Classic Christian Quotes

Classic Christian Quotes

Prayer is an act of faith, just by praying to God, you are declaring your trust in someone other than yourself. Your faith is increased as you pray and watch how God answers your prayers. God says in Jeremiah 33:3, Call to Me and I will answer you and I will tell you great and mighty things, which you do not know. God is awesome in power and there is never a time when He is not beside you. He is faithful and holy.

~Charles F. Stanley~
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We must remember that the shortest distance between our problems and their solutions is the distance between our knees and the floor.

~Charles F. Stanley~
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God is responsible for the consequences of our obedience. WE are responsible for the consequences of our disobedience.

~Charles F. Stanley~
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It is not the trials in your life that develop or destroy you, but rather your response to those hardships.

~Charles F. Stanley~
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From the world's perspective, there are many places you can go to find comfort. But there is only one place you will find a hand to catch your tears and a heart to listen to your every longing. True peace comes only from God.

~Charles F. Stanley~
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A Matter of the Heart

God cares deeply about the motivations of our hearts.  Yesterday, we saw that the heart is what matters most in giving.  In Matthew 6:6, 17-18, we are shown just how important the heart is to God.

First Jesus deals with our heart when we pray,

"But you, when you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly."

Next He deals with our heart when fasting,

"But you, when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, so that you do not appear to men to be fasting, but to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly."

Jesus wants you and me to pray with the right heart, not seeking the praise of others.  And the same is true with fasting.  When you fast, you are not supposed to let everybody know.

When you fast, if somebody says, "Hey, would you like to go to lunch today?" and you reply, "I can't.  I'm fasting," they may think, "Wow, he's spiritual!" but that is all the reward you get, right there, so you better enjoy it.

What is Jesus' point?  When we give to the poor, when we pray, when we fast, we do not do it to get the applause or recognition of men.  We do it out of obedience to God, out of love for our fellow men, and just wanting to help somebody else who is trying to make it through the day on this planet.

That is why we should do it.  That is the right motivation of the heart. 

~Bayless Conley~

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Giving When No One Sees

Matthew 6:1-4 gives some important insight into giving,

"Take heed that you do not do your charitable deeds before men, to be seen by them.  Otherwise you have no reward from your Father in heaven.  Therefore, when you do a charitable deed, do not sound a trumpet before you as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory from men.  Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward.  But when you do a charitable deed, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, that your charitable deed may be in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will Himself reward you openly."

Jesus points us to a truth that is vital to us as Christians:  Giving is an issue of the heart.

God will not honor your giving if, when you give, your heart is saying, "I want everyone to know what I'm doing.  I want to be noticed when I give.  I want everyone to know just how generous and kind I am and what a benevolent heart I have."

We should give with a pure motive.  When we give with the right motive, not to be seen by men but out of a right heart, God will reward us openly.  That may not exactly translate into dollars and cents, but it will translate into tangible blessings, things that people can see.

If nobody else knows you kicked in the extra hundred bucks, don't worry about it.  God sees, and He has a way of rewarding you openly.  Everyone will recognize the hand of God is on you.  God's blessings will come into your life.

So when you give, check your heart to make sure you are giving with the right motive.

~Bayless Conley~

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The Secret to God's Provision

In Luke 12:31-32 Jesus tells us,

"But seek the kingdom of God...." (In Matthew 6:33, He said, "Seek first the kingdom of God...and all these things shall be added to you.")  "Do not fear, little flock, for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom."

The secret to receiving God's provision is to put God's Kingdom first, then everything else will be added to you.  That includes all the things you worry about and strive after.  God promises He will add them to you.

I know for some people it is just too simplistic.  It is just a childish notion to be brushed aside.  But, to do so is a grave mistake.  Never underestimate the power of obedience.  When we obey God and get our priorities in line, it unlocks and releases incredible blessings in our life.

When we put the spiritual above the material, when we put the cause and the mission of God's Kingdom before our own personal desires, it will cause things to be added to our lives.

I remember reading about J.L. Kraft.  He began his business by selling cheese on the streets in Chicago, but failed miserably.  One day a Christian friend told him, "J.L., you don't have God first in your life, or in your business.  Put Him first in all things you do, and you will see a different outcome."

From that day on, he put God's Kingdom first in every way and he built the largest cheese empire in the world. 

First things first.  Jesus said, "Do not worry.  Just get your priorities in line, and God will take care of you."

~Bayless Conley~