Richard Foster Quotes & Sayings

Forgiveness does not mean that we will cease to hurt. The wounds are deep, and we may hurt for a very long time. Just because we continue to experience emotional pain does not mean that we failed to forgive. — Richard Foster

In our day heaven and earth are on tiptoe waiting for the emerging of a Spirit-led, Spirit-empowered people. All of creation watches expectantly for the springing up of a disciplined, freely gathered, martyr people who know in this life the power of the kingdom of God. — Richard Foster

I determined to learn to pray so that my experience conforms to the words of Jesus rather than try to make his words conform to my impoverished experience. — Richard Foster

We all learn submission because we all have 'bosses', whether we're presidents of companies or not. The easiest place to learn it is in family. — Richard Foster

The Bible is teh means through which we are introduced to Jesus and invited to follow Him in the life of humility and service. Secured by the knowledge that in Christ, our origin ... and destination is God, we will yield the fruit of service to God. This is the "so what" of our Bible reading. Does it shape our spirits in love and humility? Does it lead us more fully into life with God? (Life with God, p. 34-35) — Richard Foster

In spiritual direction there is absolutely no domination or control. — Richard Foster

Leadership is an act of submission to God. To be a leader means listening to all kinds of people and situations. Out of that listening, we are hoping to discern the mind of God as best we can. This is the price of leadership - it's an act of sacrifice. So leadership is part and parcel of the work of submission to God. — Richard Foster

He seems in these verses to capture something of the nature of pilgrimage - the precise directions to somewhere often awkward to find; and you're not sure quite why you came or what it was you're looking for. If you find it, or it finds you, words cannot easily convey what has happened but it becomes part of the journey that continues." (Daily Celtic Prayer book) — Richard Foster

When we genuinely believe that inner transformation is God's work and not ours, we can put to rest our passion to set others straight. — Richard Foster

Spiritual direction is an interpersonal relationship in which we learn how to grow, live, and love in the spiritual life. — Richard Foster

I think of Pope Gregory the Great. He wanted the cloister. He wanted to pray and study, and yet he was thrust into this administrative job, and he submitted to that. And in that submission, he became a great leader. You could say that the only person who is safe to lead is the person who is free to submit. — Richard Foster

A Spiritual Discipline is an intentionally directed action which places us in a position to receive from God the power to do what we cannot accomplish on our own ...
The deep waters of God's life are already flowing. We simply learn the strokes that will enable us more and more to be at home in them ...
The human body is our power-pack of mind-body-spirit
we discipline it in order to practice cooperation with God. (Life with God, p. 135-137) — Richard Foster

Spiritual direction involves a process through which one person helps another person understand what God is doing and saying. — Richard Foster

Supremely, spiritual directors/mentors/pastors are persons who have a sense of being 'established' in God. Otherwise they are too dangerous to be allowed into the soul space of others. — Richard Foster

We today yearn for prayer and hide from prayer. We are attracted to it and repelled by it. — Richard Foster

We bless the organized church structures and their meetings. But if there are 10,000 others that meet outside of these ecclesiastical structures, that's wonderful, too. The kingdom of God moves forward in lots and lots of ways. — Richard Foster

There is a sense of call to take leadership roles. You're serving people and submitting to God as best you can. — Richard Foster

Pride is one of the socially acceptable sins in some corners of the evangelical culture. It's just straight-out ego gratification - how important I am; whether my name gets on the building or on the TV program or in the magazine article. — Richard Foster

The Bible is the means through which we are introduced to Jesus and invited to follow Him in the life of humility and service. — Richard Foster

The quiet power of a life transformed by the grace of God is so explosive that it can redirect the course of human events — Richard Foster

The primary purpose of prayer is to bring us into such a life of communion with the Father that, by the power of the Spirit, we are increasingly conformed to the image of the Son. — Richard Foster

In the context of Quaker worship, it is perfectly appropriate for any person in the congregation to speak a timely word from the Lord. — Richard Foster