The world cries for men who are strong: strong in conviction, strong to lead, to stand, to suffer. I pray you will be that kind of man, glad that God made you a man, glad to shoulder the burden of manliness in a time when to do so will often bring contempt.
– Elisabeth Elliot –
Keep as far as you can from those temptations that feed and strengthen the sins which you would overcome. Lay siege to your sins, and starve them out, by keeping away the food and fuel which is their maintenance and life.
– Richard Baxter –
God never asks us to do anything we can do. He asks us to live a life which we can never live and to do a work which we can never do. . . . Self is the only obstruction to that life and to that work. May we each one pray from our hearts: “O Lord, deal with me!”
– Watchman Nee –
from “Sit, Walk, Stand” page 69
How infinitely blessed it is to be entirely Christ’s. To think that you and I are never to have another care or another fear, but that Jesus has undertaken simply everything for us! And isn’t it grand to have the privilege of being His instruments? It does seem such loving condescension that He should use us.
– Francis Havergal –
Sometimes people talk about how they are “struggling with” certain things, or “working through” them, when what they really mean is that they are delaying obedience. “I have a problem with this,” they say, or, “I don’t feel comfortable with that yet,” meaning, “Who me? Disobedient?” . . . Obedience will very likely earn you nasty labels nowadays. There’s nothing new about that. Obedience has never been the route to popularity. The question is simply, who is your master?
– Elisabeth Elliot –
God, I pray Thee, light these idle sticks of my life, that I may burn for Thee.
– Jim Elliot –
All my devotion is an insult to God unless every bit of my practical life squares with Jesus Christ’s demands.
– Oswald Chambers –
Self-sourcing asks, “How can I use you?” Spirit-sourcing asks, “How can I minister to you?” Self-sourcing sees inconvenience. Spirit-sourcing sees opportunities. Self-sourcing protects and guards. Spirit-sourcing flows and gives. Self sourcing is demanding; Spirit-sourcing is giving. I become the answer to the needs of your life, because He is the answer to the needs of my life.
– Stephen Manley –
from Eating at the Cross (Acts 2.42)
When He was crucified He “did that in the wild weather of His outlying provinces which He had done at home in glory and gladness.” From before the foundation of the world, He surrenders begotten Deity back to begetting Deity in obedience.
– CS Lewis –
from The Problem of Pain