Stephen Paul Dray

An academic, writer, evangelical pastor, Bible teacher, married to Anne, and with three married children, five grandsons and one granddaughter.

[Stephen Paul Dray @stephenpauldray]

The confession of evil works is the first beginning of good works.
(Augustine)
#Augustine
#ChristianSpirituality

[Stephen Paul Dray @stephenpauldray]

The worst kind of sin is not to acknowledge that you are sinful. (Caesarius of Arles)
#CaesariusofArles
#ChristianSpirituality

[Stephen Paul Dray @stephenpauldray]

All the wisdom of salvation is enclosed within the Scriptures, for it is by them that we can come to know God.
(Martyrius Sahdona)
#MaryriusSahdona
#ChristianSpirituality

[Stephen Paul Dray @stephenpauldray]

Let us open our hearts to the wisdom of the Scriptures which are the voice of the Spirit of God. He is the one who dispenses life and understanding and speaks in them.
(Martyrius Sahdona)
#ChristianSpirituality
#MartyriusSahdona

[Stephen Paul Dray @stephenpauldray]

Let us both listen and allow our hearts to be perfected by God's instructions, so our inner ears hear his living voice and the inner eyes of our hearts see his awesome beauty.
(Martyrius Sahdona)
#MaryriusSahdona
#ChristianSpirituality

[Stephen Paul Dray @stephenpauldray]

We must be completely absorbed in reading the Scriptures, where God speaks, since such reflection awakens in our souls holiness and love toward him.
(Martyrius Sahdona)
#MaryriusSahdona
#ChristianSpirituality

[Stephen Paul Dray @stephenpauldray]

Look, as a painted man is no man, and as painted fire is no fire, so a cold prayer is no prayer.
(Thomas Brooks)
#ThomasBrooks
#ChristianSpirituality

[Stephen Paul Dray @stephenpauldray]

Consistently pray in all things, so that you might not do anything without the help of God ... Whoever does or busies himself with anything without prayer does not succeed in the end. Concerning this, the Lord said: "Without Me you can't do anything". (#MarktheAscetic)

[Stephen Paul Dray @stephenpauldray]

Thank you my Lord Jesus Christ,
for all the benefits you have given me
and all the pains and insults you have borne for me.
Most merciful Redeemer, friend and brother,
may I know you more clearly,
love you more dearly,
and follow you more nearly,
day by day
#RichardofChichester#

[Stephen Paul Dray @stephenpauldray]

Authority exercised with humility, and obedience accepted with delight are the very lines along which our spirits live.
(C.S. Lewis)
#CSLewis
#ChristianSpirituality

[Thomas Watson @ThosWatson]

When Christ teaches, he makes us obey. Others may instruct, but cannot command obedience: they teach to be humble, but men remain proud.

[Stephen Paul Dray @stephenpauldray]

Give me the lowest place: or if for me
That lowest place too high, make one more low
Where I may sit and see
My God and love Thee so.
(Christina Rossetti)
#ChristinaRossetti
#ChristianSpirituality

[Stephen Paul Dray @stephenpauldray]

Memory... keeps gratitude fresh and... gratitude keeps faith fruitful.
(Dale Ralph Davis)
#DaleRalphDavis
#ChristianSpirituality

[Stephen Paul Dray @stephenpauldray]

Whenever a man allows himself to have anxieties, fears, or complaints, he must consider his behaviour as either a denial of the wisdom of God or as a confession that he is out of his will.
(William Law)
#WilliamLaw
#ChristianSpirituality

[Stephen Paul Dray @stephenpauldray]

Having God, fear nothing, but cast all of your care upon Him, and He will take care of you. Believe undoubtingly, and God will help you according to His mercy. (Barsanuphius the Great)
#BarsanuphiustheGreat
#ChristianSpirituality

[Stephen Paul Dray @stephenpauldray]

Become Christlike or gradually shrivel into superficial hypocrites: angry people who have stopped walking with God, who blame others for our bitterness.
(Francis Frangipane)
#FrancisFrangipane
#ChristianSpirituality

[Stephen Paul Dray @stephenpauldray]

The conflict will always be beyond your strength. The enemy always pushes us beyond our personal, inbred, preset limits concerning how far we will go for God. The test kills the limits of our humanity, until we are like Christ in everything. We are left with a choice:

[Stephen Paul Dray @stephenpauldray]

The righteous have no sorrows that are not turned into joy, as sinners have no joy that is not turned into sorrow. (Dmitri of Rostov)
#DmitriofRostov
#ChristianSpirituality

[Stephen Paul Dray @stephenpauldray]

In almost everything that touches our everyday life on earth, God is pleased when we're pleased. He wills that we be as free as birds to soar and sing our maker's praise without anxiety.
(A.W. Tozer)
#AWTozer
#ChristianSpirituality

[Stephen Paul Dray @stephenpauldray]

For there is no Christianity outside of the Church. If Christ established the Church, and the Church is His Body, then to be cut of from His Body is to die. (Hilarion Troitsky)
#HilarionTroitsky
#ChristianSpirituality