"A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones." - Proverbs 17:22

WE MUST BE EMPTIED, BEFORE WE CAN BE FILLED 

"I believe firmly that the moment our hearts are emptied of pride and selfishness and ambition and everything that is contrary to God's law, the Holy Spirit will fill every corner of our hearts. But if we are full of pride and conceit and ambition and the world, there is no room for the Spirit of God. We must be emptied before we can be filled."

- D. L. Moody (1837-1899) American Evangelist, Teacher and Preacher

FAITH FROM THE HEART

"All who call on God in true faith, earnestly from the heart, will certainly be heard, and will receive what they have asked and desired."

- Martin Luther (1483-1546) German Religious Reformer

THE NEGLECTED HEART

"The neglected heart will soon be a heart overrun with worldly thoughts; the neglected life will soon become a moral chaos."

- A. W. Tozer (1897-1963) American pastor and Missionary

THE HEART MAKES A MAN RICH

"It is the heart that makes a man rich. He is rich or poor according to what he is, not according to what he has."

- Henry Ward Beecher (1813-1887) American Congregationalist

ATTITUDE OF THE HEART

"Prayer is not only asking, it is an attitude of heart that produces an atmosphere in which asking is perfectly natural, and Jesus says, "every one that asketh receiveth."

- Oswald Chambers (1874-1917) Scottish Baptists Evangelist

THE NATURE OF THE HEART

"We must not trust our heart at any time; even when it speaks most fair, we must call it liar; and when it pretends to the most good, still we must remember its nature, for it is evil, and that continuely."

- Charles Spurgeon (1834-1892) English Baptist Preacher and Author

SENSUALITY CORRUPTS THE HEART

"Sordid and infamous sensuality, the most dreadful evil that issued from the box of Pandora, corrupts the entire heart and eradicates every virtue."

- Francois Fenelon (1651-1715) French Catholic Archbishop

HEARTS READY TO DO GOD'S WILL

"Nine-tenths of the difficulties are overcome when our hearts are ready to do the Lord's will, whatever it may be. When one is truly in this state, it is usually but a little way to the knpowledge of what His will is."

- George Mueller (1832-1890) Christian Evangelist and 

WHERE YOUR TREASURE IS

"Where your pleasure is, there is your treasure; Where your treasure is, there is your heart; Where your heart is, there is your happiness."

- St. Augustine (354-430_ Theologian and Philosopher

EARTHLY TREASURE OF YOUR HEART

"You must keep all earthy treasures out of your heart, and let Christ be your treasure, and let Him have your heart."

- Charles Spurgeon (1834-1892) English Baptist Preacher and Author

THE HEART WAKES US WHEN WE SLEEP

"Our heart oft times wakes when we sleep, and God can speak to that, either by words, by proverbs, by signs and similitudes, as well as if one was awake."

 - -John Bunyan (1628-1688) English Minister Writer

STONY HEART OUT OF FLESH

"A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh."

- Ezekiel 36:26

CREATE IN A ME A PURE HEART

"Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me."

- Psalm 51:10 

Source: 

artuk.org/discover/artworks/portrait-of-an-old-woman-reading-the-bible-by-candlelight-21169

THE SOUL IS A VAST CAPACITY FOR GOD

"The soul, in its highest sense, is a vast capacity for God. It is like a curious chamber added on to being, and somehow involving being, a chamber with elastic and contractile walls, which can be expanded, with God as its guest, illimitably, but which without God shrinks and shrivels until every vestige of the Divine is gone."

- Henry Drummond (1851-1897) Scottish Evangelist, Biologist

THE SOUL IS AFFECTED BY OUTSIDE INFLUENCES

"One thing is unmistakable: the soul is affected by outside influences, but not the spirit. For example, when the soul is provided with beautiful scenery, serene nature, inspiring music, or many other phenomena pertaining to the external world, it can be moved instantly and respond strongly. Not so the spirit. Hence those that are genuinely spiritual can be active whether or not their soul has feeling or their body has strength."

