--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Prayer is a great heart-easer; it…" description: "\"“Prayer is a great heart-easer; it breathes out those distempered passions which, being bound up in others, break out when God at any time crosseth the..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e9f/william-gurnall-2262_breathes_prayer-is-a-great-heart-easer-it-breathe_1098967.png" --- # Prayer is a great heart-easer; it breathes out those… ![“Prayer is a great heart-easer; it breathes out those distempered passions which, being bound up in others, break out when God at any time crosseth them in their wills.” quote by William Gurnall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e9f/william-gurnall-2262_breathes_prayer-is-a-great-heart-easer-it-breathe_1098967.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e9f/william-gurnall-2262_breathes_prayer-is-a-great-heart-easer-it-breathe_1098967.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e9f/william-gurnall-2262_breathes_prayer-is-a-great-heart-easer-it-breathe_1098967.png) > ““Prayer is a great heart-easer; it breathes out those distempered passions which, being bound up in others, break out when God at any time crosseth them in their wills.”” [William Gurnall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-gurnall/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Prayer calms intense emotions by releasing pent‑up passions that could otherwise erupt in our will. **In simple terms:** Prayer eases strong feelings. Key Takeaway Use prayer to release tension. Themes spirituality emotional regulation faith Mood calm reflective Type spiritual advice When to use this quote - personal crisis - conflict resolution - stress relief Key Concepts theology psychology Questions to Reflect On - How does prayer change your emotional state? - Can you find a secular equivalent? A Different Perspective Prayer may not work for non‑believers or those with different spiritual views. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Breathes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/breathes/) [Great Heart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/great-heart-291323/) [Heart Easer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/heart-easer-2880297/) [Passions Bound](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/passions-bound-2880298/) [Prayer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prayer/) [Prayer Great](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prayer-great-568937/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ## Related quotes > [Frequent prayer has great value. On its surface, this sounds simplistic. But if we're to keep prayer at the forefront of our ministry, we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-hamilton/frequent-prayer-has-great-value-on-its-surface-this-sounds-simplistic/) [Adam Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-hamilton/) > [All revival begins, and continues, in the prayer meeting. Some have also called prayer the "great fruit of revival." In times of revival, thousands…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-blackaby/all-revival-begins-and-continues-in-the-prayer-meeting-some-have-also/) [Henry Blackaby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-blackaby/) > [We pray because our life comes from God and we yield it back in prayer. Prayer is a great antidote to the illusion that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-brueggemann/we-pray-because-our-life-comes-from-god-and-we-yield-it-back-in/) [Walter Brueggemann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-brueggemann/) > [may I be I is the only prayer--not may I be great or good or beautiful or wise or strong.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/may-i-be-i-is-the-only-prayer-not-may-i-be-great-or-good-or-beautiful-2/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [In times of horror and torment prayer is a great thing Nobody answers But at least it stops you from thinking.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-macdonald-fraser/in-times-of-horror-and-torment-prayer-is-a-great-thing-nobody-answers/) [George MacDonald Fraser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-macdonald-fraser/) > [Let me burn out for God. After all, whatever God may appoint, prayer is the great thing. Oh, that I might be a man…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-martyn/let-me-burn-out-for-god-after-all-whatever-god-may-appoint-prayer-is/) [Henry Martyn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-martyn/) > [Prayer is the great gift which our Eternal Father has given us by which we may approach Him and speak with Him in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-b-hinckley/prayer-is-the-great-gift-which-our-eternal-father-has-given-us-by/) [Gordon B. Hinckley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-b-hinckley/) > [All great soul-winners have been men of much and mighty prayer, and all great revivals have been preceded and carried out by persevering, prevailing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-logan-brengle/all-great-soul-winners-have-been-men-of-much-and-mighty-prayer-and/) [Samuel Logan Brengle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-logan-brengle/) > [Prayer is a great tower of strength, a pillar of unending righteousness, a mighty force that moves mountains and saves souls. Through it the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-r-mcconkie/prayer-is-a-great-tower-of-strength-a-pillar-of-unending/) [Bruce R. McConkie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-r-mcconkie/) > [may i be i is the only prayer--not may i be great or good or beautiful or wise or strong today... may i be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/may-i-be-i-is-the-only-prayer-not-may-i-be-great-or-good-or-beautiful/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The life of prayer is so great and various there is something in it for everyone. It is like a garden which grows everything,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evelyn-underhill/the-life-of-prayer-is-so-great-and-various-there-is-something-in-it/) [Evelyn Underhill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evelyn-underhill/) > [Perhaps you have noticed that even in the very lightest breeze you can hear the