James Banks > Quotes

“Perhaps the simplest, most practical definition of prayer is being with Jesus and living in a relationship with Him. It may involve words, but it doesn’t have to.”
― James Banks, Peace through Prayer: Rest and Restoration for Your Soul

“we soon discover the difference between living in His peace and asking Him to bless our already busy lives.”
― James Banks, Peace through Prayer: Rest and Restoration for Your Soul

“He sought us out, even though He didn’t have to. He’s entirely self-sufficient and needs nothing, but He pursues us out of His absolute goodness and through no merit of our own:”
― James Banks, Peace through Prayer: Rest and Restoration for Your Soul

“He sees who you will be as you stay close to Him.”
― James Banks, Peace through Prayer: Rest and Restoration for Your Soul

“The Holy Spirit makes Jesus’s peace accessible because the Spirit makes it possible for us to be with Jesus.”
― James Banks, Peace through Prayer: Rest and Restoration for Your Soul

“We also make the discovery that God isn’t disappointed in us because we don’t spend more time with Him in prayer; He’s disappointed for us because of what we’re missing when we try to run our lives apart from Him.”
― James Banks, Peace through Prayer: Rest and Restoration for Your Soul

“This longing heart of the Father is for all prodigals, including those who are “a long way off” and those who (like the older brother) are trusting in their own efforts to save themselves.”
― James Banks, Peace through Prayer: Rest and Restoration for Your Soul

“So in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. Romans 12:5”
― James Banks, Our Daily Bread - July / August / September 2022

“But there’s a limit to what I can do for my child. My arms are only so strong—unlike yours! Yours are the “everlasting arms” (Deuteronomy 33:27c)! You “will not grow tired or weary” (Isaiah 40:28). There’s no limit to what you can do! When she was little and she’d fall asleep I could scoop her up and place her safely in her bed. My heart toward her hasn’t changed—I love her and want to keep her from harm. So I ask that you do what I cannot. I pray you will wrap your arms around her and “surround” her “with your favor” (Psalm 5:12). Because you made her, I ask that you “care for” her until her “hair is white with age” (Isaiah 46:4d). Please take care of her in those days when I won’t be there to help! I pray that she will “draw near” to you “with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings” (Hebrews 10:22), so that she will know the “comfort and salvation” (2 Corinthians 1:6e) that only come from you. May she trust in you “at all times,” and “pour out” her heart to you (Psalm 62:8f), so that she may be enthralled with “the joy of your presence” (Psalm 21:6) and caught up in the wonder of all that you are.”
― James Banks, Prayers for Your Children: 90 Days of Heartfelt Prayers for Children of Any Age

“When we pray, Jesus invites us to just be with Him in unforced ways.”
― James Banks, Peace through Prayer: Rest and Restoration for Your Soul

“He has things for you to be about that you haven’t discovered yet—and all of eternity to show you. He is even able to bring good that you never thought was possible from things you regret in your past, simply because He is that good.”
― James Banks, Peace through Prayer: Rest and Restoration for Your Soul

“Prayer is the expression of the human heart in conversation with God. The more natural the prayer, the more real He becomes. . . . Prayer is a dialogue between two persons who love each other.” 1”
― James Banks, Peace through Prayer: Rest and Restoration for Your Soul