This is from the book The Pursuit of God by A.W. Tozer
Let no one imagine that he will lose anything of human dignity by this voluntary sell-out of his all to his God. He does not by this degrade himself as a man; rather he finds his right place of high honor as one made in the image of his Creator. His deep disgrace lay in his moral derangement, his unnatural usurpation of the place of God. His honor will be proved by restoring again that stolen throne. In exalting God over all he finds his own highest honor upheld.
Romans 8:38-39
For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Prodigal: I’d sooner dive into a bed of poison ivy than do that again.
Me: There is hope still.
This is from the book All of Grace by C.H. Spurgeon
Christ died for the ungodly when they were yet without strength. Maybe you have heard these words hundreds of times, and yet you have never before perceived their meaning. There is a wonderful thing about them. Jesus did not die for our righteousness, but He died for our sins. He did not come to save us because we were worth saving, but because we were utterly worthless, ruined, and undone. He did not come to earth out of any reason that was in us, but solely and only because of reasons that He took from the depths of His own divine love.
The apostles said unto the Lord, Increase our faith.
This comes from the book The Imitation of Christ by Thomas Kempis
Thou camest to serve, not to rule. Know that thou wast called to suffer and to labour, not to be idle, and spend thy time in talk. Here therefore men are proved as gold in the furnace. Here no man can stand, unless he be willing to humble himself with his whole heart for the love of God.
1 Peter 2:2
As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:
This comes from The Evangelical’s Guide to Spiritual Warfare by Charles H. Kraft
Because I have accepted you as you are, you can accept yourself
I love and accept you for who you are, not simply for what you do or don’t do
You are forgiven. You don’t need to feel guilty anymore
I chose you. Don’t argue with My choice
I have made you worthy and adequate
I will never leave you or forsake you
Don’t fear. Cast all your cares on Me, for I care for you.
Romans 12:2
And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
Me: Yes, you are doing a lot, what does God think of all your doing?
This is from the book Have a Mary Heart in a Martha World by Joanna Weaver
I realized then that, while there are many thing that need to be done, things I’m capable of doing and want to do, I am not always the one to do them. Even if I have a burden for a certain need or project, my interest or concern is not a surefire sign that I need to be in charge. God may be calling me to pray that the right person will rise up to accomplish it. What’s more, I may be stealing someone else’s blessing when I assume I must do it all.
Commit to the LORD whatever you do, and your plans will succeed.
Prodigal: Didn’t give a plugged nickel for the fella.
Me: There is always hope in Christ.
This comes from the book Saint Augustine Confessions
O God of hosts, restore us to our own; smile upon us, and we shall find deliverance. For wherever the soul of man may turn, unless it turns to you, it clasps sorrow to itself. Even though it clings to things of beauty, if their beauty is outside God and outside the soul, it only clings to sorrow.
Psalms 86:4-5
Gladden the soul of your servant, for to you, O Lord, do I lift up my soul. For you, O Lord, are good and forgiving, abounding in steadfast love to all who call upon you.
Me: Maybe, but it is nothing like the touch of Jesus!
This comes from the book Joy in Christ’s Presence by Charles Spurgeon
If you have touched Jesus, I tell you that amid the glories of angels and the everlasting hallelujahs of all the blood-bought believers, He has found time to hear your sigh, to receive your faith, and to give you an answer of peace. All the way from heaven to earth there has rushed a mighty stream of healing power, which has come from Christ to you. Since you have touched Him, the healing power has touched you.
How his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed. For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls. 1 Peter 2:24-25
Prodigal: It doesn’t matter, you just have to take responsiblity.
This is from the book No Man Is An Island by Thomas Merton
For it seems to me that the first responsibility of a man of faith is to make his faith really part of his own life, not by rationalizing it but by living it.
James 1:5-6
If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind.