Continuing a Lenten series on prayer: Prayer is co-operation with God. It is the purest exercise of the faculties God has given us - an exercise that links these faculties with the Maker to work out the intentions He had in mind in their creation.

The quote “Continuing a Lenten series on prayer: Prayer is co-operation with God. It is the purest exercise of the faculties God has given us – an exercise that links these faculties with the Maker to work out the intentions He had in mind in their creation.” by E. Stanley Jones emphasizes the spiritual significance of prayer as an active partnership with God. Jones describes prayer not simply as a request or ritual, but as co-operation, where human beings align their faculties—mind, heart, and will—with the divine purpose. In this sense, prayer becomes the highest and most authentic use of human capacity.

The origin of this statement is found in Jones’s role as a renowned 20th-century Methodist missionary and theologian, best known for his writings on spirituality and Christian living. His reflections on Lent, a season of fasting and prayer leading up to Easter, often focused on the transformative power of spiritual disciplines. By presenting prayer as the “purest exercise,” Jones ties it to his broader vision of Christianity as a life of daily communion and partnership with God’s purposes in the world.

The meaning of the quote lies in its redefinition of prayer as more than communication; it is participation in God’s intentions for humanity. When people pray, they are not simply speaking to God but are engaging their faculties—reason, emotion, and will—in harmony with the divine plan. In this way, prayer strengthens faith while also shaping human life to reflect God’s creative design.

Ultimately, Jones’s words underscore the transformative power of prayer during Lent and beyond. By calling it co-operation, he stresses that prayer is not passive but active, linking human beings to the ongoing work of God in creation. His statement invites believers to see prayer as a way of fulfilling their deepest purpose: aligning themselves with God’s vision for their lives and for the world.