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Attempts at Honesty

Reflections on the interplay of the Bible and Culture

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Home Bible Reflection Keller on prayer and Scripture

Keller on prayer and Scripture

Posted on May 9, 2016 Written by Mark McIntyre Leave a Comment


IKeller on Prayern his book on prayer, Tim Keller writes this about the importance of having Scripture as the foundation of our prayer life:

“Without immersion in God’s words, our prayers may not be merely limited and shallow but also untethered from reality. We may be responding not to the real God but to what we wish God and life to be like. Indeed, if left to themselves our hearts will tend to create a God who doesn’t exist. People from Western cultures want a God who is loving and forgiving but not holy and transcendent. Studies of the spiritual lives of young adults in Western countries reveal that their prayers, therefore, are generally devoid of both repentance and of the joy of being forgiven. Without prayer that answers the God of the Bible, we will only be talking to ourselves.”

No one likes to be in a conversation where the other person is speaking but not listening. In prayer, our listening happens when we pay attention to Scripture. In the Bible, God tells us what he thinks is important for us to know.

Praying in response to what we know about God from Scripture makes prayer a conversation that incorporates both listening and speaking.

To speak without listening is rude and a waste of time.


Filed Under: Bible Reflection Tagged With: Keller, prayer

About Mark McIntyre

A follower of Jesus Christ who shares observations about how Scripture should impact the church and the world. Mark is the original author and editor of Attempts at Honesty.

I have the opportunity to go to Istanbul, Turkey this summer to minister to Syrian refugees. If you would like more details about this trip, please use this link Mark McIntyre - Istanbul, Turkey Please note that this trip is fully funded, but I would appreciate your continued prayer. The trip will take place June 27 - July 6, 2025.

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