Quotes by Eugene H. Peterson

Action without prayer thins out into something very exterior. A prayerless life can result in effective action and accomplish magnificent things, but if there is no developed interiority, the action never enters into the depth and intimacy of relationships.

Prayer is a way of language practiced in the presence of God in which we become more than ourselves while remaining ourselves.

Spontaneities offer one kind of pleasure and taste of sanctity, repetitions another equally pleasurable and holy.

Unlike mere action, prayer is not subject to immediate evaluation or verification. If we are addicted to results we will quickly lose interest in prayer.

As we grow into maturity in Christ our distinctiveness is accentuated, not blunted. General directions, useful as they are, dont take into account the details that face us as holiness takes root in the particular social and personal place we are planted.

Preaching reveals God in action here and now -- for ME.

There is nothing more common than for people who want to talk about God to lose interest in the people they are talking to.

We need alert listeners to give dignity to those stretches in our lives when we are not aware of participating in anything we think might be embraced by the kingdom of God.

We do not become less needy, less dependent when we pray; we become more needy, more dependent, which is to say, more human.

Christian discipleship is a decision to walk in his ways, steadily and firmly, and then finding that the way integrates all our interests, passions, and gifts, our human needs and eternal aspirations. It is the way of life we were created for.

Cross and resurrection are the South and North polls, true gospel polarities, of a single, undivided, salvation world. Remove either Paul and youve got salvation.

Isnt it interesting that all of the biblical prophets and psalmists were poets?

You dont make your words true by embellishing them with religious lace. In making your speech sound more religious, it becomes less true.

Without stories we end up with stereotypes -- a flat earth with flat cardboard figures that have no texture or depth, no INTERIOR.

I have no interest in eliminating the tension between justice and forgiveness by taking justice off the table. Given the subtleties of sin and the persistence of evil, we would soon be living in moral anarchy and political chaos if there were no provision for justice.

Thats the whole spiritual life. Its learning how to die. And as you learn how to die, you start losing all your illusions, and you start being capable now of true intimacy and love.

If you dont take a Sabbath, something is wrong. Youre doing too much, youre being too much in charge. Youve got to quit, one day a week, and just watch what God is doing when youre not doing anything.