I love a good quote.
– Somebody somewhere.
When you were growing up, your parents said things that you promised you’d never repeat to your kids. Then…you had kids!
And somehow those pithy comments and quick comebacks your parents always said find a way to resurface from the depths of your consciousness when you least expect it. You realize it just as the words come out of your mouth, “If (insert name here) jumped off a bridge, would you do it too?”
Quotes are powerful. They can stick with us for a lifetime. (Another reason we should be careful what we listen to, but that’s a blog for another time!)
When I hear or read a statement that makes a profound impact on my life, I write it down. Writing it down helps me remember it.
I keep these quotes stashed away in a digital notebook with the title…wait for it…”Quotes.”
Recently, I reviewed these quotes and decided to share a few of them. These quotes have certainly challenged my thinking, and they just might challenge your thinking as well.
Without further ado.
“Commitment is saying No to everything, except the thing you said Yes to.”
– Unknown
This impacted me, because we often think commitment as saying, “Yes” to things. When in reality, true commitment is the ability to say, “No” to things.
When I dropped on my knee and asked Erin to marry me, she said, “Yes!” (Praise the Lord!) From that moment on we were committing ourselves to each other, which means we were saying, “No” to everyone else.
It’s my personal opinion that we, as Americans, do not have a commitment problem. We have an over-commitment problem.
“There’s power in processes, but nothing matters more than people.”
Michael Luwaski
We need structure. We need systems and processes. But more than that, we should value people over processes.
I’m not suggesting we throw out the rule book. There are certain standards and laws we absolutely must adhere to. However, we cannot forget that situations do arise where we may need to show a little grace.
“You won’t ever be able to fully accomplish your role as husband or wife if you don’t fully accept your role as a child of God.”
– Unknown
Wow! Talk about hitting me between the eyes!
God has given me a job description for being a husband in His Word. He said, “husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church” Ephesians 5:25.
I’m called to love my wife completely and sacrificially. I could never fully accomplish that job description unless I first fully accept my status as a child of God. I need Him! I desperately depend on the Lord to empower and equip me to do what He has called me to do.
“It’s a good thing to be around people who are more spiritual than you are.”
Matt Chandler
I want to grow in my walk with Jesus. That means I must be in close proximity to people more spiritual than me.
I want to hang out with people who are closer to Christ, who pray more fervently, who are more generous, and who are wiser and more discerning than me. May God use them to mold me into the likeness of Jesus.
“It feels like a sprint, but it’s a marathon.”
Matthew Prather
Life has a way of bringing the heat. You feel like you have to make the decision, solve the problem, and overcome the obstacle.
Life feels like a sprint.
Matthew personally told me this at a time in my life when I felt overwhelmed. There was a lot of weight I was carrying, and not sure how it would all get done. God used Matthew’s simple comment to breathe life into me.
I realized that I’m not really carrying all the weight because God is with me. I realized that it all doesn’t have to be solved at that moment because life is not a sprint. It’s a marathon.
Put on your running shoes, and keep going!
What about you? What quotes/comments have challenged you’re thinking?
Take a second and share one in the comments below!