Quotes from Lysa TerKeurst

Knowledge is wisdom that comes from acquiring truth. Insight is wisdom that comes from living out the truth we acquire. Discernment is wisdom that comes from the Holy Spirit's reminders of that knowledge and insight.

Everyone says forgiveness is a lovely idea, until they have something to forgive."1

At some point we must stop: 1. Replaying what happened over and over. 2. Taking what was actually terrible in the past and tricking ourselves into thinking it was better than it was. 3. Imagining the ways things should be so much that we can't acknowledge what is.

Seek God like never before. Part of seeking Him is allowing for grace space in your life.

Whatever it is, if we are really going to stop circling the mountain and head north toward lasting changes, we have to empty ourselves of the lie that other people or things can ever fill our hearts to the full. Then we have to deliberately and intentionally fill up on God's truths and stand secure in His love.

Remember that everything that happens to you is first filtered through God's hand. Interruptions can become opportunities. What you might see as distractions God might see as divine appointments. Things may happen that seem so haphazard and distracting to our agenda, but with a fresh dose of perspective, they can turn into precious moments.

The…destructive…message is that the parents don't trust their children to do what they are supposed to do whether it be learning to fall asleep on their own, figuring out how to safely climb a tree, or remembering to do the homework assignment. This message is especially harmful. Children cannot believe in themselves if the most important people in their lives don't believe in them.

Resisting God's promises will make us forget God's presence.

Sometimes a phrase lands in your soul with such weight it leaves the deepest impression.

Our Lord's divinity has never been hesitant to step into the mess of humanity. He is the great answer to our every desire. And He will not let our need for divine, deep love meant to be fulfilled by Him alone be cheaply met by lesser things. He may very well give us good gifts. He may entrust to us relationships and success and blessings of all kinds. After all, He loves to give good gifts to those He loves. But He will not honor the chase of these things.

The biblical way to be preserved is to be pressed. And being pressed can certainly feel like being crushed.

Believing God has purposed our days will save us from the trouble of stepping into plans that aren't meant for us.

Truth has a powerful way of interrupting our runaway feelings if only we'll get it in front of us.

We must tie our identities to our unchanging, unflinching, unyielding, undeniably good, and unquestionably loving God.

God loves me too much to answer my prayers at any other time than the right time and in any other way than the right way.

Obedience is the daily practice of trusting God.

Our decisions aren't just isolated choices. Our decisions point our lives in the directions we're about to head. Show me a decision and I'll show you a direction.

He waits every day with every answer we need, every comfort we crave, every affection we're desperate for, while we look everywhere else but at Him.

How it must break His heart when we walk around so desperate for a love He waits to give us each and every day.

Fullness comes to us when we remember to be with Him before going out to serve Him. He wants our hearts to be in alignment with Him before our hands set about doing today's assignment for Him.

No need to bend under the weight of past mistakes. That kind of bending breaks us.

My life certainly didn't change overnight. I experienced a waiting period, a time of growth, development, and perseverance as God prepared me. Lessons on patience, trust, surrender, and learning to take hold all preceded my stepping out. But even in this seemingly unimportant time of pruning and trials, God was preparing me for the next step.

Making art provides uncomfortably accurate feedback about the gap that inevitably exists between what you intended to do, and what you did.

And we'd both agree this isn't how it should be. This life between two gardens is confusing and complicated. Dust is messy. We don't even like to touch dust, especially if it's made up of the shattered pieces of our own hearts.