- Watchman Nee (1903-1972) Chinese Church Leader

JOY AND PEACE WHICH MY SOUL DELIGHTS

"The revealed Word awakened me, but it was the preached Word that saved me, and I must ever attach peculiar value to the hearing of the truth, for by it I received the joy and peace in which my soul delights."

- Charles Spurgeon (1834-1892) English Baptist Preacher and Author

NEW CREATION FROM ABOVE

"The Spiritual Life is the gift of the Living Spirit. The spiritual man is no mere development of the Natural man. He is a New Creation born from Above."

- Henry Drummond (1851-1897) Scottish Evangelist, Biologist

THE SOUL MADE PARTAKER

"Oh, the blessedness of a life in the holiest! Here the Father is seen and His love tasted. Here His holiness is revealed and the soul made partaker of it. Here the sacrifice of love and worship and adoration, the incense of prayer and supplication, is offered in power. Here the outpouring of the Spirit is known as an ever-streaming, overflowing river from under the throne of God and the Lamb. Here the soul, in God’s presence, grows into more complete oneness in Christ, and more entire conformity to His likeness. Here, in union with Christ, in His unceasing intercession, we are emboldened to take our place as intercessors who can have power with God and prevail. Here the soul mounts up as on eagles’ wings, strength is renewed, and blessing and power and love are imparted with which God’s priests can go out to bless a dying world. Here each day we may experience the fresh anointing by which we can go out to be bearers, witnesses and channels of God’s salvation to men, and living instruments of our blessed King’s triumph…. Let this be our life!

- Andrew Murray (1794-1866) Scottish Missionary

THE ONLY HAPPINESS WHICH OUR SOULS CAN BE SATISFIED

"God is the highest good of the reasonable creature. The enjoyment of him is our proper; and is the only happiness with which our souls can be satisfied. To go to heaven, fully to enjoy God, is infinitely better than the most pleasant accommodations here. Better than fathers and mothers, husbands, wives, or children, or the company of any, or all earthly friends. These are but shadows; but the enjoyment of God is the substance. These are but scattered beams; but God is the sun. These are but streams; but God is the fountain. These are but drops, but God is the ocean."

- Jonathan Edwards (1703-1758) American Revivalist 

THE LEAST SIN SHOULD HUMBLE THE SOUL

 "The least sin should humble the soul, but certainly the greatest sin should never discourage the

 soul, much less should it work the soul to despair. Despairing Judas perished, whereas the

 murderers of Christ, believing on Him, were saved."

- Thomas Brooks (1608-1680) English Non-Confrmist Minister

HEROIC SOULS ENTER THE CONFLICT

"Revival comes from heaven when heroic souls enter the conflict determined to win or die-or if need be, to win and die! "The kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force." 

- Charles G. Finney (1792-1875) American Presbyterian Minister 

WINNING SOULS FOR CHRIST

"God stands in no need to our strength or wisdom, but of our ignorance, of our weakness; let us but give these to Him, and He can make use of us in winning souls."

 – D. L. Moody (1837-1899) American Evangelist, Teacher and Preacher

Photo Source: nga.gov/collection/art-object-page.1236.html

"You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you."  - John 15:16

MAY ARE CALLED, FEW ARE CHOSEN   

For many are called, but few are chosen.”  

- Matthew 22:14

TO THEM GOD HAS CHOSE  

"To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory."  

- Colossians 1:27

GOD HAS CHOSEN YOU FROM THE BEGINNING 

"For this reason God will send upon them a deluding influence so that they will believe what is false, in order that they all may be judged who did not believe the truth, but took pleasure in wickedness. But we should always give thanks to God for you, brethren beloved by the Lord, because God has chosen you from the beginning for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and faith in the truth."  

- 2 Thessalonians 2:11-13

I KNOW WHOM I HAVE CHOSEN  

"I am not speaking of all of you; I know whom I have chosen. But the Scripture will be fulfilled, ‘He who ate my bread has lifted his heel against me.’"  

- John 13:18

GOD CHOSE THE LOWLY THINGS OF THIS WORLD  

"God chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before him."  

- 1 Corinthians 1:28-29

I HAVE CHOSEN THEE IN THE FURNACE OF AFFLICTION  

"Behold, I have refined thee, but not with silver; I have chosen thee in the furnace of affliction."   

- Isaiah 48:10

GOD HAS CHOSEN THE FOOLISH THINGS  

"For you see your calling, brethren, that not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called. But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty; and the base things of the world and the things which are despised God has chosen, and the things which are not, to bring to nothing the things that are, that no flesh should glory in His presence."  

- 1 Corinthians 1:26-29 

THIS IS MY SON, MY CHOSEN ONE  

And a voice came out of the cloud, saying, “This is my Son, my Chosen One; listen to him!”  

- Luke 9:35

THE LORD HAS CHOSEN THEM   

"Whatever may be said about the doctrine of election, it is written in the Word of God as with an iron pen, and there is no getting rid of it. To me, it is one of the sweetest and most blessed truths in the whole of revelation, and those who are afraid of it are so because they do not understand it. If they could but know that the Lord had chosen them, it would make their hearts dance for joy."  

- Charles Spurgeon (1834-1892) English Baptist Preacher 

MY SERVANT WHOM I HAVE CHOSEN  

“Behold, my servant whom I have chosen, my beloved with whom my soul is well pleased. I will put my Spirit upon him, and he will proclaim justice to the Gentiles."  

- Matthew 12:18

THESE WERE 700 CHOSEN MEN  

"Among all these were 700 chosen men who were left-handed; every one could sling a stone at a hair and not miss."  

- Judges 20:16

Photo Source: 

Chosen by God biologos.org/articles/chosen-by-god-biblical-election-and-the-imago-dei

“Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.” – 2 Corinthians

In his autobiography, “Just As I Am,” Billy Graham tells about a conversation he had with John F. Kennedy shortly after his election:

On the way back to the Kennedy house, the president-elect stopped his car and turned towards me, 

“Do you believe in the Second Coming of Jesus Christ?” he asked. “I most certainly do.‘” “Well, does my church believe it?” “They have it in their creeds.” I answered. “They don’t preach it,” he said. “They don’t tell us much about it. I’d like to know what you think.” I explained what the Bible said about Christ coming the first time,  dying on the Cross; rising from the dead, and then promising that he would come back again. “Only then,” I said, “are we going to have permanent world peace.'” “Very interesting,” he said, looking away, “we’ll have to talk more about that someday.” And he drove on.

Several years later, the two met again at the 1963 National Prayer Breakfast. “I had the flu,” Graham remembers. “After I gave my short talk, and he gave his, we walked out of the hotel to his car together, as was our custom.” At the curb, he turned to me. “Billy, could you ride back to the White House with me? I’d like to see you for a minute.‘” “Mr. President, I’ve got a fever,” I protested. “Not only am I weak, but I don’t want to give you this thing. Couldn’t we wait and talk some other time?” It was a cold, snowy day, and I was freezing as I stood there without my overcoat. “Of course.” he said graciously. But the two would never meet again. Later that year, Kennedy was shot dead. Graham comments, “His hesitation at the car door, and his request, haunt me still. What was on his mind? Should I have gone with him? It was an irrecoverable moment.”

I got a phone call from an old friend this past week. He was headed back to California from Washington for the funeral of his cousin who had passed away at 54. He told me that this visit back home will be the  first time that he gets to visit his mom and dad’s grave since they  passed on a few years ago. He paused for a moment and said, “Always, always tell your mom that you love her!”

We never know when a person close to us will hear the words, “This day thy soul is required of thee.”  Statistics say that there is a 30% chance that someone you know will die in the next five years. You never know how long you will have those you hold dear to your heart. Never be afraid to share Christ with them,  it may be their last time to hear the Gospel. Your greatest legacy will be those who live eternally because of our efforts.

BEHOLD,, I STAND AT THE DOOR AND KNOCK

Behold, I stand at the door and knock, if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me" 

- Revelation 3:20

NEITHER IS THERE SALVATION IN ANY OTHER

“Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.”

