In Order to Treasure Prayer You Need to Know God
An innocent child would exchange his mother’s necklace of pure gold for a toy of shiny tin. He trades valuable goods for nothing. Why? Because he does not know their value.
In this world, in order to treasure someone, something, a craft, gold, silver, gems and other fortunes we need first to learn about them, to know their value. An innocent child would exchange his mother’s necklace of pure gold for a toy of shiny tin. He trades valuable goods for nothing. Why? Because he does not know their value. This is also the case of ungrateful people for the sacred things. Thus, knowing God is the beginning of knowledge. All people who have known God, praise Him and worship Him in Spirit and truth.
(Translation from Protosinghelos Nicodim Măndiță, Învățături despre rugăciune, Editura Agapis, București, 2008, p. 16)