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Why God has instituted Prayer:— To communicate to his creatures the dignity of causation.
Blaise Pascal
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Interpretation

What this quote means

Prayer is a means for humans to understand their power in causing outcomes.

In this quote, Blaise Pascal speaks to the profound role of prayer in human existence, suggesting that it is not merely a ritual or formality, but a vital communication from God that conveys to individuals the significant power they have in influencing events and outcomes in their lives through their intentions and actions. It underscores the idea that humans are not passive observers but active participants in the divine plan, entrusted with the ability to affect change through their prayers.

Themes

PrayerCausationDignityFaithInfluence

In practice

Example use cases

In a sermon discussing the power of prayer in personal challenges, one could quote Pascal.

More from Blaise Pascal

Justice and power must be brought together, so that whatever is just may be powerful, and whatever is powerful may be just.
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If we submit everything to reason our religion will be left with nothing mysterious or supernatural. If we offend the principles of reason our religion will be absurd and ridiculous . . . There are two equally dangerous extremes: to exclude reason, to admit nothing but reason.
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Those are weaklings who know the truth and uphold it as long as it suits their purpose, and then abandon it.
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Jesus is the God whom we can approach without pride and before whom we can humble ourselves without despair.
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If he exalts himself, I humble him. If he humbles himself, I exalt him. And I go on contradicting him Until he understands That he is a monster that passes all understanding.
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What use is it to us to hear it said of a man that he has thrown off the yoke that he does not believe there is a God to watch over his actions, that he reckons himself the sole master of his behavior, and that he does not intend to give an account of it to anyone but himself?
Blaise PascalRead

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