voice of the cottonwood tree; this we understand is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/black-elk/perhaps-you-have-noticed-that-even-in-the-very-lightest-breeze-you/) [Black Elk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/black-elk/) > [The discussion of prayer is so great that it requires the Father to reveal it, His firstborn Word to teach it, and the Spirit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/origen/the-discussion-of-prayer-is-so-great-that-it-requires-the-father-to/) [Origen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/origen/) > [That prayer has great power which a person makes with all his might. It makes a sour heart sweet, a sad heart merry, a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mechthild-of-magdeburg/that-prayer-has-great-power-which-a-person-makes-with-all-his-might/) [Mechthild of Magdeburg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mechthild-of-magdeburg/) > [Prayer is such a great effort to most of us because we do not pray right.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ole-hallesby/prayer-is-such-a-great-effort-to-most-of-us-because-we-do-not-pray/) [Ole Hallesby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ole-hallesby/) ## More by William Gurnall > [“The more the soul loves the word, the more craving it has after it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-gurnall/the-more-the-soul-loves-the-word-the-more-craving-it-has-after-it/) [William Gurnall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-gurnall/) > [“Labour to get Christ, and through him hopes of heaven, and thou takest the right road to content; thou”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-gurnall/labour-to-get-christ-and-through-him-hopes-of-heaven-and-thou-takest/) [William Gurnall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-gurnall/) > [The chains of love are stronger than the chains of fear.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-gurnall/the-chains-of-love-are-stronger-than-the-chains-of-fear/) [William Gurnall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-gurnall/) > [Compare not thyself with those that have less than thyself, but look on those that have far exceeded thee.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-gurnall/compare-not-thyself-with-those-that-have-less-than-thyself-but-look/) [William Gurnall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-gurnall/) > [“All error dreads the light of the word, and fears more to be examined by that, than a thief does to be tried before…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-gurnall/all-error-dreads-the-light-of-the-word-and-fears-more-to-be-examined/) [William Gurnall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-gurnall/) > [It is the saint's duty, and should be their care, not only to believe that God is Almighty, but also to strongly believe that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-gurnall/it-is-the-saint-s-duty-and-should-be-their-care-not-only-to-believe/) [William Gurnall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-gurnall/) > [Oh, it is sad for a poor Christian to stand at the door of the promise, in the dark night of affliction, afraid to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-gurnall/oh-it-is-sad-for-a-poor-christian-to-stand-at-the-door-of-the-promise/) [William Gurnall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-gurnall/) > [“That he who means to be a Christian indeed, must endeavour to maintain the power of holiness and righteousness in his life and conversation.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-gurnall/that-he-who-means-to-be-a-christian-indeed-must-endeavour-to-maintain/) [William Gurnall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-gurnall/) > [“Meditate of Christ’s coming to judgment. Surely thou wilt not easily sleep while this trumpet, that shall call all mankind to judgment, shall sound…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-gurnall/meditate-of-christ-s-coming-to-judgment-surely-thou-wilt-not-easily/) [William Gurnall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-gurnall/) > [“There is no more difference betwixt a hypocrite and an apostate, than betwixt a green apple and a ripe one; come a while hence,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-gurnall/there-is-no-more-difference-betwixt-a-hypocrite-and-an-apostate-than/) [William Gurnall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-gurnall/) > [“Never can we truly recover our courage, till we recover our holiness—‘If”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-gurnall/never-can-we-truly-recover-our-courage-till-we-recover-our-holiness-if/) [William Gurnall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-gurnall/) > [Justifying faith is not a naked assent to the truths of the gospel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-gurnall/justifying-faith-is-not-a-naked-assent-to-the-truths-of-the-gospel/) [William Gurnall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-gurnall/) > [Let this encourage those of you who belong to Christ: the storm may be tempestuous, but it is only temporary. The clouds that are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-gurnall/let-this-encourage-those-of-you-who-belong-to-christ-the-storm-may-be/) [William Gurnall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-gurnall/) > [The Word of God is too sacred a thing, and preaching too solemn a work, to be toyed and played with.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-gurnall/the-word-of-god-is-too-sacred-a-thing-and-preaching-too-solemn-a-work/) [William Gurnall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-gurnall/) > [God would not rub so hard if it were not to fetch out the dirt that is ingrained in our natures. God loves purity…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-gurnall/god-would-not-rub-so-hard-if-it-were-not-to-fetch-out-the-dirt-that/) [William Gurnall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-gurnall/) [Explore all 175 William Gurnall quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-gurnall/) ## More Breathes quotes > [Anyone who breathes is in the rhythm business.