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Dallas Willard Quotes

Philosopher

Dallas Willard was an American philosopher known for his contributions to practical theology and moral philosophy. His works explored faith, moral life, and spiritual practice, having a profound impact on contemporary Christian philosophy.

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Famous Dallas Willard Quotes

“Theology is just what you really think about God, and if you're going to do that, you'd better use your mind and not just let it be a receptacle - a catch-all for whatever beliefs happen to be passing by.”

Ifs Thinking Mind Use Happens Belief Theology Passing Passings Passing By

Author:Dallas Willard

“The ultimate freedom we have as human beings is the power to select what we will allow or require our minds to dwell upon.”

Mind Humans Human Beings Ultimate Select Ultimate Freedom

Book:Renovation of the Heart: Putting On the Character of Christ

Source: Renovation of the Heart: Putting On the Character of Christ

“If we are to use our minds rightly, we must live in an attitude of constant openness and learning.”

Ifs Mind Use Attitude Constant Openness

Author:Dallas Willard

“If we allow everything access to our mind, we are simply asking to be kept in a state of mental turmoil or bondage. For nothing enters the mind without having an effect for good or evil.”

Ifs Mind States Evil Effects Asking Access Bondage Turmoil

Author:Dallas Willard

“Your mind will really talk to you when you begin to deny fulfillment to your desires, and you will find how subtle and shameless it is.”

Mind Desire Deny Fulfillment Subtle Shameless

Author:Dallas Willard

“What we think is, in the adult person, very much a matter of what we allow ourselves to think, and what we feel is very much a matter of what we allow ourselves to feel. Moreover, what we think is very much a matter of what we wish and seek to think, and what we feel is very much a matter of what we wish and seek to feel. In short, the condition of our mind is very much a matter of the direction in which our will is set.”

Thinking Feels Mind Persons Matter Wish Conditions Adults

Author:Dallas Willard

“When the will is enslaved to a desire, it will in turn enslave the mind.”

Mind Desire Turns

Author:Dallas Willard

“In one way or another, it is a common mistake to think transformation is all in the will. And it isn't! It's in the mind - how we think, what occupies our minds, and so forth. It's in our feelings. It's in our body.”

Thinking Way Mind Feelings Body Common Mistake Transformation One Way

Author:Dallas Willard

“Kingdom praying and its efficacy is entirely a matter of the innermost heart's being totally open and honest before God. It is a matter of what we are saying with our whole being, moving with resolute intent and clarity of mind into the flow of God's action.”

Mind Heart Matter Whole Action Moving Honest Praying Flow Kingdoms Clarity Efficacy Resolute Clarity Of Mind

Author:Dallas Willard

“The idea that everything would happen exactly as it does regardless of whether we pray or not is a specter that haunts the minds of many who sincerely profess belief in God. It makes prayer psychologically impossible, replacing it with dead ritual at best.”

Mind Doe Ideas Happens Belief Prayer Impossible Praying Ritual Sincerely Belief In God

Author:Dallas Willard

“The key, then, to loving God is to see Jesus, to hold him before the mind with as much fullness and clarity as possible. It is to adore him.”

Mind Jesus Keys Clarity Adore Fullness Loving God

Book:Renewing the Christian Mind: Essays, Interviews, and Talks

Source: Renewing the Christian Mind: Essays, Interviews, and Talks

“And God has set up prayer in such a way that, if you want to explain it away, you can. That's the human mind. God set it up like that for a reason, which is this: God ordained that people should be governed in the end by what they want.”

People Ifs Way Want Should Mind Humans Ends Reason Prayer Human Mind

Author:Dallas Willard

“The acid test for any theology is this: Is the God presented one that can be loved, heart, soul, mind, and strength? ... If it fails to set a lovable God--a radiant, happy, friendly, accessible, and totally competent being--before ordinary people, we have gone wrong”

People Ifs Mind Heart Soul Gone Failing Ordinary Tests Theology Friendly Ordinary People Acid Competent Radiant Lovable

Author:Dallas Willard