--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: prayer is nothing more than thought. It…" description: "\"prayer is nothing more than thought. It is a yearning of the heart.\" — Sophy Burnham" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b82/sophy-burnham-23134_desire_prayer-is-nothing-more-than-thought-it-i_2656277.jpg" --- # prayer is nothing more than thought. It is a yearning of… ![“prayer is nothing more than thought. It is a yearning of the heart.” quote by Sophy Burnham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b82/sophy-burnham-23134_desire_prayer-is-nothing-more-than-thought-it-i_2656277.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b82/sophy-burnham-23134_desire_prayer-is-nothing-more-than-thought-it-i_2656277.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b82/sophy-burnham-23134_desire_prayer-is-nothing-more-than-thought-it-i_2656277.jpg) > “prayer is nothing more than thought. It is a yearning of the heart.” [Sophy Burnham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophy-burnham/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Describes prayer as a mental act, a heartfelt yearning rather than a ritual. **In simple terms:** Prayer is thought and desire from the heart. Key Takeaway Recognize inner intention in prayer. Themes spirituality mindfulness belief Mood reflective introspective Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - personal meditation - religious practice - mental health counseling Key Concepts psychology inner desire Questions to Reflect On - What does your heart truly seek in prayer? - How can you align thought with intention? A Different Perspective May overlook communal aspects of prayer. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Desire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/desire/) [Heart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/heart/) [Prayer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prayer/) [Thought](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thought/) [Yearning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/yearning/) ## Related quotes > [There are times when the human face and body can express the yearning of the heart so accurately that you can, as they say,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diane-setterfield/there-are-times-when-the-human-face-and-body-can-express-the-yearning/) [Diane Setterfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diane-setterfield/) > [ \[People\] might have a different word for the yearning of the heart and the yearning of the spirit that is looking for what I… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oprah-winfrey/people-might-have-a-different-word-for-the-yearning-of-the-heart-and/) [Oprah Winfrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oprah-winfrey/) > [If a man prays to Thee with a yearning heart, he can reach Thee, through Thy grace, by any path.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ramakrishna/if-a-man-prays-to-thee-with-a-yearning-heart-he-can-reach-thee/) [Ramakrishna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ramakrishna/) > [Adoration is the spontaneous yearning of the heart to worship, honor, magnify, and bless God. We ask nothing but to cherish him. We seek…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-j-foster/adoration-is-the-spontaneous-yearning-of-the-heart-to-worship-honor/) [Richard J. Foster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-j-foster/) > [“My love for you is a prayer, she thought. Love is the only prayer I know.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marion-zimmer-bradley/my-love-for-you-is-a-prayer-she-thought-love-is-the-only-prayer-i-know/) [Marion Zimmer Bradley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marion-zimmer-bradley/) > [“I pray for guidance and strength today, to become the person I long to be and do the things I long to do. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marianne-williamson/i-pray-for-guidance-and-strength-today-to-become-the-person-i-long-to/) [Marianne Williamson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marianne-williamson/) > [“Not the soul that’s whitest Wakens love the sweetest: When the heart is lightest Oft the charm is fleetest. While the snow-frail maiden, 5…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ae/not-the-soul-that-s-whitest-wakens-love-the-sweetest-when-the-heart/) Ae > [“Jude continued his walk homeward alone, pondering so deeply that he forgot to feel timid. He suddenly grew older. It had been the yearning…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-hardy/jude-continued-his-walk-homeward-alone-pondering-so-deeply-that-he/) [Thomas Hardy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-hardy/) > [“A YEARNING HEART My heart is hurting right now, I don't know what to do, Father say something to me, I don't know what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/euginia-herlihy/a-yearning-heart-my-heart-is-hurting-right-now-i-don-t-know-what-to/) [Euginia Herlihy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/euginia-herlihy/) > [If we will make use of prayer to call down upon ourselves and others those things which will glorify the name of God, then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ole-hallesby/if-we-will-make-use-of-prayer-to-call-down-upon-ourselves-and-others/) [Ole Hallesby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ole-hallesby/) > [Praying gives sense, brings wisdom, and broadens and strengthens the mind. The prayer closet is a perfect schoolteacher and schoolhouse for the preacher. Thought…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-mckendree-bounds/praying-gives-sense-brings-wisdom-and-broadens-and-strengthens-the/) [Edward McKendree Bounds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-mckendree-bounds/) > [Prayer is a thought, a belief, a feeling, arising within the mind of the one praying.