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Our problem is that we assume prayer is something to master the way we master algebra or auto mechanics. But when praying, we come “underneath,” where we calmly and deliberately surrender control and become incompetent.

Richard J. Foster

Freedom in the Gospel does not mean license. It means opportunity.
RICHARD J. FOSTER

Doe Mean Opportunity
In intellectual honesty, we should be willing to study and explore the spiritual life with all the rigor and determination we would give to any field of research.
RICHARD J. FOSTER

Determination Honesty Spiritual
Superficiality is the curse of our age. The doctrine of instant satisfaction is a primary spiritual problem.
RICHARD J. FOSTER

Age Satisfaction Spiritual
Because we lack a divine Center our need for security has led us into an insane attachment to things.
RICHARD J. FOSTER

Attachment Insane Needs
Prayer is – listening for the still small voice of God. Listening with the “ear of our hearts.”
RICHARD J. FOSTER

Heart Prayer Voice
You see, we need instruction on how to possess money without being possessed by money. We need help to learn how to own things without treasuring them. We need the discipline that will allow us to live simply while managing great wealth and power.
RICHARD J. FOSTER

Discipline Helping Needs
The desperate need today is not for a greater number of intelligent people, or gifted people, but for deep people.
RICHARD J. FOSTER

Intelligent Numbers People
As worship begins in holy expectancy, it ends in holy obedience. Holy obedience saves worship from becoming an opiate, an escape from the pressing needs of modern life.
RICHARD J. FOSTER

Life Modern Needs Opiates
Inward solitude has outward manifestations. There is the freedom to be alone, not in order to be away from people but in order to hear the divine Whisper better.
RICHARD J. FOSTER

Order People Solitude
Fasting reminds us that we are sustained by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God (Matt. 4:4). Food does not sustain us; God sustains us.
RICHARD J. FOSTER

Fasting Food Mouth Sustain
Simplicity is freedom.
RICHARD J. FOSTER

Freedom Happen Simplicity
Pride is one of the socially acceptable sins in some corners of the evangelical culture. Its just straight-out ego gratification – how important I am; whether my name gets on the building or on the TV program or in the magazine article.
RICHARD J. FOSTER

Ego Names Pride
It is an occupational hazard of devout folk to become stuffy bores. This should not be. Of all people, we should be the most free, alive, interesting.
RICHARD J. FOSTER

Hazards Interesting People
In the context of Quaker worship, it is perfectly appropriate for any person in the congregation to speak a timely word from the Lord.
RICHARD J. FOSTER

Lord Speak Worship
If we think we will have joy only by praying and singing psalms, we will be disillusioned. But if we fill our lives with simple good things and constantly thank God for them, we will be joyful, that is, full of joy.
RICHARD J. FOSTER

Life Simple Things Thinking
Spiritual direction is an interpersonal relationship in which we learn how to grow, live, and love in the spiritual life.
RICHARD J. FOSTER

Grows Love Spiritual

Our problem is that we assume prayer is something to master the way we master algebra or auto mechanics. But when praying, we come “underneath,” where we calmly and deliberately surrender control and become incompetent.

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Our problem is that we assume prayer is something to master the way we master algebra or auto mechanics. But when praying, we come “underneath,” where we calmly and deliberately surrender control and become incompetent.

Related Topics

Popular Authors

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