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Quote by Richard J. Foster

“There is an old proverb to the effect that 'all those who open their mouths, close their eyes!' The purpose of silence and solitude is to be able to see and hear. Control rather than no noise is the key to silence. James saw clearly that the person who could control his tounge is perfect (James 3:1-12). Under the Discipline of silence and solitude we learn when to speak and when to refrain from speaking.”

Quote by Richard J. Foster

Book:Richard Foster's treasury of Christian discipline

Work

Richard Foster's treasury of Christian discipline

This book delves into various Christian spiritual disciplines, providing a thorough exploration of their significance and application in daily life. It serves as a resource for individuals seeking to deepen their spiritual journey and cultivate a closer relationship with God. more

Author

Richard J. Foster

Richard J. Foster, born on May 3, 1942, is a renowned author. His works cover a range of topics including Christian spirituality, personal growth, and leadership, and have been well-received by readers worldwide. more

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“If we are silent when we should speak, we are not living the Discipline of silence. If we speak when we should be silent, we again miss the mark.”

Ifs Should Speak Silence Missing Discipline Mark Silent

Book:Richard Foster's treasury of Christian discipline

Source: Richard Foster's treasury of Christian discipline

“One reason we can hardly bear to remain silent is that it makes us feel so helpless. We are so accustomed to relying upon words to manage and control others. If we are silent, who will take control? God will take control, but we will never let him take control until we trust him. Silence is intimately related to trust.”

Ifs Feels Reason Silence Bears Silent Gods Will Manage Related Helpless Silence Is Accustomed Take Control

Author:Richard J. Foster

“The Spiritual Disciplines are things that we do. We must never lose sight of this fact. It is one thing to talk piously about 'the solitude of the heart,' but if that does not somehow work its way into our experience, then we have missed the point of the Disciplines. We are dealing with actions, not merely states of mind.”

Ifs Way Mind Heart Doe States Facts Action Spiritual Loses One Thing Discipline Solitude Sight State Of Mind Spiritual Disciplines

Author:Richard J. Foster

“In the chapter on study we considered the importance of observing ourselves to see how often our speech is a frantic attempt to explain and justify our actions. Having seen this in ourselves, let's experiment with doing deeds without any words of explanation whatever. We note our sense of fear that people will misunderstand why we have done what we have done. We seek to allow God to be our justifier.”

People Done Action Study Speech Importance Notes Deeds Experiments Explanation Justify Chapters Observing Our Actions Frantic

Book:Richard Foster's treasury of Christian discipline

Source: Richard Foster's treasury of Christian discipline

“The fruit of solitude is increased sensitivity and compassion for others. There comes a new freedom to be with people. There is new attentiveness to their needs, new responsiveness to their hurts. Thomas Merton observes, 'It is in deep solitude that I find the gentleness with which I can truly love my brothers. The more solitary I am the more affection I have for them.... Solitude and silence teach me to love my brothers for what they are, not for what they say.”

“Let's discipline ourselves so that our words are few and full.”

Discipline Our Words

Book:Richard Foster's treasury of Christian discipline

Source: Richard Foster's treasury of Christian discipline

“Go another step. Try to live one entire day without words at all. Do it not as a law, but as an experiment. Note your feelings of helplessness and excessive dependence upon words to communicate. Try to find new ways to relate to tohers that are not dependent upon words. Enjoy, savor the day. Learn from it.”

Way Trying Feelings Law Enjoy Steps Notes Communicate Experiments Relate Dependent New Ways Dependence Helplessness

Book:Richard Foster's treasury of Christian discipline

Source: Richard Foster's treasury of Christian discipline

“Four times a year withdraw for three to four hours for the purpose of reorienting your life goals”

Years Purpose Three Goal Hours Four Life Goal

Book:Richard Foster's treasury of Christian discipline

Source: Richard Foster's treasury of Christian discipline

“Just as worship begins in holy expectancy, it ends in holy obedience. If worship does not propel us into greater obedience, it has not been worship.”

Ifs Doe Ends Greater Holy Worship Obedience Expectancy

Book:Richard Foster's treasury of Christian discipline

Source: Richard Foster's treasury of Christian discipline

“The Prayer of Examine produces within us the priceless grace of self-knowledge. I wish I could adequately explain to you how great a grace this truly is. Unfortunately, contemporary men and women simply do not value self-knowledge in the same way that all preceding generations have. For us technocratic knowledge reigns supreme. Even when we pursue self-knowledge, we all too often reduce it to a hedonistic search for personal peace and prosperity. How poor we are! Even the pagan philosophers were wiser than this generation. They knew that an unexamined life was not worth living.”