The perfect victory is to triumph over ourselves. For he that keepeth himself subject in such sort that his sensual affections be obedient to reason, and his reason in all things obedient to Me; that person is truly conqueror of himself . . .
– Thomas a Kempis –
from The Imitation of Christ
Self-denial surely means something far greater than some slight and insignificant lessening of our self-indulgences!
– Hudson Taylor –
An honest, consistent, godly character, is a sermon all the week. The godly Christian–pure of heart and unspotted by the world–is the best preacher of the gospel. The revival which is most urgently needed, is a revival of practical godliness. Sunday preaching is not enough; we need more “sermons all through the week.”
– Theodore Cuyler –
from “Wayside Springs from the Fountain of Life,” 1883
The moment the soul yields itself to obey [responds], the Lord Himself gives the strength and joy to do it.
– Andrew Murray –
The Cross we preach to others should first crucify us.
– Watchman Nee –
O God, wake us up to Jesus, give us His passion for prayer and His passion for people.
May our needs drive us to Thee and the needs of others drive us to them.
– E. Stanley Jones –
“Abide in Me” (John 15.4). Think of the things that take you out of abiding in Christ – “Yes, Lord, just a minute, I have got this to do; Yes, I will abide when once this is finished; when this week is over, it will be all right, I will abide then.” Get a move on; begin to abide now. In the initial stages it is a continual effort until it becomes so much the law of life that you abide in Him unconsciously. Determine to abide in Jesus wherever you are placed.
– Oswald Chambers –
from My Utmost for His Highest, June 14
There is no condition of life in which we cannot abide in Jesus. We have to learn to abide in Him wherever we are placed.
– Oswald Chambers –
from Our Brilliant Heritage
I am convinced that what is needed in spiritual matters is reckless abandonment to the Lord Jesus Christ, reckless and uncalculating abandonment, with no reserve anywhere about it; not sad, you cannot be sad if you are abandoned absolutely.
– Oswald Chambers –