Adversity is not simply a tool. It is God’s most effective tool for the advancement of our spiritual lives. The circumstances and events that we see as setbacks are oftentimes the very things that launch us into periods of intense spiritual growth. Once we begin to understand this, and accept it as a spiritual fact of life, adversity becomes easier to bear.
– Charles Stanley –
It costs to be faithful. It cost Abraham the yielding up of his only son. It cost Esther to risk her own life. It cost Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego being put into a fiery furnace. It cost Stephen death by stoning. It cost Paul his life. Does it cost you anything to be faithful to your Lord and King?
– Anonymous –
The devil doesn’t mind how many sermons we preach or prepare if it will keep us from preparing ourselves.
– Vance Havner –
When the saint ceases to seek after holiness, purity, righteousness, truth; when he ceases to pray, stops reading the Word and gives way to carnal appetites, then it is that Satan comes.
– Smith Wigglesworth –
Satan is a very great enemy to secret prayer. Secret prayer is a scourge, a hell to Satan. Every secret prayer adds to the devil’s torment, and every secret sigh adds to his torment, and every secret groan adds to his torment, and every secret tear adds to his torment.
– Thomas Brooks –
from The Secret Key To Heaven, 1665
“You are no saint,” says the devil. Well, if I am not, I am a sinner, and Jesus Christ came into the world to save sinners.
– Charles Spurgeon –
When we calmly reflect upon the fact that the progress of our Lord’s kingdom is dependent upon prayer, it is sad to think that we give so little time to the holy exercise.
– EM Bounds –
If we’re going to sustain a heart for prayer, we’ve got to believe and feel that life is war.
– John Piper –
Satan trembles, when he sees
the weakest saint upon his knees.
– William Cowper –
from the hymn What Various Hindrances We Meet, 1779