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-holmes/prayer-is-a-thought-a-belief-a-feeling-arising-within-the-mind-of-the/) [Ernest Holmes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-holmes/) > [It upset me that, five days after the hurricane hit down in New Orleans, the President's plan was for a day of prayer. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-stewart/it-upset-me-that-five-days-after-the-hurricane-hit-down-in-new/) [Jon Stewart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-stewart/) > [Every prayer - every thought, every statement, every feeling - is creative.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neale-donald-walsch/every-prayer-every-thought-every-statement-every-feeling-is-creative/) [Neale Donald Walsch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neale-donald-walsch/) > [“It would be even worse to think of those who get what they pray for as a sort of court favourites, people who have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis-2/it-would-be-even-worse-to-think-of-those-who-get-what-they-pray-for/) [C.S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis-2/) ## More by Sophy Burnham > [There are so many different kinds of writing and so many ways to work that the only rule is this: do what works. Almost…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophy-burnham/there-are-so-many-different-kinds-of-writing-and-so-many-ways-to-work/) [Sophy Burnham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophy-burnham/) > [Angels come in all sizes and shapes and colors, visible and invisible to the physical eye. But always you are changed from having seen…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophy-burnham/angels-come-in-all-sizes-and-shapes-and-colors-visible-and-invisible/) [Sophy Burnham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophy-burnham/) > [A guest at a dinner party observed the strange expression on James Thurber's face. 'Don't be concerned,' said Thurber's wife. 'He's writing.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophy-burnham/a-guest-at-a-dinner-party-observed-the-strange-expression-on-james/) [Sophy Burnham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophy-burnham/) > [Harriet Beecher Stowe thought Uncle Tom's Cabin was written through her by Another Hand, so little did she know what was going to happen…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophy-burnham/harriet-beecher-stowe-thought-uncle-tom-s-cabin-was-written-through/) [Sophy Burnham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophy-burnham/) > [We all have angels guiding us...They look after us. They heal us, touch us, comfort us with invisible warm hands...What will bring their help?…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophy-burnham/we-all-have-angels-guiding-us-they-look-after-us-they-heal-us-touch/) [Sophy Burnham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophy-burnham/) > [We write to understand our deepest secrets to ourselves, to understand. We write in an outpouring of love. We write in secret, either for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophy-burnham/we-write-to-understand-our-deepest-secrets-to-ourselves-to-understand/) [Sophy Burnham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophy-burnham/) > [It is said that angels come as thoughts, as visions, as dreams, as animals, as the light on the water or in clouds and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophy-burnham/it-is-said-that-angels-come-as-thoughts-as-visions-as-dreams-as/) [Sophy Burnham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophy-burnham/) > [To believe in God or in a guiding force because someone tells you to is the height of stupidity. We are given senses to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophy-burnham/to-believe-in-god-or-in-a-guiding-force-because-someone-tells-you-to/) [Sophy Burnham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophy-burnham/) > [I think our animals are angels, earth-angels, pointing out for us the steadfast path of love, loyalty, optimism, faith, joy, hope. They teach us…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophy-burnham/i-think-our-animals-are-angels-earth-angels-pointing-out-for-us-the/) [Sophy Burnham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophy-burnham/) > [So loving is the universe, so joyful, so determined to give us everything we need and to love us and show us the way…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophy-burnham/so-loving-is-the-universe-so-joyful-so-determined-to-give-us/) [Sophy Burnham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophy-burnham/) > [... where do they go when they die? We hear of the elephant graveyards, where the elephants go to die, but how much more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophy-burnham/where-do-they-go-when-they-die-we-hear-of-the-elephant-graveyards/) [Sophy Burnham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophy-burnham/) > [Prayer is a law of the universe, like gravity. You don't even have to believe in God to ask.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophy-burnham/prayer-is-a-law-of-the-universe-like-gravity-you-don-t-even-have-to/) [Sophy Burnham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophy-burnham/) > [When I'm having trouble I write by hand. There is some connection between the mind and the fingers that draws out words.