Flirting with Faith Quotes

“Jesus is no genie in a lamp. All the happy thoughts and positive thinking in the world will not keep life from being life. I've come to believe that, as big risks offer the potential for great reward or great failure, the biggest waves bring the swiftest undertow. As I learned to accept this principle rather than fight it, a deeper understanding of the call to perseverance, which appears so frequently in the Bible, emerged. As I learned to persevere, something mysterious began to happen: the more difficult things became, the deeper I looked at myself, sought God's guidance, and let go. It is like the scripture that reads, "And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope; and hope does not disappoint because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.”
― Joan Ball, Flirting with Faith: My Spiritual Journey from Atheism to a Faith-Filled Life

“Self-protection by bravado is a hard habit to break.”
― Joan Ball, Flirting with Faith: My Spiritual Journey from Atheism to a Faith-Filled Life

“... some of the most significant moments of growth, change, and transformation I've experienced were born in times of challenge and difficulty. This leaves me with a choice: I can fight the natural order of things, crying "Why God? Why?" or I can learn to go with the flow.”
― Joan Ball, Flirting with Faith: My Spiritual Journey from Atheism to a Faith-Filled Life

“The pre-conversion Joan had always considered faith to be a crutch, and maybe it was. But I had never once considered that my VP title, six-figure salary, and bigger than necessary house were also crutches-- crutches that I had used to bear the weight of my insecurities and my unhealthy need for the approval of others. I began to realize that, despite my illusion of Independence, I had always leaned on something. Intellect and reason, drugs and alcohol, money and prestige: they had all been crutches for me. And I was being given a choice: to lean on these things that I could see and touch or to release them and lean on this undefined hope promised by this new faith.”
― Joan Ball, Flirting with Faith: My Spiritual Journey from Atheism to a Faith-Filled Life

“... we had to let it go. We had to be willing to lose it all, even if it came to foreclosing on our house, moving into a rental apartment, and starting over. God was not just asking us for a commitment, we were being called to complete, ego-busting surrender.”
― Joan Ball, Flirting with Faith: My Spiritual Journey from Atheism to a Faith-Filled Life

“Dear God, thank you for all that you have given me. For my family, for my job. For our beautiful home. For the grace of knowing you. Please guide my steps, now and always. Increase my faith. Change me. Transform me. Make me something new. Give me wisdom and understanding that I might do whatever it is you have for me to do.”
― Joan Ball, Flirting with Faith: My Spiritual Journey from Atheism to a Faith-Filled Life