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No one benefits from their restricted sympathies
Cultivate a small heart and life may be smooth sailing, but you will never know the heady wind of the Holy Spirit in your sails and the exhilaration of being used by God. Cultivate a small heart and you will never be the heroic likes of Gilmour of Mongolia, and you will certainly never have the heart God desires for you.
People who share the disciplines of Christ’s heart will likewise reach out even when exhausted.
the world is run by tired men,
Show me a great church and I’ll show you some tired people,
Men, we have to understand that we will never do great things for God without the willingness to extend ourselves for the sake of the gospel even when bone-tired.
anyone who has ever done anything for God has had a laboring heart — no exceptions.
You may fancy that you have a ministering heart, but if you are not laboring for the gospel in the place where God has put you, and do not find yourself being inconvenienced by your commitment, you are deluding yourself.
a ministering heart: a perspective disciplined to see one’s life, as it passes from person to person, as a series of divine appointments.
The man who has this heart puts out for Christ and His Church. He is willingly inconvenienced. He allows his comfort zone to be invaded. Sometimes he will work to the point of exhaustion.
The heart which is disciplined to labor, to reach out, and to see life’s relationships full of divine potential is, above all, a dangerously enlarged heart.
The rich etymology of “discipline” suggests a conscious divestment of all encumbrances, and then a determined investment of all of one’s energies.
each of the seventeen headings contains an average of seven recommended disciplines — which amounts to over 100 “
For many men, a challenge is an opportunity to duck — to pull up the covers and stay in bed — “There is so much to do . . . I don’t know where to begin . . .” — the paralysis of analysis.
Legalism says, “I will do this thing to gain merit with God,” while discipline says, “I will do this because I love God and want to please Him.
begin, I tell them, by reviewing the seventeen disciplines and dividing them into separate lists — a list of those areas in which I am doing well and another list of the areas where I need help. If I were married, I would seek the help of my spouse in objectifying the lists. If not, then a trusted friend who is spiritually mature.
resist the temptation to commit myself to too many disciplines.
Make sure your commitments make you sweat, but also make sure that taken together they are manageable.
You will, no doubt, stumble and even fail outright at times. When this happens, wounded pride and embarrassment can make you want to take your marbles and go home.
The man who wisely disciplines himself for godliness understands the necessity of prioritizing and realism and prayer and accountability and that failure is part of success,
there is no contradiction between grace and hard work. In fact, grace produces spiritual sweat!
Do you more often have a problem with promising God or the church too little and being a lazy Christian, or promising too much and being unable to do it all?
How do you feel about asking a close Christian friend to hold you accountable? Does the thought of this encourage you or scare you? Why do we need to hold each other accountable? Isn’t being accountable to God enough?
How do you generally respond when you stumble spiritually? What usually causes you to fall or get off track? What can you do to allow Go...
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1. What are the five books, secular or sacred, which have influenced you the most? 2. Of the spiritual/sacred books which have influenced you, which is your favorite? 3. What is your favorite novel? 4. What is your favorite biography?
The head of the family should previously read over the chapter indicated for the family worship, and mark two or three of the most prominent verses, upon which he may dwell, giving a few explanatory thoughts, and asking several simple questions.
Let the conversation at the family meals frequently turn upon the chapter read; thus every meal will be a sacrament, being sanctified by the Word and prayer.
10:19 — “When words are many, sin is not absent, but he who holds his tongue is wise.
10:21 — “The lips of the righteous nourish many, but fools die for lack of judgment.
11:12 — “A man who lacks judgment derides his neighbor, but a man of understanding holds his tongue.
13:3 — “He who guards his lips guards his soul, but he who speaks rashly will come to ruin.
15:1 — “A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.
15:7 — “The lips of the wise spread knowledge; not so the hearts of fools.
15:23 — “A man finds joy in giving an apt reply — and how good is a timely word?
16:23 — “A wise man’s heart guides his mouth, and his lips promote instruction.
16:24 — “Pleasant words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones.
17:27 — “A man of knowledge uses words with restraint, and a man of understanding is even-tempered.
17:28 — “Even a fool is thought wise if he keeps silent, and discerning if he holds his tongue.
18:2 — “A fool finds no pleasure in understanding but delights in air...
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18:13 — “He who answers before listening — that is his folly and his shame.
23:9 — “Do not speak to a fool, for he will scorn the wisdom of your words.
24:26 — “An honest answer is like a kiss on the lips.
26:7 — “Like a lame man’s legs that hang limp is a proverb in the mouth of a fool.
26:20 — “Without wood a fire goes out; without gossip a quarrel dies down.
