Quotes About Spirituality

Cuanto más tiene uno en sí mismo, menos precisa de fuera y menos pueden significar los demás para él. De ahí que la excelencia de espíritu empuje a la insociabilidad. Es en la soledad donde cada uno es remitido a sí mismo, donde se muestra lo que tiene en sí mismo. La gente corriente tan sólo piensa en pasar el tiempo; quien posee algún talento, en aprovecharlo.

When you observe that the fire in your room is getting dull, you do not always put on more coal, but simply stir with the poker; so God often uses the black poker of adversity in order that the flames of devotion may burn more brightly.

We remember, also, how that it is becoming increasingly difficult in these strenuous days for those who are desirous of studying the deeper things of God to find the time which such study requires.

Wesley declared, "Some have exalted religious fasting beyond all Scripture and reason; and others have utterly disregarded it.7 In studiously avoiding the one, let us watch against the other. The much more prevalent error of our day is an easy indulgence which permits us to pamper the flesh when we should buffet it; to feast and enjoy ourselves when we ought to fast and to pray.

The fact still remains that "to fast" means primarily "not to eat."1

It meant abstaining from all food, solid or liquid, but not from water.

The normal fast, then, involved abstaining from all forms of food, but not from water, and must be distinguished from the other two forms, the absolute fast and the partial fast, which we must now consider.

We have a few examples in Scripture of what we have called the absolute fast, that is, abstaining from drinking as well as eating. Normally this was never for more than three days

I ate no delicacies, no meat or wine entered my mouth. Daniel 10:3 The emphasis here is upon restriction of diet rather than complete abstention.

The partial fast allows a great many variations which have been tried with blessing and benefit. There is the method of living exclusively on one type of food for the duration of the fast.

Others have partially fasted by omitting a certain meal each day, thus strictly limiting the quantity of food consumed.

The partial fast is of great value, especially where circumstances make it impossible or inconvenient to undertake a normal fast. Certainly it requires no less self-discipline. It can be used as a steppingstone to the normal fast by those who have never fasted before. One of its great advantages is that even after being sustained for a long period, normal eating can be resumed almost at once, which is not the case with the other two kinds of fasting.

recognize prayer as a vital necessity.

It needs to be stressed that fasting, whether regular or occasional, is a matter between the individual and God.

Why are we not more holy?" asked John Wesley, another regular faster, addressing his preachers. "Chiefly because we are enthusiasts, looking for the end without the means.

God had to say: "Fasting like yours this day will not make your voice to be heard on high" (58:4). But that is clearly one thing that fasting is intended to do, for, describing the fast that He has chosen, God goes on to say, "Then you shall call and the Lord will answer" (58:9).

Fasting is designed to make prayer mount up as on eagles' wings. It is intended to usher the suppliant into the audience chamber of the King and to extend to him the golden sceptre. It may be expected to drive back the oppressing powers of darkness and loosen their hold on the prayer objective. It is calculated to give an edge to a man's intercessions and power to his petitions. Heaven is ready to bend its ear to listen when someone prays with fasting.

Says Andrew Murray: Fasting helps to express, to deepen, and to confirm the resolution that we are ready to sacrifice anything, to sacrifice ourselves to attain what we seek for the kingdom of God.1

Fasting is calculated to bring a note of urgency and importunity into our praying, and to give force to our pleading in the court of heaven.

they fasted as well as wept before the Lord, and God gave them overwhelming victory (Judg. 20). What power with God to turn the tide has prayer accompanied by fasting!

The word Hijra, she said, meant a Body in which a Holy Soul lives.

It celebrated (but never preached) the virtue of spirituality over sacrament, simplicity over opulence and stubborn, ecstatic love even when faced with the prospect of annihilation.

You're the Imam Sahib, not me. Where do old birds go to die? Do they fall on us like stones from the sky? Do we stumble on their bodies in the streets? Do you not think that the All-Seeing, Almighty One who put us on this Earth has made proper arrangements to take us away?

Religion itself is a method of engaging the ultimate; the various religions are various methods of doing so; their histories are a record of the results of these efforts.