Forgive me my nonsense as I also forgive the nonsense of those who think they talk sense. Robert Frost
I am unable to believe in a God susceptible to prayer. I simply haven’t the nerve to imagine a being, a force, a cause which keeps the planets revolving in their orbits, and then suddenly stops in order to give me a bicycle with three speeds. Quentin Crisp
God’s will has to be done, in unifying people and companies to get that gas line built, so pray for that. Sarah Palin
It may be that ministers really think that their prayers do good, and it may be that frogs imagine that their croaking brings spring. Robert G Ingersoll, Which Way?
When I was a kid I used to pray every night for a new bicycle. Then I realised that the Lord doesn’t work that way so I stole one and asked Him to forgive me. Emo Philips
Judas said, ‘You have told us this out of the mind of truth. When we pray, how should we pray?’
The Lord said, ‘Pray in the place where there is no woman.’ Dialogue of the Saviour
Hear my cry, O God; attend unto my prayer. Psalms 61:1
Even them will I bring to my holy mountain, and make them joyful in my house of prayer: their burnt offerings and their sacrifices shall be accepted upon mine altar; for mine house shall be called an house of prayer for all people. Isaiah 56:7
Son of man, speak unto the elders of Israel, and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord God; Are ye come to enquire of me? As I live, saith the Lord God, I will not be enquired of by you. Ezekiel 20:3
And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.
But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.
But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking.
Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him.
After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.
Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen. Matthew 6:5-13
It is written, My house shall be called the house of prayer; but ye have made it a den of thieves. Matthew 21:13
And he went a little farther, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt. Matthew 26:39
And he said unto them, When ye pray, say, Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, as in heaven, so in earth.
Give us day by day our daily bread.
And forgive us our sins; for we also forgive every one that is indebted to us. And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil. Luke 11:2-4
Men ought always to pray, and not to faint. Luke 18:1
Without ceasing I make mention of you always in my prayers. Romans 1:9
Be guardians of your prayers, and of the midmost prayer, and stand up with devotion to Allah. Koran 2:238
O ye who believe! Draw not near unto prayer when ye are drunken, till ye know that which ye utter, nor when ye are polluted, save when journeying upon the road, till ye have bathed. And if ye be ill, or on a journey, or one of you cometh from the closet, or ye have touched women, and ye find not water, then go to high clean soil and rub your faces and your hands (therewith). Lo! Allah is Benign, Forgiving. Koran 4:43
O ye who believe! When ye rise up for prayer, wash you faces, and your hands up to the elbows, and lightly rub your heads and (wash) your feet up to the ankles. And if ye are unclean, purify yourselves. And if ye are sick or on a journey, or one of you cometh from the closet, or ye have had contact with women, and ye find not water, then go to clean, high ground and rub your faces and your hands with some of it. Allah would not place a burden on you, but He would purify you and would perfect His grace upon you, that ye may give thanks. Koran 5:6
Be careful what you pray for. The Borgias s1e6: The French King, King Charles to della Rovere, Showtime 2011
May the Lord destroy all the tyrants of the church. Amen. Michael Servetus
Lord, we cleared this land. We plowed it, sowed it, and harvested it. We cooked the food. It wouldn’t be here and we wouldn’t be eating it if we hadn’t done it all ourselves. We worked dog-bone hard for every crumb and morsel, but we thank you Lord just the same for the food we’re about to eat, amen. Jimmy Stewart as Charlie Anderson, Shenandoah, 1965
The only time my prayers are not answered is on the golf course. Billy Graham
Thank you, almighty God. Thank you. You work in mysterious ways all right. And none of them are worth a wank. Boys from The Blackstuff: Shop Thy Neighbour, Chrissie, BBC 1982
78,331. Well, let’s do our morning prayer, OK ... My chief aim in life is to continuously strive to be the best person I can be for the good of the planet and everyone who walks on it. And so it is. Bling Ring 2013 starring Katie Chang & Israel Broussard & Emma Watson & Claire Julien & Taissa Farmiga & Georgia Rock & Leslie Mann & Carlos Miranda & Gavin Rossdale, director Sofia Copola, mother’s prayer
... Wherefore, O Man, did there come to you
The unhappy need of creating me –
A form like your own – for praying to? ... Thomas Hardy, A Plaint to Man
If I was to pray, I’d pray for folks who’s alive and don’t know which way to turn. The Grapes of Wrath 1940 starring Henry Fonda & Jane Darwell & Charley Grapewin & Dorris Bowdon & John Carradine & Russell Simpson & O Z Whitehead & John Qualen & Eddie Quillan & Zefie Tilbury et al, director John Ford
Pray with me now. Choose the light. The Mystery of Edwin Drood II, vicar, BBC 2012
There is no solace above or below. Only us. Small, solitary, striving, battling one another. I pray to myself for myself. (Politics & Prayer & Meaning of Life) House of Cards US s1e13: Chapter 13, Frank in church
Lord, bless this schedule and help it guide Randy, Amen. Trailer Park Boys: The Animated Series V: Big Ho’s Carwash, Clont
We would pray to be broken. We would pray to be nothing. We would pray to learn how to obey. The Family I: Submersion, Netflix 2019
God … you know me. You know my heart, God. Please forgive me. I’ve done bad things. Many bad things: adultery, I sold drugs, pimped … I killed people. Please forgive me. I’m sorry if I offended you. Ray Donovan s7e10: You’ll Never Walk Alone, Mickey, Showtime 2019
I asked Him to intervene in some way. But this is a bit much. Father Ted s1e2: Entertaining Father Stone Ted to Dougal after Father Stone struck by lightning on Crazy Golf course, Channel 4 1995
I’ve been sixty years of more in a monastery. In the early days prayer was something that we did. Now, I don’t pray. Prayer is the atmosphere in which I live. My whole life is just a prayer to God. You understand? I don’t say prayers. The Brotherhood: The Inner World of Monks, dying brother in hospital bed, BBC 2021