--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It's a risky thing to pray and the danger…" description: "\"It's a risky thing to pray and the danger is that our very prayers get between God and us. The great thing in prayer is not to pray, but to go directly..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/872/thomas-merton-231_constant_it-s-a-risky-thing-to-pray-and-the-dange_2120244.jpg" --- # It's a risky thing to pray and the danger is that our very… ![“It's a risky thing to pray and the danger is that our very prayers get between God and us. The great thing in prayer is not to pray, but to go directly to God. . . . The fact is, though, that if you descend into the depths of your own spirit and arrive somewhere near the center of what you are…” quote by Thomas Merton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/872/thomas-merton-231_constant_it-s-a-risky-thing-to-pray-and-the-dange_2120244.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/872/thomas-merton-231_constant_it-s-a-risky-thing-to-pray-and-the-dange_2120244.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/872/thomas-merton-231_constant_it-s-a-risky-thing-to-pray-and-the-dange_2120244.jpg) > “It's a risky thing to pray and the danger is that our very prayers get between God and us. The great thing in prayer is not to pray, but to go directly to God. . . . The fact is, though, that if you descend into the depths of your own spirit and arrive somewhere near the center of what you are, you are confronted with the inescapable truth that, at the very root of your existence, you are in constant and immediate contact with the infinite power of God.” [Thomas Merton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-merton/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Prayer can become a barrier when it replaces direct communion with God; true connection arises from inner silence and openness. **In simple terms:** Prayer can block God; silence connects. Key Takeaway Seek inner silence for direct divine contact. Themes spirituality prayer inner silence divine connection Mood contemplative serene Type theological inspirational When to use this quote - personal meditation - spiritual retreat - contemplative practice - faith counseling Key Concepts theology mysticism Questions to Reflect On - What prevents prayer from becoming a barrier? - How does silence foster divine awareness? A Different Perspective Risk of ritualism replacing authentic experience. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Danger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/danger/) [Depth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/depth/) [Existence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/existence/) [Facts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/facts/) [Great things](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/great-things/) [Infinite power](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/infinite-power/) [Power of god](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/power-of-god/) [Prayer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prayer/) [Praying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/praying/) [Roots](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/roots/) [Spirit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spirit/) ## Related quotes > [Prayer is not ever thing, but everything is by prayer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-a-hartley-jr/prayer-is-not-ever-thing-but-everything-is-by-prayer/) Fred A. Hartley, Jr > [The great thing in prayer is to feel that we are putting our supplications into the bosom of omnipotent love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-murray/the-great-thing-in-prayer-is-to-feel-that-we-are-putting-our/) [Andrew Murray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-murray/) > [What a marvelous and wonderful thing is # prayer . Think of it. We can actually speak with our Father in # Heaven .](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-b-hinckley/what-a-marvelous-and-wonderful-thing-is-prayer-think-of-it-we-can/) [Gordon B. Hinckley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-b-hinckley/) > [We get nearer to the Lord through music than perhaps through any other thing except prayer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-reuben-clark/we-get-nearer-to-the-lord-through-music-than-perhaps-through-any/) [J. Reuben Clark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-reuben-clark/) > [Be careful for nothing, but in every thing, by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known unto God. (Philippians 4:6)](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bible/be-careful-for-nothing-but-in-every-thing-by-prayer-and-supplication/) [Bible](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bible/) > [“Attention, taken to its highest degree, is the same thing as prayer. It presupposes faith and love. Absolutely unmixed attention is prayer.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simone-weil/attention-taken-to-its-highest-degree-is-the-same-thing-as-prayer-it/) [Simone Weil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simone-weil/) > [Often when you ask for one thing you receive another, this is the mysterious thing about prayer, we address them to heaven with some…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jos-saramago/often-when-you-ask-for-one-thing-you-receive-another-this-is-the/) [Jose Saramago](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jos-saramago/) > [“Teresa of Avila says that the important thing in prayer is not to think much but to love much. The head is not a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-g-benner/teresa-of-avila-says-that-the-important-thing-in-prayer-is-not-to/) [David G. Benner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-g-benner/) > [I think one thing is that prayer has become more useful, interesting, fruitful, and... almost involuntary in my life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-oliver/i-think-one-thing-is-that-prayer-has-become-more-useful-interesting/) [Mary Oliver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-oliver/) > [Never say you will pray about a thing; pray about it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oswald-chambers/never-say-you-will-pray-about-a-thing-pray-about-it/) [Oswald Chambers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oswald-chambers/) > [I pray to be the best thing ever but I also pray that for my colleagues. You're only as good as the person who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/measha-brueggergosman/i-pray-to-be-the-best-thing-ever-but-i-also-pray-that-for-my/) [Measha Brueggergosman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/measha-brueggergosman/) > [“The only possible thing, you can do is to pray.