If Quotes

“He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose.”
― Mark Batterson, If: Trading Your If Only Regrets for God's What If Possibilities

“Grace is the catalyst that turns guilt into gratitude. One act of grace can turn the worst moment into the defining moment of someone’s life. You can be that agent of grace.”
― Mark Batterson, If: Trading Your If Only Regrets for God's What If Possibilities

“If you woke up this morning with more health than illness—you are more blessed than the million who will not survive this week. If you have never experienced the danger of battle, the loneliness of imprisonment, the agony of torture, or the pangs of starvation—you are better off than five hundred million people in the world. If you can attend a church meeting, or not attend one, without fear of harassment, arrest, torture, or death—you are more blessed than three billion people in the world. If you have food in the refrigerator, clothes on your back, a roof overhead and a place to sleep—you are richer than 75 percent of this world. If you have money in the bank or in your wallet, or spare change in a dish someplace—you rank among the top 8 percent of the world’s wealthy. If you can read this book—you are more blessed than over two billion people in the world who cannot read at all. So count your blessings and remind everyone else how blessed we all are!”
― Mark Batterson, If: Trading Your If Only Regrets for God's What If Possibilities

“Anybody can say 'I do' at the altar; the hard part is saying 'I do' every day thereafter. Anybody can set a life goal; the hard part is going after it every day. Anybody can say no to any addiction for a day, but you have to say it day after day after day.”
― Mark Batterson, If: Trading Your If Only Regrets for God's What If Possibilities

“At some point in our lives, we all need someone who believes in us more than we believe in ourselves.”
― Mark Batterson, If: Trading Your If Only Regrets for God's What If Possibilities

“I live by the maxim, love people when they least expect it and least deserve it. That how you change someone’s life forever.”
― Mark Batterson, If: Trading Your If Only Regrets for God's What If Possibilities

“What if you knew you wouldn't fail--what would you do? What if time and money weren't an object--what God-sized goal would you go after? If you're looking for an excuse, you'll always find one. The same is true of opportunity.”
― Mark Batterson, If: Trading Your If Only Regrets for God's What If Possibilities

“As a child of God, you aren’t just a manifestation of your biological family. You are a manifestation of your spiritual family—your true family of origin. If you let Him, the Spirit of God will manifest the Father and the Son through you.”
― Mark Batterson, If: Trading Your If Only Regrets for God's What If Possibilities

“What if you quit making excuses, quit playing it safe, and quit hedging your bets?”
― Mark Batterson, If: Trading Your If Only Regrets for God's What If Possibilities

“There are 1,784 ifs in the Bible. Most of those ifs function as conditional conjunctions on the front end of God’s promises. If we meet the condition, God delivers on the promise! So all that stands between your current circumstances and your wildest dreams is one little if. One little if can change everything. One little if can change anything.”
― Mark Batterson, If: Trading Your If Only Regrets for God's What If Possibilities

“Joy is not getting what you want; it’s appreciating what you have.”
― Mark Batterson, If: Trading Your If Only Regrets for God's What If Possibilities

“Before you step into what if, you have to get past if only.”
― Mark Batterson, If: Trading Your If Only Regrets for God's What If Possibilities

“If you want to break the sin habit, you’d better establish a prayer habit.”
― Mark Batterson, If: Trading Your If Only Regrets for God's What If Possibilities

“There is no regret God cannot redeem.”
― Mark Batterson, If: Trading Your If Only Regrets for God's What If Possibilities

“God wants to do so much more than simply forgive your sin. He wants to leverage your past regrets for His eternal purpose.”
― Mark Batterson, If: Trading Your If Only Regrets for God's What If Possibilities

“Prayer must be in alignment with the will of God or it's null and void... It it's not God's will, you're not going to get whatever you ask for. God loves you far too much to spoil you in that way. But if it is God's will, God will make a way.”
― Mark Batterson, If: Trading Your If Only Regrets for God's What If Possibilities

