every condition.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oswald-chambers/the-purpose-of-prayer-is-to-reveal-the-presence-of-god-equally/) [Oswald Chambers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oswald-chambers/) > [Spiritual lust--'I must have it at once'--causes me to demand an answer from God, instead of seeking God himself who gives the answer. Is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oswald-chambers/spiritual-lust-i-must-have-it-at-once-causes-me-to-demand-an-answer/) [Oswald Chambers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oswald-chambers/) > [“We normally look to prayer to change the external realities of our life, but the Polish pope also knew the power of prayer could…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carrie-gress/we-normally-look-to-prayer-to-change-the-external-realities-of-our/) [Carrie Gress](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carrie-gress/) > [Don't look at prayer as me asking God to give me something, like some type of cosmic bell captain, look at prayer as my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-assaraf/don-t-look-at-prayer-as-me-asking-god-to-give-me-something-like-some/) [John Assaraf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-assaraf/) > [I look upon prayer-meetings as the most profitable exercises (excepting the public preaching) in which Christians can engage. They have a direct tendency to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-newton/i-look-upon-prayer-meetings-as-the-most-profitable-exercises/) [John Newton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-newton/) > [Look through the prayer books. You'll see lots of dates. You'll see names of Native Americans remembered. This was an open-sourcing project among so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shane-claiborne/look-through-the-prayer-books-you-ll-see-lots-of-dates-you-ll-see/) [Shane Claiborne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shane-claiborne/) > [How beautiful to look at When my prayer Lights a candle of hope In my heart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sri-chinmoy/how-beautiful-to-look-at-when-my-prayer-lights-a-candle-of-hope-in-my/) [Sri Chinmoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sri-chinmoy/) > [Prayer is simply saying "thank you, bless you, praise you."](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-j-foster/prayer-is-simply-saying-thank-you-bless-you-praise-you/) [Richard J. Foster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-j-foster/) ## 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 Biblical quotes > [The Louvre! The Louvre has me in its clutches. Every time I'm there rich blessings rain down upon me. I am coming to understand…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paula-modersohn-becker/the-louvre-the-louvre-has-me-in-its-clutches-every-time-i-m-there/) [Paula Modersohn-Becker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paula-modersohn-becker/) > [“Richard Dawkins regards faith as an evil to be eliminated; he takes all religious faith to be blind faith. (Dawkins says) ‘Scientific belief is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lennox/richard-dawkins-regards-faith-as-an-evil-to-be-eliminated-he-takes/) [John Lennox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lennox/) > [ The fall \[of your soul\] from perfection into duality...was naturally followed by the discovery of the duality of good and evil...This is the Biblical… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-campbell/the-fall-of-your-soul-from-perfection-into-duality-was-naturally/) [Joseph Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-campbell/) > [Even Superman's name reflects his creators' biblical knowledge.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-feiler/even-superman-s-name-reflects-his-creators-biblical-knowledge/) [Bruce Feiler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-feiler/) > [“And I pray mark how he begins: he sets not up trophies to himself, but triumphs in his God-- "I will love thee, O…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-steele/and-i-pray-mark-how-he-begins-he-sets-not-up-trophies-to-himself-but/) [Richard Steele](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-steele/) > [Scripture is not inerrant; believers are called to interpret biblical texts in light of tradition and reason.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-meacham/scripture-is-not-inerrant-believers-are-called-to-interpret-biblical/) [Jon Meacham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-meacham/) > [“The Bible isn’t a list of requirements; rather, it’s a list of results after experiencing God’s love. Following God isn’t an action but a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-haas/the-bible-isn-t-a-list-of-requirements-rather-it-s-a-list-of-results/) [Peter Haas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-haas/) > [I portray myself as wicked, hoping I will not be regarded as wicked. But I may be wicked in the biblical sense](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/errol-flynn/i-portray-myself-as-wicked-hoping-i-will-not-be-regarded-as-wicked/) [Errol Flynn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/errol-flynn/) > [ \[John Calvin's\] treatment of the person and work of Christ, of the Holy Spirit in the life of the believer, of prayer and liturgy,… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-d-crisp/john-calvin-s-treatment-of-the-person-and-work-of-christ-of-the-holy/) [Oliver D. Crisp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-d-crisp/) > [If I had to choose between the two ways of approaching the deity, I should prefer the existential relational way, to the abstract philosophical…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-moore-cross/if-i-had-to-choose-between-the-two-ways-of-approaching-the-deity-i/) [Frank Moore Cross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-moore-cross/) > [We have used the Bible as if it was a mere special constable's handbook — an opium-dose for keeping beasts of burden patient while…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-kingsley/we-have-used-the-bible-as-if-it-was-a-mere-special-constable-s/) [Charles Kingsley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-kingsley/) > [Mother's Day is among the most appropriate to reflect on the true meaning of love. -I Corinthians 13:4-7](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bible/mother-s-day-is-among-the-most-appropriate-to-reflect-on-the-true/) [Bible](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bible/) > [ The words 'God is love' conclude a biblical warning, not a warm and fuzzy slogan. 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