C. J. Mahaney Quotes

Today, the greatest challenge facing American evangelicals is not persecution from the world, but seduction by the world.

Only those who are truly aware of their sin can truly cherish grace.

If there's anything in life that we should be passionate about, it's the gospel. And I don't mean passionate only about sharing it with others. I mean passionate about thinking about it, dwelling on it, rejoicing in it, allowing it to color the way we look at the world. Only one thing can be of first importance to each of us. And only the gospel ought to be.

It’s not 'those who help themselves' whom God helps; it’s those who humble themselves.

We make time for what we truly value. We build habits and routines around the things that really matter to us. This is an important principle to understand as we seek to build our lives around the gospel. Do you want a cross centered life? A cross centered life is made up of cross centered days.

We don't accidentally drift into holiness; rather we mature gradually and purposefully, one choice at a time.

Never be content with your current grasp of the gospel. The gospel is the life-permeating, world-altering, universe-changing truth. It has more facets than a diamond. It's depths man will never exhaust.

Effective teaching involves explaining to our children what they're already observing in our lives by example.

Before we can begin to see the cross as something done FOR us, leading us to faith and worship, we have to see it as something done BY us, leading us to repentance. Only the man or woman who is prepared to own his share in the guilt of the cross may claim his share in its grace.

All gifts from God are intended to direct our attention to God and create fresh affection for God.

Reminding ourselves of the gospel is the most important daily habit we can establish.

A cross centered life is made up of cross centered days.

But the very act of pausing in a busy day to pray is an act of weakening pride in my life, acknowledging that I am a dependent creature. I am not self sufficient.

Pride takes innumerable forms but has only one end: self-glorification. That’s the motive and ultimate purpose of pride—to rob God of legitimate glory and to pursue self-glorification, contending for supremacy with Him. The proud person seeks to glorify himself and not God, thereby attempting in effect to deprive God of something only He is worthy to receive

What joy the gospel gives me! I can approach the throne of God with confidence-not because I've done a good job at my spiritual duties, but because I'm clothed in the righteousness of Jesus Christ.

Encourage others each and every day-nothing's more important than our words. Did you know that, on average, each of us speaks about twenty-five thousand words daily? My last book didn't have that many words. A lot of language is flowing out of our mouths every day and having an impact on those around us. But how much of that flow is fulfilling God's intended purpose for our speech? How much of it reflects pride, rather than a gospel-motivated humility?

Unless you see yourself standing there with the shrieking crowd, full of hostility and hatred for the holy and innocent Lamb of God, you don’t really understand the nature and depth of your sin or the necessity of the cross.

No matter the severity of suffering we experience in this life, it will always be less that what we have deserved for our sins

Humility is honestly assessing ourselves in light of God’s holiness and our sinfulness.

Your greatest need is not a spouse. Your greatest need is to be delivered from the wrath of God - and that has already been accomplished for you through the death and resurrection of Christ. So why doubt that God will provide a much, much lesser need? Trust His sovereignty, trust His wisdom, trust His love.

Encourage others each and every day-nothing's more important than our words.

To grow in your passion for what Jesus has done, increase your understanding of what He has done.

We cannot free ourselves from pride and selfish ambition; a divine rescue is absolutely necessary.

In order for romance to deepen, you must touch the heart and mind of your wife before you touch her body.

Modesty is humility expressed in dress.