Quotes from Edward T. Welch

God likes his people to be outnumbered because then there is no mistaking that he alone is the Deliverer.

Most researchers are quick to point out that the biologically oriented studies suggest that genetics can influence people, and with this Scripture has no dispute. People can be physiologically predisposed to enjoying a particular drug, food, activity, or physical experience, but there is a categorical difference between being influenced by genetics and being determined by it.

Addiction is bondage to the rule of a substance, activity, or state of mind, which then becomes the center of life, defending itself from the truth so that even bad consequences don't bring repentance, and leading to further estrangement from God.

Love is able to see past the clutter of a disorganized life.

When our worship is true, we experience joy, peace, love, and hope, even in difficult situations. When our worship is false, and the things we desire are unattainable or impotent, we can be grieved, bitter, depressed, angry, or fearful. Our emotions usually mean something, and it is wise to ask, "What are my emotions saying?" "What are they pointing to?

Have you ever found yourself flirting with sexual temptation through a long gaze or sexual fantasies?

Change starts, proceeds, and ends with Jesus. We look to Jesus and away from ourselves.

Whatever our monument might be, we want it to be public, even if the public is one friend.

Addicts have already proven to themselves that there are things in this world that are more attractive to them than God himself, whether it is comfort, power, pleasure, or reputation. Whatever they have worshipped, however, cannot compare to the God who has revealed himself as the One who always says, "I love you," before we say it to him.

Love is the opposite of anger. Anger is disdain, hatred, and contempt.

The world was created by God as the abode of human beings. As created by God it is good, but as our abode it bears the mark of our sin. Therefore, in the New Testament, the term world is used to denote the order of things that are alienated from God.

The fear of the Lord is knowing that I live coram deo, before the face of God. It is knowing that the Holy God sees every aspect of my life.4 The result is that we live knowing that we are seen. We live publicly, and follow Christ in joyful and reverential obedience.

You can probably identify your friends' gifts rather quickly

When addicts turn away from the Lord and gaze at the object of their desire, God becomes a distant memory. Since one common belief is that God is going to keep us from something good, we try to distract ourselves from remembering him.

Anger looks down from the judge's perch; wisdom comes down from those heights and looks up from below. Humility captures it.

You barely realize what just happened. It is called faith. You just turned in Jesus' direction and you are listening. You want what he offers.

When in doubt, look at the Lord. Lift up your eyes (Numbers 21:4–9). That will be something it will take all your life to master, but what better time to start than now? Still, you can't imagine being an invited worshiper of God.

If you are casual about anger and unprepared, you will lose and so will those around you.

Anger shows contempt. You are better than they. You are smarter, more righteous—you are above and they are below. Anger tears down. It kills relationships.

Anger takes everything personally, as if everything is an intentional act to make your life miserable.

If you feel ugly you will experience shame. The two are bound together.

The fear of man is no respecter of persons. It might be called codependency by adults, peer pressure with teens, and shyness with children, but whatever it is called, it all betrays the same idolatrous heart.

But the point is that we live in a culture that idolizes happiness, and if we idolize happiness, it will always elude us.

Anger is against God because he is the one who directs the details of our lives. In fact, in our anger and outrage, we have decided that we want to be God rather than submit to him.