All decays begin in the closet; no heart thrives with out much secret converse with God, and nothing will make amends for the want of it.
– John Berridge –
Spiritual Growth
Getting Out of a Trial – AB Simpson
There are two ways of getting out of a trial. One is to simply try to get rid of the trial, and be thankful when it is over. The other is to recognize the trial as a challenge from God to claim a larger blessing than we have ever had, and to hail it with delight as an opportunity of obtaining a larger measure of Divine grace. Thus even the adversary becomes an auxiliary, and the things that seem to be against us turn out to be for the furtherance of our way. Surely, this is to be more than conquerors through Him who loved us.
– AB Simpson –
Complacency is a Deadly Foe – AW Tozer
Complacency is a deadly foe of all spiritual growth. Acute desire must be present or there will be no manifestation of Christ…
– AW Tozer –
How to Grow in Holiness – Andrew Murray
Nowhere can we get to know the holiness of God, and come under His influence and power, except in the inner chamber. It has been well said: “No man can expect to make progress in holiness who is not often and long alone with God.”
– Andrew Murray –
A Pharisee vs A Spiritual Man – AW Tozer
A Pharisee is hard on others and easy on himself, but a spiritual man is easy on others and hard on himself.
– AW Tozer –
Unreasonable Expectations – JC Ryle
The hard judgments and unreasonable expectations of old disciples have often driven back and discouraged young beginners in the school of Christ.
– JC Ryle –
from Expository Thoughts on the Gospels, 1856
The Height and Depth of God’s Word – DL Moody
I thank God there is in (God’s Word) a height I have never been able to reach, a depth I have never been able to fathom, a length and a breadth I know nothing about. It makes the book all the more fascinating and proves it divine.
– DL Moody –
Praying for Others – Samuel Rutherford
I have been helped … by praying for others; for by making an errand to God for them, I have gotten something for myself.
– Samuel Rutherford –
1600-1661
Different From the Rest of Mankind – Richard Baxter
That this Spirit is given to all true believers is evident by the effects of his being given. They have ends, affections, and lives different from the rest of mankind; they live upon the hopes of a better life, and their heavenly interest overrules all the opposite interest of this world. In order to this they live under the conduct of divine authority, and to obey and please God is the great business of their lives.
– Richard Baxter –
from Dying Thoughts, 1683