God's Wisdom for Navigating Life Quotes

“March 17 Yet man is born to trouble as surely as sparks fly upward. (Job 5:7) NO SURPRISE. Sparks fly upward from a fire naturally, so human suffering is inevitable. God told us so in Genesis 3:17–19, so we should not be shocked at suffering. Modern Western people are more traumatized by it than others. We have too much faith in our technology and our democratic institutions, and we are conditioned by our secular, materialistic culture to seek most of our happiness in fragile things like good looks, wealth, and pleasure. It is wise, however, to be ready for suffering. Often most of the painful emotions people experience during adversity are actually the shock and surprise that they are suffering at all. Even many Christians believe that God won’t let really bad things happen to them. But Jesus himself disproves that. If God allowed a perfect man to suffer terribly for a greater, wonderful good, why should we think that might not happen to us? “Dear friends, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal . . . as though something strange were happening to you” (1 Peter 4:12). How can you have fellowship with Jesus in your suffering? Prayer: Lord, as I read about your life in the gospels, I see you experiencing pain and rejection on every page. Yet somehow I assume that I deserve a better life than you! My heart’s foolishness is so deep when it comes to suffering. Make me ready for it. Amen.”
― Timothy J. Keller, God's Wisdom for Navigating Life: A Year of Daily Devotions in the Book of Proverbs

“Because of the peculiar stresses and sacrifices leaders make, they can be prone to self-pity, to engage in a secret affair or addiction, because they say to themselves, “After all I’ve done, I deserve this.” But they must not do this. After all, the rights of all the oppressed are on their shoulders.”
― Timothy J. Keller, God's Wisdom for Navigating Life: A Year of Daily Devotions in the Book of Proverbs

“Christians respect and love their country, but never uncritically.”
― Timothy J. Keller, God's Wisdom for Navigating Life: A Year of Daily Devotions in the Book of Proverbs

“good citizenship is not merely pragmatic but part of a wise and godly life.”
― Timothy J. Keller, God's Wisdom for Navigating Life: A Year of Daily Devotions in the Book of Proverbs

“In the parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus (Luke 26:19–31) the “rich man” in hell has no name because that was all he was—just a rich man. If you make wealth your very identity, and something takes the money away, there is no “you” left.”
― Timothy J. Keller, God's Wisdom for Navigating Life: A Year of Daily Devotions in the Book of Proverbs

“How do common phrases like “You have to always be true to yourself” create false worldviews that seem completely self-evident to people?”
― Timothy J. Keller, God's Wisdom for Navigating Life: A Year of Daily Devotions in the Book of Proverbs

“Pride is an all-around evil. “Unchastity, anger, greed, drunkenness, and all that, are mere fleabites in comparison: it was through Pride that the devil became the devil: Pride leads to every other vice: it is the complete anti-God state of mind.”
― Timothy J. Keller, God's Wisdom for Navigating Life: A Year of Daily Devotions in the Book of Proverbs

“While anger is not a sin in and of itself, it should be a passing thing, directed without excess to solve a problem, resulting in calm at the end (29:11). In the same way, God’s anger is for a moment, but his favor lasts a lifetime (Psalm 30:5).”
― Timothy J. Keller, God's Wisdom for Navigating Life: A Year of Daily Devotions in the Book of Proverbs

“Are you withholding your full trust in God until you get an explanation for some bad thing that happened to you? In light of Jesus’ undeserved suffering for you, are you willing to let go of that demand and commit your way to him?”
― Timothy J. Keller, God's Wisdom for Navigating Life: A Year of Daily Devotions in the Book of Proverbs

“We have too much faith in our technology and our democratic institutions, and we are conditioned by our secular, materialistic culture to seek most of our happiness in fragile things like good looks, wealth, and pleasure.”
― Timothy J. Keller, God's Wisdom for Navigating Life: A Year of Daily Devotions in the Book of Proverbs

“When we believe the gospel, the barriers of pride that divide us are taken away (Ephesians 2:14–16), and the lonely are put into families (Psalm 68:6; John 1:12–13). Salvation leads toward more and deeper relationships but sin toward being alone.”
― Timothy J. Keller, God's Wisdom for Navigating Life: A Year of Daily Devotions in the Book of Proverbs

“This kind of foolishness is gullibility. “The simple believe anything” (14:15). They are too easily led and influenced. Like children, they may be overimpressed by the spectacular and dramatic, or they may need approval too much and so be taken in by forceful personalities who give it to them. They will support dictatorial leaders who promise them peace and prosperity. They can be intellectually lazy, not wanting to ponder and think out a matter. They are also likely to fall for get-rich-quick schemes (12:11).”
― Timothy J. Keller, God's Wisdom for Navigating Life: A Year of Daily Devotions in the Book of Proverbs

“Lord Jesus, you answered your opponents wisely and brilliantly but patiently and constantly. How I want to give back to my critics—with verve—the same disdain they show me. But I want to be like you, not them. Change my heart to make it so. Amen.”
― Timothy J. Keller, God's Wisdom for Navigating Life: A Year of Daily Devotions in the Book of Proverbs

“Those who have nothing can share nothing; those who are going nowhere can have no fellow travelers.”
― Timothy J. Keller, God's Wisdom for Navigating Life: A Year of Daily Devotions in the Book of Proverbs

“Lord, I don’t like some of the things I find taught in the Bible. I don’t like some of the ways you arrange the circumstances of my life. I confess I don’t even like the doctrine of grace—I’d rather earn my salvation so you owe me. In all these ways I refuse to let you be God. Forgive me. Amen.”
― Timothy J. Keller, God's Wisdom for Navigating Life: A Year of Daily Devotions in the Book of Proverbs

“Change my heart so I can walk in your footsteps. Amen.”
― Timothy J. Keller, God's Wisdom for Navigating Life: A Year of Daily Devotions in the Book of Proverbs

“ANNOYANCE. Conflict (Hebrew madon) in Proverbs does not refer to principled disagreements or respectful arguments. It is something God hates (6: 19) and at the heart of conflict is annoyance, a word that means contempt and disdain between people. Everything said in conflict is to belittle rather than convince.”
― Timothy J. Keller, God's Wisdom for Navigating Life: A Year of Daily Devotions in the Book of Proverbs

“Idolatries of the heart lead to foolishness in the life.”
― Timothy J. Keller, God's Wisdom for Navigating Life: A Year of Daily Devotions in the Book of Proverbs

“Work and achievement, without the peace of God in our lives through the Spirit, will never be enough.”
― Timothy J. Keller, God's Wisdom for Navigating Life: A Year of Daily Devotions in the Book of Proverbs

“Salvation is not merely forgiveness and admission to heaven. It means life is healed, slowly but surely, in all its dimensions.”
― Timothy J. Keller, God's Wisdom for Navigating Life: A Year of Daily Devotions in the Book of Proverbs

“Prayer: Lord, I praise you—though with fear and trembling—that you are the judge of all the earth. Deliver me from the temptation to want to sit in judgment on certain people. I cannot see into anyone’s heart or into their past enough to know what they deserve. Help me put these matters into your hands. Amen.”
― Timothy J. Keller, God's Wisdom for Navigating Life: A Year of Daily Devotions in the Book of Proverbs

“To become wise is to become a disciplined person, given not to impulsiveness but to self-examination, to circumspection, and to clear thinking.”
― Timothy J. Keller, God's Wisdom for Navigating Life: A Year of Daily Devotions in the Book of Proverbs