“When we enter into a covenant relationship with God, we tend to focus on the fact that we are legally and morally bound to God, but God is also legally and morally bound to us. The gospel demands that we give all of ourselves to God, but when we do, God gives all of Himself to us.”
― Mark Batterson, If: Trading Your If Only Regrets for God's What If Possibilities

“Jesus didn't die on the cross just to keep you safe. He died to make you dangerous--a threat to the enemy. He died so that you could make a difference for all eternity.”
― Mark Batterson, If: Trading Your If Only Regrets for God's What If Possibilities

“Psychologists call this phenomenon the contrast effect. Simply put, how you see anything depends on your reference point. One way or the other, your focus will determine your reality.”
― Mark Batterson, If: Trading Your If Only Regrets for God's What If Possibilities

“God can deliver you in one day, but it may take years to break old habits or build new habits.”
― Mark Batterson, If: Trading Your If Only Regrets for God's What If Possibilities

“At the end of your life, your greatest regret won’t be the things you did but wish you hadn’t. Your greatest regret will be the things you didn’t do but wish you had.”
― Mark Batterson, If: Trading Your If Only Regrets for God's What If Possibilities

“We’re called to advance the kingdom, not hold the fort. It’s the difference between why and why not. It’s the difference between if only and what if.”
― Mark Batterson, If: Trading Your If Only Regrets for God's What If Possibilities

“Pray like it depends on God and work like it depends on you.” But there are others, such as, “Criticize by creating,” “Thou shalt offend Pharisees,” and “Catch people doing something right.”
― Mark Batterson, If: Trading Your If Only Regrets for God's What If Possibilities

“But over the long haul, we regret inactions more than actions, 84 to 16 percent.”
― Mark Batterson, If: Trading Your If Only Regrets for God's What If Possibilities

“If we plead innocent, we’re guilty as charged. Even the advocate can’t come to our defense. But if we plead guilty as charged, we’re found innocent and we come under God’s protective custody. Our record of wrong is completely expunged. And there is no double jeopardy—you cannot be tried twice for the same sin. The force of the no in “no condemnation” cannot be overstated. It’s an absolute negation that has no limit on time, scope, or cost. Once confessed, sins are forgiven once and for all. The sinless Son of God took the blame, took the hit, and took the fall for fallen sinners.”
― Mark Batterson, If: Trading Your If Only Regrets for God's What If Possibilities

“At the end of your life, your greatest regret won’t be the things you did but wish you hadn’t. Your greatest regret will be the things you didn’t do but wish you had. It’s the what if dreams that we never act upon that turn into if only regrets.”
― Mark Batterson, If: Trading Your If Only Regrets for God's What If Possibilities

“you can meet with Triumph and Disaster And treat those two imposters just the same”
― Mark Batterson, If: Trading Your If Only Regrets for God's What If Possibilities

“The tongue has the power of life and death.13 It’s not some abracadabra incantation, but sometimes you have to say it like you believe it. Jesus literally spoke to the wind and the waves, right?”
― Mark Batterson, If: Trading Your If Only Regrets for God's What If Possibilities

“The spiritual disciplines are art forms. Your first prayer will probably look like a kindergartener’s painting. Of course, God still puts it on His refrigerator! But if you keep practicing prayer, your faith will become fluent. Living a Spirit-led life is a steep learning curve. It takes time—and by time, I mean decades, not days. You have to grow in the spiritual disciplines little by little. That’s how you go from strength to strength. You keep benchmarking”
― Mark Batterson, If: Trading Your If Only Regrets for God's What If Possibilities

“The Bible wasn’t meant merely to be read. It was meant to be prayed through, meditated on, and lived out. If all you do is read it, all you’ve done is audit the Word of God. And you don’t get credit for an audit. You’ve simply been educated beyond the level of your obedience.”
― Mark Batterson, If: Trading Your If Only Regrets for God's What If Possibilities