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Wednesday, January 13, 2010

Prayer

Whatever a man prays for, he prays for a miracle. Every prayer reduces itself to this: “Great God, grant that twice two be not four.” [Ivan Sergeyevich Turgenev, Prayer]

Prayer is the soul’s sincere desire,
Uttered or unexpressed;
The motion of a hidden fire
That trembles in the breast.
     [James Montgomery, What is Prayer?]

Prayer from a heart in grace; for who sets store
By other kinds, which are not heard above?
     [Dante, Purgatory, Canto IV:134]

It is not a carol of joy or glee,
But a prayer that he sends from his heart’s deep core…
I know why the caged bird sings!
     [Paul Laurence Dunbar, Sympathy]

The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much. [The General Epistle of James, 5:16]

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