This is from the book God’s Psychiatry by Charles L. Allen
There is a good story of four men who climbed a mountain. The first complained that his feet hurt. The second had a greedy eye and kept wishing for each house and farm he could see. The third saw clouds and was worried for fear that it might rain. But the fourth fixed his eyes on the marvelous view. In looking away from himself and from the valley below, the little worries which made the others so unhappy were unnoticed.
Woe to them that go down to Egypt for help; and stay on horses, and trust in chariots, because they are many; and in horsemen, because they are very strong; but they look not unto the Holy One of Israel, neither seek the LORD! Isaiah 31:1 (KJV)
The intimacy of love God has for us is hard to comprehend. The only comparison comes by analogy-the connection we feel with a best friend, the oneness we want with a spouse, our tender love and desire for our children–and yet there’s an intimacy that we seek with each other that always eludes us. We can never be as close, as intimate, or as one with another person as our souls crave. That’s because the oneness we crave will only be found when we are united by God with God.
And when he had received meat, he was strengthened. Then was Saul certain days with the disciples which were at Damascus. Acts 9:19 (KJV)
This is from the book The Dynamic Heart in Daily Life: Connecting Christ to Human Experience by Jeremy Pierre
Faith is the means by which the gospel is received; thus, faith is at the center of heart transformation. God designed people from the very beginning to base their entire experience on what he says about them and their world. People ought to interpret the world as God interprets it, value the objects he values, commit to what he says is worthy of commitment. But because sin has corrupted people’s hearts, they are unable to believe God’s words on their own. Only the Holy Spirit can give the gift of faith and thus the power to change, and he does so through Scripture as the Word of God. Faith is how God restores his design for the human heart so that people can commune with him and reflect his character. This is true both for initial conversion as well as ongoing union with Christ.
And I brought you into the land of the Amorites, which dwelt on the other side Jordan; and they fought with you: and I gave them into your hand, that ye might possess their land; and I destroyed them from before you. Joshua 24:8 (KJV)
This is from Walking in the Spirit by A.B. Simpson
Of course, the prime condition ever is that we ourselves are walking in holiness and obedience, and pleasing the Holy Spirit for our own life. We cannot expect to impart to others what we do not possess ourselves. There is nothing tells on human souls like reality, and men instinctively know whether we have experienced what we teach.
They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; they shall walk, and not faint. (Isa 40:31) KJV.