Christian Life

Godly Sorrow for the Offense Rather Punishment – Thomas Watson

Godly sorrow is ingenious. It is sorrow for the offense rather than for the punishment. God’s law has been infringed, his love abused. This melts the soul in tears. A man may be sorry, yet not repent, as a thief is sorry when he is taken, not because he stole, but because he has to pay the penalty. … “My sin is ever before me” (Ps. 51:3); David does not say, “The sword threatened is ever before me,” but “my sin.” O that I should offend so good a God, that I should grieve my Comforter! This breaks my heart!

– Thomas Watson –
from The Doctrine of Repentance, 1668

Two Signs of Grace – Robert Candlish

Two unequivocal signs of grace; a desire to be thoroughly washed and cleansed,—”Wash me thoroughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin,” (Psalm 51:2)—and a willingness to appear before God for that end, without concealment and without guile,—”I acknowledge my transgressions; and my sin is ever before me” (Psalms 51:3).

– Robert Candlish –
from The Prayer of a Broken Heart: Expository Discourses on Psalm 51, 1873

Burdened Down – David Wilkerson

Many of those who once were so passionately in love with Christ now run about pursuing their own interests. They’re burdened down with stress and problems, chasing after riches and the things of this world.

– David Wilkerson –

Prayer is the Essential Work – Oswald Chambers

We think of prayer as a preparation for work, or a calm after having done work, whereas prayer is the essential work. It is the supreme activity of everything that is noblest in our personality.

– Oswald Chambers –

Walking Through Difficulty, Obscurity, and Suffering – FB Meyer

We all need to go to Arabia to learn lessons like these. The Lord Himself was led up into the wilderness. And in one form or another, every soul who has done a great work in the world has passed through similar periods of obscurity, suffering, disappointment or solitude.

– FB Meyer –
1847-1929

The Faithful Prays Twice – Martin Luther

Here is a saying ascribed to St. Jerome that everything a believer does is prayer and a proverb, “He who works faithfully prays twice.” This can be said because a believer fears and honors God in his work and remembers the commandment not to wrong anyone, or to try to steal, defraud, or cheat. Such thoughts and such faith undoubtedly transform his work into prayer and a sacrifice of praise.

– Martin Luther –
from A Simple Way to Pray