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/the-only-possible-thing-you-can-do-is-to-pray/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [You know something?i always don't feel like worshipping you...but you taught me one thing!!and that's to pray and never give up!yes!am hopeful for today!would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/soh-niyah/you-know-something-i-always-don-t-feel-like-worshipping-you-but-you/) SoH-NiYaH > [I know you can't play this game 100 percent. It's very rare that you can be able to play this game at 100 percent.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julio-jones/i-know-you-can-t-play-this-game-100-percent-it-s-very-rare-that-you/) [Julio Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julio-jones/) > [Sometimes when someones picking on you,you might just want to kick their ass,but that wont help,so the best thing to do is pray for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irisjc/sometimes-when-someones-picking-on-you-you-might-just-want-to-kick/) IrisJC ## More by Thomas Merton > [“Let no one hope to find in contemplation an escape from conflict, from anguish or from doubt. On the contrary, the deep, inexpressible certitude…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-merton/let-no-one-hope-to-find-in-contemplation-an-escape-from-conflict-from/) [Thomas Merton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-merton/) > [If nothing that can be seen can either be God or represent Him to us as He is, then to find God we must…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-merton/if-nothing-that-can-be-seen-can-either-be-god-or-represent-him-to-us/) [Thomas Merton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-merton/) > [It is almost impossible to overestimate the value of true humility and its power in the spiritual life. For the beginning of humility is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-merton/it-is-almost-impossible-to-overestimate-the-value-of-true-humility/) [Thomas Merton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-merton/) > [We are not perfectly free until we live in pure hope. For when our hope is pure, it no longer trusts exclusively in human…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-merton/we-are-not-perfectly-free-until-we-live-in-pure-hope-for-when-our/) [Thomas Merton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-merton/) > [The desire to kill is like the desire to attack another with an ingot of red -hot iron: I have to pick up the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-merton/the-desire-to-kill-is-like-the-desire-to-attack-another-with-an-ingot/) [Thomas Merton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-merton/) > [To enter into the realm of contemplation one must in a certain sense die: but this death is in fact the entrance to a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-merton/to-enter-into-the-realm-of-contemplation-one-must-in-a-certain-sense/) [Thomas Merton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-merton/) > [The mission of Christian humility in social life is not merely to edify, but to keep minds open to many alternatives. The rigidity of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-merton/the-mission-of-christian-humility-in-social-life-is-not-merely-to/) [Thomas Merton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-merton/) > [Peace cannot be built on exclusivism, absolutism, and intolerance. But neither can it be built on vague liberal slogans and pious programs gestated in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-merton/peace-cannot-be-built-on-exclusivism-absolutism-and-intolerance-but/) [Thomas Merton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-merton/) > [Things that are good are good, and if one is responding to that goodness one is in contact with a truth from which one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-merton/things-that-are-good-are-good-and-if-one-is-responding-to-that/) [Thomas Merton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-merton/) > [Love winter when the plant says nothing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-merton/love-winter-when-the-plant-says-nothing/) [Thomas Merton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-merton/) > [The logic of worldly success rests on a fallacy: the strange error that our perfection depends on the thoughts and opinions and applause of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-merton/the-logic-of-worldly-success-rests-on-a-fallacy-the-strange-error/) [Thomas Merton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-merton/) > [“The wisdom of the flesh is a judgement that the ordinary ends of our natural appetites are the goods to which the whole of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-merton/the-wisdom-of-the-flesh-is-a-judgement-that-the-ordinary-ends-of-our/) [Thomas Merton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-merton/) > [I will no longer wound myself with the thoughts and questions that have surrounded me like thorns: that is a penance You do not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-merton/i-will-no-longer-wound-myself-with-the-thoughts-and-questions-that/) [Thomas Merton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-merton/) > [If