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophy-burnham/when-i-m-having-trouble-i-write-by-hand-there-is-some-connection/) [Sophy Burnham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophy-burnham/) > [Harriet Beecher Stowe was thirty-nine when she began Uncle Tom's Cabin. She had given birth to seven children and seen one die. She wrote…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophy-burnham/harriet-beecher-stowe-was-thirty-nine-when-she-began-uncle-tom-s/) [Sophy Burnham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophy-burnham/) > [Sometimes writer's block is no more than a signal that you have not done enough research.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophy-burnham/sometimes-writer-s-block-is-no-more-than-a-signal-that-you-have-not/) [Sophy Burnham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophy-burnham/) [Explore all 25 Sophy Burnham quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophy-burnham/) ## More Desire quotes > [I put myself in the student's place and remember the frustrations, doubts, determination, and desires I felt when I was going through the initial…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-martinez/i-put-myself-in-the-student-s-place-and-remember-the-frustrations/) Ted Martinez > [Passion is what you need to be good, an unforgiving passion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-easton/passion-is-what-you-need-to-be-good-an-unforgiving-passion/) [David Easton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-easton/) > [I want the municipality to be a helping hand to the man with a desire of sympathy, to help the fallen when it is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-burns/i-want-the-municipality-to-be-a-helping-hand-to-the-man-with-a-desire/) [John Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-burns/) > [Ye youths and virgins, when your generous blood Has drunk the warmth of fifteen summers, now The loves invite; now to new rapture wakes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-armstrong/ye-youths-and-virgins-when-your-generous-blood-has-drunk-the-warmth/) [John Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-armstrong/) > [I have observed this in my experience of slavery, - that whenever my condition was improved, instead of its increasing my contentment, it only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-douglass/i-have-observed-this-in-my-experience-of-slavery-that-whenever-my/) [Frederick Douglass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-douglass/) > [“THE ESSENCE OF YOUR DESIRE IS A FEELING”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danielle-laporte/the-essence-of-your-desire-is-a-feeling/) [Danielle LaPorte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danielle-laporte/) > [On the brink of being satiated, desire still appears infinite.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-rostand/on-the-brink-of-being-satiated-desire-still-appears-infinite/) [Jean Rostand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-rostand/) > [If there is any period one would desire to be born in, is it not the age of Revolution; when the old and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/if-there-is-any-period-one-would-desire-to-be-born-in-is-it-not-the/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [He caught her, she fell, he caught her in his arms, he held her tightly unconscious of what he was doing. He held her…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-hugo/he-caught-her-she-fell-he-caught-her-in-his-arms-he-held-her-tightly/) [Victor Hugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-hugo/) > [ Teaching might even be the greatest of the arts since the medium is the human mind and spirit. My three \[great teachers\] did not… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-steinbeck/teaching-might-even-be-the-greatest-of-the-arts-since-the-medium-is/) [John Steinbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-steinbeck/) > [“The deepest urge in human nature is the desire to be important.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dewey/the-deepest-urge-in-human-nature-is-the-desire-to-be-important/) [John Dewey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dewey/) > [In discovering books, you became free to explore the full range of human motives, desires, secrets, and lies. All my life, people have scolded…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betsy-lerner/in-discovering-books-you-became-free-to-explore-the-full-range-of/) [Betsy Lerner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betsy-lerner/) > [I have never been in, nor have I had any strong particular desire to be in, what is termed a costume drama, but I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-freeman/i-have-never-been-in-nor-have-i-had-any-strong-particular-desire-to/) [Martin Freeman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-freeman/) > [Now I am in the place I call this wide wide Heaven because it includes all my simplest desires but also the most humble…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-sebold/now-i-am-in-the-place-i-call-this-wide-wide-heaven-because-it/) [Alice Sebold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-sebold/) > [“from THE DEVIL YOU KNOW : She wanted him too. He could see it in the rapid rise of her breasts. He could smell…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emery-lee/from-the-devil-you-know-she-wanted-him-too-he-could-see-it-in-the/) [Emery Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emery-lee/) [Browse all 15,155 Desire quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/desire/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "prayer is nothing more than thought. 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