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-stafford/anyone-who-breathes-is-in-the-rhythm-business/) [William Stafford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-stafford/) > [ \[on his former manager, Malcolm McLaren\] Let's just say that if Malcolm breathes, it's too much for me to stomach. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-rotten/on-his-former-manager-malcolm-mclaren-let-s-just-say-that-if-malcolm/) [Johnny Rotten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-rotten/) > [Silence is of different kinds, and breathes different meanings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-bronte/silence-is-of-different-kinds-and-breathes-different-meanings/) [Charlotte Bronte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-bronte/) > [Seek to be closer to God each new day He breathes Life back into your body.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/seek-to-be-closer-to-god-each-new-day-he-breathes-life-back-into-your/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Love doesn't die. No matter how many bullets you put in it. It breathes on it's own without oxygen, without need for anything else.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-robinson/love-doesn-t-die-no-matter-how-many-bullets-you-put-in-it-it-breathes/) [Rachel Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-robinson/) > [“It feels as if there are two people inside me. One I know, but the other is unfamiliar, though not unwelcome. He lives and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-brooke/it-feels-as-if-there-are-two-people-inside-me-one-i-know-but-the/) [Anne Brooke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-brooke/) > [Breathes there a man, whose judgment clear Can others teach their course to steer, Yet run himself life's mad career Wild as the wave?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-bunyan/breathes-there-a-man-whose-judgment-clear-can-others-teach-their/) [John Bunyan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-bunyan/) > [Bondy is a city that breathes football.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kylian-mbappe/bondy-is-a-city-that-breathes-football/) [Kylian Mbappe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kylian-mbappe/) > [Softly the loud peal dies, In passing winds it drowns, But breathes, like perfect joys, Tender tones.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-tennyson/softly-the-loud-peal-dies-in-passing-winds-it-drowns-but-breathes/) [Frederick Tennyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-tennyson/) > [The dying swan, when years her temples pierce, In music-strains breathes out her life and verse, And, chanting her own dirge, tides on her…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phineas-fletcher/the-dying-swan-when-years-her-temples-pierce-in-music-strains/) [Phineas Fletcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phineas-fletcher/) > [Everything that breathes, breathes by air and cannot live without air; similarly all reasonable free creatures live by the Holy Spirit, as though by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-of-kronstadt/everything-that-breathes-breathes-by-air-and-cannot-live-without-air/) [John of Kronstadt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-of-kronstadt/) > [“My hand reaches for his eye. He does not pull away but breathes into my touch. His normal lid drifts closed, and beneath my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hilary-thayer-hamann/my-hand-reaches-for-his-eye-he-does-not-pull-away-but-breathes-into/) [Hilary Thayer Hamann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hilary-thayer-hamann/) > [I come from a country that lives and breathes rugby, and I didn't think there would be anywhere else in the world that could…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luke-evans/i-come-from-a-country-that-lives-and-breathes-rugby-and-i-didn-t/) [Luke Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luke-evans/) > [“You my baby.” She breathes heavy, and the grate cracks and sinks to rusted stillness. “Like I drew the veil back so you could…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesmyn-ward/you-my-baby-she-breathes-heavy-and-the-grate-cracks-and-sinks-to/) [Jesmyn Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesmyn-ward/) > [That's absurd," I said with a little laugh. "Nobody can read too much. That's like saying someone breathes too much.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lynn-austin/that-s-absurd-i-said-with-a-little-laugh-nobody-can-read-too-much/) [Lynn Austin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lynn-austin/) [Browse all 94 Breathes quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/breathes/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Prayer is a great heart-easer; it breathes out those distempered passions which, being bound up in others, break out when God at any time crosseth them in their wills.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "William Gurnall" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-gurnall/prayer-is-a-great-heart-easer-it-breathes-out-those-distempered/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Breathes" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-gurnall/prayer-is-a-great-heart-easer-it-breathes-out-those-distempered/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e9f/william-gurnall-2262_breathes_prayer-is-a-great-heart-easer-it-breathe_1098967.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e9f/william-gurnall-2262_breathes_prayer-is-a-great-heart-easer-it-breathe_1098967.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e9f/william-gurnall-2262_breathes_prayer-is-a-great-heart-easer-it-breathe_1098967.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Prayer is a great heart-easer; it breathes out those distempered passions which, being bound up in others…” — William Gurnall", "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": "William Gurnall", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-gurnall/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“Prayer is a great heart-easer; it...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-gurnall/prayer-is-a-great-heart-easer-it-breathes-out-those-distempered/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-gurnall/prayer-is-a-great-heart-easer-it-breathes-out-those-distempered/#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 } } ] } ```