you write for God you will reach many men and bring them joy. If you write for men--you may make some money and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-merton/if-you-write-for-god-you-will-reach-many-men-and-bring-them-joy-if/) [Thomas Merton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-merton/) > [“Contemplation means rest, suspension of activity, withdrawal into the mysterious interior solitude in which the soul is absorbed in the immense and fruitful silence…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-merton/contemplation-means-rest-suspension-of-activity-withdrawal-into-the/) [Thomas Merton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-merton/) [Explore all 851 Thomas Merton quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-merton/) ## More Constant quotes > [Because after you've crossed some lines, you just keep crossing them. And there's no escaping from constant escape. Distracting ourselves. Avoiding confrontation. Getting past…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-palahniuk/because-after-you-ve-crossed-some-lines-you-just-keep-crossing-them/) [Chuck Palahniuk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-palahniuk/) > [This is, for an accomplished Latino, an accomplished African American, an accomplished anyone who disproves stereotypes, it's a constant battle in your life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonia-sotomayor/this-is-for-an-accomplished-latino-an-accomplished-african-american/) [Sonia Sotomayor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonia-sotomayor/) > [Me mum used to always have the radio on - even now she has it on in every room. Me girlfriend sort of blames…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-pilkington/me-mum-used-to-always-have-the-radio-on-even-now-she-has-it-on-in/) [Karl Pilkington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-pilkington/) > [Why is wisdom so fair? Why is beauty so wise? Because all else is temporary, while beauty and wisdom are the only real and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vera-nazarian/why-is-wisdom-so-fair-why-is-beauty-so-wise-because-all-else-is/) [Vera Nazarian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vera-nazarian/) > [The Only cure for nihilism is for liberal democratic societies - their electorates, their judiciary, and their political leadership- to insist that force is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-ignatieff/the-only-cure-for-nihilism-is-for-liberal-democratic-societies-their/) [Michael Ignatieff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-ignatieff/) > [The invention of gunpowder and the constant improvement of firearms are enough in themselves to show that the advance of civilization has done nothing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-von-clausewitz/the-invention-of-gunpowder-and-the-constant-improvement-of-firearms/) [Carl von Clausewitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-von-clausewitz/) > [As I grow through love, so grows my joy, ever more present, ever more constant.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-scott-peck/as-i-grow-through-love-so-grows-my-joy-ever-more-present-ever-more/) [M. Scott Peck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-scott-peck/) > [Life and death are illusions. We are in a constant state of transformation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alejandro-gonzalez-inarritu/life-and-death-are-illusions-we-are-in-a-constant-state-of/) [Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alejandro-gonzalez-inarritu/) > [People don't need sudden revelations. They get what they need when they need it, thought by thought by thought. It's a constant thing when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/byron-katie/people-don-t-need-sudden-revelations-they-get-what-they-need-when/) [Byron Katie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/byron-katie/) > [Fishing is a constant reminder of the democracy of life, of humility, and of human frailty. The forces of nature discriminate for no man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbert-hoover/fishing-is-a-constant-reminder-of-the-democracy-of-life-of-humility/) [Herbert Hoover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbert-hoover/) > [It's a constant man-ego-check going on in the streets, in this world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tupac-shakur/it-s-a-constant-man-ego-check-going-on-in-the-streets-in-this-world/) [Tupac Shakur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tupac-shakur/) > [Research is an organized method of trying to find out what you are going to do after you cannot do what you are doing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-kettering/research-is-an-organized-method-of-trying-to-find-out-what-you-are/) [Charles Kettering](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-kettering/) > [I believe it's true that there's good and evil in everyone and it's a constant struggle to have your better angels prevail.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-friedkin/i-believe-it-s-true-that-there-s-good-and-evil-in-everyone-and-it-s-a/) [William Friedkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-friedkin/) > [You're a constant student, as a musician.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshua-bell/you-re-a-constant-student-as-a-musician/) [Joshua Bell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joshua-bell/) > [Intimacy requires an ability to both merge and be separate, to come together and be apart, like oscillating on a giant swing from oneness…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-sophia-kasl/intimacy-requires-an-ability-to-both-merge-and-be-separate-to-come/) [Charlotte Sophia Kasl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-sophia-kasl/) Browse all 3,025 Constant quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "It's a risky thing to pray and the danger is that our very prayers get between God and us. 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