- Acts 4:12

FOR BY GRACE ARE YOU SAVED

“For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.”

- Ephesians 2:8-9

Photo Source: theministryofhistory.co.uk/short-histories-blog/jfk-assassination-jdtippit-oswald

"Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you." - 1 Thessalonians 5:18

There are 138 passages of Scripture that deal with the subject of Thanksgiving. Each of them remind us to be continually thankful to the Lord for a variety of purposes that He works in our life.

I am reminded of the story about a King in Spain named Alfonso XII (1857-1885). The story goes that one day, information reached the ears of this good king that the Pages at his court forgot to ask God’s blessing at their daily meals. Upon hearing this, the king became quite determined to rebuke them. He proceeded to invite the Pages to a banquet, which they all readily attended. The table was spread with every kind of good food, and the young men ate with evident relish, but not one of them remembered to ask God’s blessing on the food.

During the feast a beggar, (well staged by the king), entered dirty and ill-clad. He seated himself at the royal table and ate and drank to his heart’s content. At first the pages were amazed, and  expected that the king would order him away. But Alfonso never said a word.

When the beggar had finished, he rose and left without a word of thanks. The men could keep silence no longer. "What a despicably mean fellow!" they cried. But the king silenced them, and in a clear calm tone said, "Men, bolder and more audacious than this beggar have YOU all been! Every day you sit down to a table supplied by the bounty of your heavenly Father, yet you ask not His blessing, nor express to Him your gratitude."

During the course of our lives, we will experience times when our conversations with the Lord are based on what we want Him to provide for us, and often times we forget to thank Him for the things that He has already given us. We become like the men seated at the table of the King, eating each day to our fill, only to forget the banquet we have just consumed. Each day the Lord provides Manna for His people, but how often do we bow our heads in thanksgiving?  He is faithful and willing to answer all of our needs.  

Why then do our hearts often stay in the presence of our troubles, rather than the presence of our King? Let us today, then, be thankful. Let us proclaim a day of Thanksgiving in our lives, not that we have all that we might ask for, but that we truly have all that we need.

Be thankful for what you have today. 

WITH THANKFULNESS IN YOUR HEARTS TO GOD

"Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God."

- Colossians 3:16

THE THANKSGIVING OF A WHOLE LIFE

"The private and personal blessings we enjoy - the blessings of immunity, safeguard, liberty and integrity - deserve the thanksgiving of a whole life."

- Jeremy Taylor (1613-1667) Church of England Cleric

MAKES LIFE ONE LONG THANSGIVING

"This way of seeing our Father in everything makes life one long thanksgiving and gives a rest of heart, and, more than that, a gayety of spirit, that is unspeakable."

- Hannah Whitall Smith (1832-1911) American Evangelist and Reformer

LET US THANK GOD HEARTILY

"Let us thank God heartily as often as we pray that we have His Spirit in us to teach us to pray. Thanksgiving will draw our hearts out to God and keep us engaged with Him; it will take our attention from ourselves and give the Spirit room in our hearts."

- Andrew Murray (1794-1866) Scottish Missionary, Writer 

WILL ALWAYS END IN THANKFULNESS

"The prayer that begins with trustfulness, and passes on into waiting, will always end in thankfulness, triumph, and praise.."

- Alexander MacLaren (1826-1919) President Baptist World Congress

Photo Source: httpwww.ucg.org/the-good-news/is-thanksgiving-rooted-in-a-biblical-festival

“Is anyone among you sick? Then he must call for the elders of the church and they are to pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord.” - James 5:14

WHAT IS SEEN IS TEMPORARY  

“For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.”  

- 2 Corinthians 4:17-18

THIS SICKNESS IS NOT UNTO DEATH

"When Jesus heard that, He said, “This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God may be glorified through it.” 

- John 11:4

WE CELEBRATE IN OUR TRIBULATIONS  

“And not only this, but we also celebrate in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; 4 and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope.”  

- Romans 5:3-4 

I WAS SICK AND YOU LOOKED AFTER ME  

“I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.”  

