Quotes by Andy Stanley

Past boldness is no assurance of future boldness. Boldness demands continual reliance on Gods spirit.

So what do you do when you are stuck?The first thing I do when I am stuck is pray. But I’m not talking about a quick, Help me Lord, Sunday’s a comin’ prayer. When I get stuck I get up from my desk to head for my closet. Literally. If I‘m at the office I go over to a corner that I have deemed my closet away from home. I get on my knees and remind God that this was not my idea, it was His…None of this is new information to God…Then I ask God to show me if there is something He wants to say to prepare me for what He wants me to communicate to our congregation. I surrender my ideas, my outline and my topic. Then I just stay in that quiet place until God quiets my heart…Many times I will have a breakthrough thought or idea that brings clarity to my message. . .Like you, I am simply a mouthpiece. Getting stuck is one way God keeps me ever conscious of that fact.

It takes a habit to break a habit. You can pray every day for a generous heart, but until you start acting in that direction, nothings going to change.

In the shadow of my hurt, forgiveness feel like a decision to reward my enemy. But in the shadow of the cross, forgiveness is merely a gift from one undeserving soul to another.

Here’s a question every angry man and woman needs to consider: How long are you going to allow people you don’t even like — people who are no longer in your life, maybe even people who aren’t even alive anymore — to control your life? How long?

If you see your brother in need, it doesnt matter if you already gave somewhere else. You should be open to the idea of God using you to meet your brothers unexpected need.

Heres a scary thought: What if God called you to give beyond your comfort level? Would you be afraid? Would you try to explain it away or dismiss it as impractical? And in the process, would you miss out on a harvest opportunity for which God had explicitly prospered you in the first place?

As believers, we all have the responsibility to leverage our wealth for kingdom purposes.

As you give to fund Gods needs, are you forced to trust Him to provide for yours? Thats what a growing faith is about. And over the long haul, its not enough just to commit to a percentage. Growth means reviewing your giving goals and occasionally increasing the percentage you give.

The God of Christianity never claims to be fair. He goes beyond fair. The Bible teaches that he decided not to give us what we deserve--thats mercy. In addition, God decided to give us what we dont deserve--we call that grace.

Just as Jesus predicted, what originates in the secret place wont always remain a secret. ... How do we guard -- or maybe it would be more appropriate to say, guard against -- our hearts? How do we monitor whats going on in that secret place that has the potential to go public at any moment?

The root of anger is the perception that something has been taken. Something is owed you, and now a debt to debtor relationship has been established.

One of the primary reasons we dont seek counsel from the wise people around us is that we already know what we are going to hear--and we just dont want to hear it.

Our greatest moral regrets are always preceded by a series of unwise choices.

Relationships are built on small, consistent deposits of time. You cant cram for whats most important. If you want to connect with your kids, youve got to be available consistently, not randomly.

Author has developed a routine of daily emotional debriefing with his kids as he tucks them in at night. To encourage the habit of keeping uncluttered, open heart, he starts with basic questions asking whether anyone has hurt them or made them angry to help them process at an age-appropriate depth. As they mature, he will add questions.

Your talent and giftedness as a leader have the potential to take you farther than your character can sustain you. That ought to scare you.

We don’t drift in good directions. We discipline and prioritize ourselves there.

Every arena of life intersects with whats going on in our hearts. Everything passes through on its way to wherever its going. Everything.

Likewise, most of the world goes to bed at night under the assumption that if they were to die in their sleep, they would find themselves standing at the pearly gates. After all, good people go to heaven. And just about everybody thinks they are good.