--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: A legalistic commitment to duration can…" description: "\"A legalistic commitment to duration can kill one's prayer life.\" — R. Kent Hughes" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6ed/r-kent-hughes-16131_commitment_a-legalistic-commitment-to-duration-can_1488944.png" --- # A legalistic commitment to duration can kill one's prayer… ![“A legalistic commitment to duration can kill one's prayer life.” quote by R. Kent Hughes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6ed/r-kent-hughes-16131_commitment_a-legalistic-commitment-to-duration-can_1488944.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6ed/r-kent-hughes-16131_commitment_a-legalistic-commitment-to-duration-can_1488944.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6ed/r-kent-hughes-16131_commitment_a-legalistic-commitment-to-duration-can_1488944.png) > “A legalistic commitment to duration can kill one's prayer life.” [R. Kent Hughes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-kent-hughes/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Strict adherence to rules can diminish genuine spiritual practice. **In simple terms:** Legalism can kill prayer life. Key Takeaway Balance structure with heartfelt devotion. Themes faith prayer legalism balance Mood reflective serious Type theological motivational When to use this quote - church services - personal devotion - religious education Key Concepts spiritual discipline authenticity Questions to Reflect On - What practices feel legalistic to you? - How can you keep prayer authentic? 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Endurance in prayer, fostering positive mindsets, and taking tangible actions serve as our training ground. Success…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norbertus-krisnu-prabowo/rooting-ourselves-in-the-christian-community-is-essential-endurance/) [Norbertus Krisnu Prabowo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norbertus-krisnu-prabowo/) ## More by R. Kent Hughes > [Listen well, and you will be pronounced a "brilliant" conversationalist!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-kent-hughes/listen-well-and-you-will-be-pronounced-a-brilliant-conversationalist/) [R. Kent Hughes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-kent-hughes/) > [The man who sanctifies his wife understands that this is his divinely ordained responsibility... Is my wife more like Christ because she is married…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-kent-hughes/the-man-who-sanctifies-his-wife-understands-that-this-is-his-divinely/) [R. Kent Hughes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-kent-hughes/) > [“Many believers use truth as a license to righteously diminish others’ reputations.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-kent-hughes/many-believers-use-truth-as-a-license-to-righteously-diminish-others/) [R. Kent Hughes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-kent-hughes/) > [Only the Lord knows how many children lose heart because their fathers have hard days.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-kent-hughes/only-the-lord-knows-how-many-children-lose-heart-because-their/) [R. Kent Hughes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-kent-hughes/) > [“Men, it is the “legal” sensualities, the culturally acceptable indulgences, which will take us down. The long hours of indiscriminate TV watching, which is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-kent-hughes/men-it-is-the-legal-sensualities-the-culturally-acceptable/) [R. Kent Hughes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-kent-hughes/) > [Gossip involves saying behind a person’s back what you would never say to his or her face. Flattery means saying to a person’s face…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-kent-hughes/gossip-involves-saying-behind-a-person-s-back-what-you-would-never/) [R. Kent Hughes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-kent-hughes/) > [“Television has greater power over the lives of most Americans than any educational system or government or church. It is the control center of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-kent-hughes/television-has-greater-power-over-the-lives-of-most-americans-than-2/) [R. Kent Hughes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-kent-hughes/) > [The Cross is the ultimate evidence that there is no length the love of God will refuse to go in effecting reconciliation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-kent-hughes/the-cross-is-the-ultimate-evidence-that-there-is-no-length-the-love/) [R. Kent Hughes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-kent-hughes/) > [The height of devotion is reached when reverence and contemplation produce passionate worship, which in turn breaks forth in thanksgiving and praise in word…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-kent-hughes/the-height-of-devotion-is-reached-when-reverence-and-contemplation/) [R. Kent Hughes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-kent-hughes/) > [The true test of a man's spirituality is not his ability to speak, as we are apt to think, but rather his ability to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-kent-hughes/the-true-test-of-a-man-s-spirituality-is-not-his-ability-to-speak-as/) [R. Kent Hughes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-kent-hughes/) > [“Little hearts, though safe and protected, never contribute anything. No one benefits from their shrunken sympathies and visions. On the other hand, hearts that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-kent-hughes/little-hearts-though-safe-and-protected-never-contribute-anything-no/) [R. Kent Hughes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-kent-hughes/) > [“The mind controlled by lust has an infinite capacity for rationalization.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-kent-hughes/the-mind-controlled-by-lust-has-an-infinite-capacity-for/) [R. Kent Hughes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-kent-hughes/) > [“Thus we understand that giving ourselves for our brides involves prayerful intercession. Men, do you pray for your wives with something more than, “Bless…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-kent-hughes/thus-we-understand-that-giving-ourselves-for-our-brides-involves/) [R. Kent Hughes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-kent-hughes/) > [“When we are in the grip of lust, the reality of God fades.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-kent-hughes/when-we-are-in-the-grip-of-lust-the-reality-of-god-fades/) [R. Kent Hughes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-kent-hughes/) > [There can be no burden for distant unreached peoples without a burden for unreached neighbors.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-kent-hughes/there-can-be-no-burden-for-distant-unreached-peoples-without-a-burden/) [R. Kent Hughes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-kent-hughes/) [Explore all 41 R. Kent Hughes quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-kent-hughes/) ## More Commitment quotes > [Deepen your existing spiritual commitment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-buettner/deepen-your-existing-spiritual-commitment/) [Dan Buettner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-buettner/) > [We can find common qualities and common values that have made Britain the country it is. 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