- Matthew 25:36

THE LORD WILL SUSTAIN UPON HIS SICKBED  

"The Lord will sustain him upon his sickbed; In his illness, You restore him to health.”  

- Psalm 41:3

I WISH YOU COULD CONVINCE YOURSELF  

"I wish you could convince yourself that GOD is often (in some sense) nearer to us, and more effectually present with us, in sickness than in health. 

 - Brother Lawrence (1611-1691) Lay Monk in Paris 

THE GREATEST EARTHLY BLESSING  

"I venture to say that the greatest earthly blessing that God can give to any of us is health, with the exception of sickness. Sickness has frequently been of more use to the saints of God than health has."  

- Charles Spurgeon (1834-1892) English Baptist Preacher 

IN SICKNESS THE SOUL BEGINS  

"In sickness the soul begins to dress herself for immortality. And first she unties the strings of vanity that made her upper garments cleave to the world and sit uneasy." 

- Jeremy Taylor (1613-1667) Church of England Cleric

STRICKEN WITH SICKNESS  

"Many saints today are stricken with sickness, weakness and suffering; God is chastening them that they may present their bodies to Him a living sacrifice."  

- Watchman Nee (1903-1972) Chinese Church Leader 

GLORIFY GOD IN YOUR BODY  

“Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own? 20 For you have been bought for a price: therefore glorify God in your body.”  

- 1 Corinthians 6:19-20  

WE KNOW THAT IN ALL THINGS  

“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”  

- Romans 8:28 

COUNT IT ALL JOY  

“My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, 3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.”  

- James 1:2-4

Photo Source: americamagazine.org/faith/2020/03/25/jesus-resolute-face-death-are-we

"The name of the Lord is a strong tower; the righteous runs into it and is safe." - Proverbs 18:10

A STRONG TOWER AGAINST THE ENEMY   

"For you have been my refuge, a strong tower against the enemy."

- Psalm 61:3

MY GOODNESS, AND MY FORTRESS, MY HIGH TOWER

"My goodness, and my fortress; my high tower, and my deliverer; my shield, and [he] in whom I trust; who subdueth my people under me."

- Psalm 144:2 

I WILL STAND ON MY GUARD POST

I will stand on my guard post and station myself on the rampart; and I will keep watch to see what He will speak to me, and how I may reply when I am reproved."

- Habakkuk 2:1

IF WE ARE LIVING IN THE HIGHT TOWER

"Our lives are full of supposes. Suppose this should happen, or suppose that should happen; what could we do; how could we bear it? But, if we are living in the high tower of the dwelling place of God, all these supposes will drop out of our lives. We shall be quiet from the fear of evil, for no threatenings of evil can penetrate into the high tower of God."

- Hannah Whitall Smith (1832-1911) American Evangelist and Reformer  

FOR WHICH OF YOU, DESIRING TO BUILD A TOWER  

"For which of you, desiring to build a tower, does not first sit down and count the cost, whether he has enough to complete it?"

- Luke 14:28

YOU PLAN A TOWER THAT WILL PIERCE THE CLOUDS 

"Do you wish to rise? Begin by descending. You plan a tower that will pierce the clouds? Lay first the foundation of humility.

- Augustine of Hippo (354-430) Bishop, Theologian and Philosopher 

THE WATCHMAN WAS STANDING ON TEH TOWER

"Now the watchman was standing on the tower in Jezreel and he saw the company of Jehu as he came, and said, “I see a company.” And Joram said, “Take a horseman and send him to meet them and let him say, ‘Is it peace?’”

- 2 Kings 9:17

MY GOD, MY ROCK, IN WHOM I TAKE REFUGE

"My God, my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold and my refuge; my savior, You save me from violence."

- 2 Samuel 22:3

THEREFORE THE NAME OF IT AS CALLED BABEL

"Therefore its name was called Babel, because there the Lord confused the language of the whole earth; and from there the Lord scattered them abroad over the face of the whole earth."

