"Man can have strength of character only as he is capable of controlling his faculties; of choosing a rational end; and, in its pursuit, of holding fast to his integrity against al! the might of external nature."

"Whatever capacities there may be for enjoyment or for suffering in this strange being of ours, and God only knows what they are, they will be drawn out wholly in accordance with character."

"But for us there are moments, O, how solemn, when destiny trembles in the balance, and the preponderance of either scale is by our own choice."

"All mental discipline and symmetrical growth are from activity of the mind under the yoke of the will or personal power."

"Christianity excludes malignity, subdues selfishness, regulates the passions, subordinates the appetites, quickens the intellect, exalts the affections. It promotes industry, honesty, truth, purity, kindness. It humbles the proud, exalts the lowly, upholds law, favors liberty, is essential to it, and would unite men in one great brotherhood. It is the breath of life to social and civil well-being here, and spreads the azure of that heaven into whose unfathomed depths the eye of faith loves to look."

"The patriarchal, the Jewish, and the Christian dispensations, are evidently but the unfolding of one general plan. In the first we see the folded bud; in the second the expanded leaf; in the third the blossom and the fruit. And now, how sublime the idea of a religion thus commencing in the earliest dawn of time; holding on its way through all the revolutions of kingdoms and the vicissitudes of the race; receiving new forms, but always identicalin spirit; and, finally, expanding and embracing in one great brotherhood the whole family of man! Who can doubt that such a religion was from God? —"

"In Christ we see the strength of achievement, and the strength of endurance. He moved with a calm majesty, like the sun. The bloody sweat, and the crown of thorns, and the cross, were full in His eyes; but He was obedient unto death. In His perfect self-sacrifice, we see the perfection of strength; in the love that prompted it, we see the perfection of beauty. This combination of self-sacrifice and love must be commenced in every Christian; and when it shall be in its spirit complete in him, then will he also be perfect in strength and beauty."

"Language is the picture and counterpart of thought."

"The essential elements of giving are power and love — activity and affection — and the consciousness of the race testifies that in the high and appropriate exercise of these is a blessedness greater than any other."

"Our spirits, like our bodies, have requirements for health and growth. Some people don't want to pay the price of developing good spiritual habits."

"When we make a habit of prayer, we stay constantly tuned to God's presence and open to receive his blessings."

"Creating planets didn't seem to be much of a problem for God. Neither was raising the dead. Nothing is too difficult for God to handle, but we won't see much proof of this until we actually ask him to handle it."

"People who are serious about something always make room for it in their schedules. If prayer is important to you, then you'll find time to do it."

"The idea that God doesn't care about his children is rooted in a lie, plain and simple."

"God is righteous and just, holy and tender, responsive and sympathetic. He is willing--anxious even--to hear from you. Moreover, he is willing to act on your behalf."

"God doesn't want us to pile up impressive phrases. He doesn't want us to use words without thinking about their meaning. He wants us to talk to him as to a friend or father - authentically, reverently, personally, earnestly."

"The reality is that our God is good. It's in his nature to be good; it's who he is--a giving God, a blessing God, an encouraging God, a nurturing God, an empowering God, a loving God. This is the God who willingly waits for your call."

"Prayer is a bridge from despair to hope."

"Perfect peace comes only through relating with the Peacemaker himself."

"Prayerless people cut themselves off from God's peace and from his prevailing power, and a common result is that they feel overwhelmed, overrun, beaten down, pushed around, and defeated by a world operating with a take-no-prisoners approach."

"Don't ask God to bless junk food and miraculously transform it so that it has nutritional value. That's not how God works."

"God isn't interested in stock phrases. Talk to him. Talk to the Father sincerely."

"The heart and soul of the Christian life is learning to hear God's voice and then developing the courage to do what he asks us to do."

"Authentic Christians are persons who stand apart from others. Their character seems deeper, their ideas fresher, their spirit softer, their courage greater, their leadership stronger, their concerns wider, their compassion more genuine and their convictions more concrete."

"Busyness is the unrivaled archenemy of spiritual authenticity."

"Authentic Christianity is a supernatural walk with a living, dynamic, communicating God."

"If you have pumped your fist at God, the good news is that you can come back into fellowship with him right this minute."

"Keep on praying because the Father does listen. He loves our company, he wants us to endure in prayerfulness and he is eager to do whatever is best for us."

"A key ingredient in authentic Christianity is time. Not leftover time, not throwaway time, but quality time. Time for contemplation, meditation and reflection. Unhurried, uninterrupted time."

"Most of us are far too busy for our own spiritual good."

"One reason we stop praying or let our prayer lives fade is that we are too comfortable."

"The time of day we choose for prayer doesn't matter, so long as we keep it faithfully. Prayer must be part of the rhythm of our daily lives."

"Sin is plenty strong enough to create an ever-widening gap in one's relationship with God. The wider the gap, the less likely we are to pray. And the less we pray, the wider the gap becomes."

"If your ear is open to the afflicted, God will keep his ear open to you."

"If your life is rushing in many directions at once, you are incapable of the kind of deep, unhurried prayer that is vital to the Christian walk."

"When Jesus prayed the model prayer we call the Lord's Prayer, his first requests were that God's name be shown reverence, that his kingdom come, that his will be done."

"God is committed to developing a people who will reflect his character in this world, and his character always expresses concern and compassion for the afflicted."

"We can have no deep, ongoing fellowship with God unless we obey him - totally."

"Unconfessed sin cuts off our communication with the Father."

"If you let even a little sin into your heart, it's going to contaminate your prayers. Your Christian life will not achieve its full potential."

"If you're tolerating sin in your life, my friend, don't waste your breath praying unless it's a prayer of confession."

"Are you expecting God to fill your needs? Are you asking him to do so - regularly, earnestly and persistently?"

"A lot of spiritual gains come through pain, hurt, struggle, confusion and disappointment."

"The greatest prayer motivator in existence is answered prayer."

"Prayer busters (causes of unanswered prayer) are prayerlessness, unconfessed sin, unresolved relational conflict, selfishness, uncaring attitudes, and inadequate faith."

"The most common cause of unanswered prayer is prayerlessness."

"Before bringing a request to the Lord, it's a good idea to ask: If God granted this request, would it bring glory to him? Would it advance his kingdom? Would it help people? Would it help me to grow spiritually?"

"By forcing us to look closely at our requests, prayer purifies us."

"God is no more intimidated by childish demands for instant gratification than are wise parents."

"If the disciples were capable of making wrong requests - requests that were self-serving, patently materialistic, shortsighted or immature - I feel sure that we are too. Fortunately God loves us too much to say yes to inappropriate requests."