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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

Four times a year withdraw for three to four hours for the purpose of reorienting your life goals
RICHARD J. FOSTER

Four Goal Years
He is inviting you – and me – to come home, to come home to where we belong, to come home to that for which we were created. His arms are stretched out wide to receive us. His heart is enlarged to take us in.
RICHARD J. FOSTER

Arms Heart Home
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
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
Just as worship begins in holy expectancy, it ends in holy obedience. If worship does not propel us into greater obedience, it has not been worship.
RICHARD J. FOSTER

Holy Obedience Worship
You will never have time for prayer; you must make time.
RICHARD J. FOSTER

Making Prayer Time
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
We over-eat, over-buy, and over-built, spewing out our toxic wastes upon the earth and into the air.
RICHARD J. FOSTER

Air Earth Toxic Waste
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
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
Our Adversary majors in three things: noise, hurry and crowds. If he can keep us engaged in “muchness” and “manyness,” he will rest satisfied.
RICHARD J. FOSTER

Crowds Noise Three
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
Each activity of daily life in which we stretch ourselves on behalf of others is a prayer in action.
RICHARD J. FOSTER

Action Daily Life Prayer
Real prayer comes not from gritting our teeth but from falling in love.
RICHARD J. FOSTER

Falling Love Prayer Real
..the true test of spirituality [is] in the freedom to live among people compassionately….Prayer frees us to be controlled by God.
RICHARD J. FOSTER

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

Doe Mean Opportunity

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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