- Genesis 11:9

I STAND CONTINUALLY BY DAY ON THE WATCHTOWER

For thus the Lord says to me, “Go, station the lookout, let him report what he sees. “When he sees riders, horsemen in pairs, a train of donkeys, a train of camels, et him pay close attention, very close attention.” Then the lookout called, “O Lord, I stand continually by day on the watchtower, and I am stationed every night at my guard post.

- Isaiah 21:6-9

Photo Source: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Separation_of_Light_from_Darkness

"Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart." - Psalm 37:4 

WHEN GOD HAS RAISED A DESIRE 

"In spiritual things, when God has raised a desire, He always gratifies it; hence the longing is prophetic of the blessing. In no case is the desire of the living thing excited to produce distress, but in order that it may seek and find satisfaction."  

- Charles Spurgeon (1834-1892) English Baptist Preacher

A GOOD NAME IS TO BE MORE DESIRED  

"A good name is to be more desired than great wealth, Favor is better than silver and gold."  

- Proverbs 22:1 

DESIRES ARE IMPULSES OF THE SOUL  

"Desires are the pulses of the soul;--as physicians judge by the appetite, so may you by desires." 

- Thomas Manton (1620-1677) English Puritan Clergyman

THE DESIRE TO BE HAPPY  

"No man should desire to be happy who is not at the same time holy. He should spend his efforts in seeking to know and do the will of God, leaving to Christ the matter of how happy he should be." 

- A. W. Tozer (1897-1963) American Pastor and Teacher

IF I FIND IN MYSELF A DESIRE  

"If I find in myself a desire which no experience in this world can satisfy, the most probable explanation is that I was made for another world."   

- C. S. Lewis (1898-1963) Irish Writer and Scholar 

THREE THINGS ARE NECESSARY

"Three things are necessary for the salvation of man: to know what he ought to believe; to know what he ought to desire; and to know what he ought to do."  

- Thomas Aquinas (1225-1274) Catholic Italian Theologian

CHRIST FREQUENTLY GIVES US THE DESIRES 

"Christ frequently gives us the desires of our heart, though not at the peculiar time we desired, but a better time." 

- Robert Murray McCheyne (1813-1843) Church of Scotland Minister

THAT MAN IS PERFECT IN FAITH

That man is perfect in faith who can come to God in the utter dearth of his feelings and desires, without a glow or an aspiration, with the weight of low thoughts, failures, neglects, and wandering forgetfulness, and say to Him, 'Thou art my refuge.' 

- George MacDonald (1824-1905 Scottish Christian Minister, Author

OUR DESIRES IN LIGHT OF ETERNITY  

"In the light of eternity we shall see that what we desired would have been fatal to us, and that what we would have avoided was essential to our well-being."  

- Francois Fenelon (1651-1715) French Catholic Archbishop 

A SOUL THAT DESIRES TO BE DEVOTED  

"GOD will not permit that a soul which desires to be devoted entirely to Him should take other pleasures than with Him: that is more than reasonable."  

- Brother Lawrence (1611-1691) Lay Monk in Paris    

HARMFUL DESIRES WHICH PLUNGE MEN INTO RUIN  

But those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a snare and many foolish and harmful desires which plunge men into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all sorts of evil, and some by longing for it have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs."  

- Timothy 6:9-10

NO ROOM FOR FEEBLE DESIRES  

"There is neither encouragement nor room in Bible religion for feeble desires, listless efforts, lazy attitudes; all must be strenuous, urgent, ardent. Flamed desires, impassioned, unwearied insistence delight heaven. God would have His children incorrigibly in earnest and persistently bold in their efforts. Heaven is too busy to listen to half-hearted prayers or to respond to pop-calls. Our whole being must be in our praying."  

- E. M. Bounds (1835-1913) American Preacher, Author, Attorney

DESIRE EARNESTLY SPIRITUAL GIFTS  

"Pursue love, yet desire earnestly spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy. For one who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men but to God; for no one understands, but in his spirit he speaks mysteries. But one who prophesies speaks to men for edification and exhortation and consolation."

- 1 Corinthians 14:1-4

Photo Source: liturgy.co.nz/the-annunciation