Swindoll Quotes & Sayings

When you have vision it affects your attitude. Your attitude is optimistic rather than pessimistic. — Charles R. Swindoll

We need discernment in what we see and what we hear and what we believe. — Charles R. Swindoll

Consistency: It's the jewel worth wearing; It's the anchor worth weighing; It's the thread worth weaving; It's a battle worth winning. — Charles R. Swindoll

When God's in it, the job gets done. — Charles R. Swindoll

Don't seek more days in your life but more life in your days. — Charles R. Swindoll

Adversity is a good test of our resiliency, our ability to cope, to stand back up, to recover from misfortune. Adversity is a painful pedagogue. — Charles R. Swindoll

Prayer is an investment. The time you dedicate to prayer isn't lost; it will return dividends far greater than what a few moments spent on a task ever could. If we fail to cultivate this discipline, prayer winds up being our last resort rather than our first response. — Charles R. Swindoll

While God is not the author of evil and He never prompts or condones sin, nothing occurs without His sovereign oversight. Others may choose to do evil deeds and God's people may suffer in the short term, but He will transform the evil intentions of evil people into opportunities for the enrichment of those in His care. — Charles R. Swindoll

Joy springs from a life lived with eternity's values in view. — Charles R. Swindoll

Life ... as God intended it enables us to live above the drag of fear, superstition, shame, pessimism, guilt, anxiety, worry, and all the negativity that keeps people from seizing each day as a gift from Him. — Charles R. Swindoll

Focus on your marriage. Because that's the nucleus of the home, whatever you do to restore its health and strength will naturally restore what's broken among the other relationships. If you have no children yet, this will make a comfortable nest for them to begin life well. If you have children, the changes you make in your marriage will affect the rest of the household more quickly and dramatically than you think. — Charles R. Swindoll

Faith does not change my circumstances; faith changes me. Faith may not bring in the tuition check when I need it, but faith will give me what it takes to hang on. — Charles R. Swindoll

If you want to stop an argument, close your mouth. — Charles R. Swindoll

The beautiful thing about this adventure called faith is that we can count on Him never to lead us astray. — Charles R. Swindoll

Some folks serve the almighty dollar far more faithfully than the Almighty God. They get greater delight out of balancing the budget than watching the Lord multiply the loaves and fishes. — Charles R. Swindoll

The pursuit of happiness is a matter of choice ... it is a positive attitude we choose to express. It is not a gift delivered to our door each morning, nor does it come through the window. And it is certain that our circumstances are not the things that make us joyful. If we wait for them to get just right, we will never laugh again. — Charles R. Swindoll

If you're running a 26-mile marathon, remember that every mile is run one step at a time. If you are writing a book, do it one page at a time. If you're trying to master a new language, try it one word at a time. There are 365 days in the average year. Divide any project by 365 and you'll find that no job is all that intimidating. — Charles R. Swindoll

The ministry of the church is a genuine concern for others. We need to stop talking about it and start doing it. Rise.
Rise and shine, friend. Everyone you meet today is on heaven's Most Wanted list. — Charles R. Swindoll

If you only knew what God had to take me through to get me to the place where he could use me to be a blessing to other people, I doubt whether you would be willing to pay the price. — Charles R. Swindoll

Nothing can compensate for a lack of authenticity. — Charles R. Swindoll

God has somehow placed into Christian's insides a special something, that extra inner reservoir of power that is more than a match for the stuff life throws at us. — Charles R. Swindoll

Give us an intense distaste for things that displease You and a renewed pleasure in things that bring You honor and magnify Your truth. — Charles R. Swindoll

When we have God in clear focus, His powerful presence eclipses our fear. — Charles R. Swindoll

We are in charge of our attitudes. — Charles R. Swindoll

When the Lord makes it clear you're to follow Him in this new direction, focus fully on Him and refuse to be distracted by comparisons with others. — Charles R. Swindoll

If you want to be a person with a large vision, you must cultivate the habit of doing the little things well. — Charles R. Swindoll

The habit of always putting off an experience until you can afford it, or until the time is right, or until you know how to do it is one of the greatest burglars of joy. Be deliberate, but once you've made up your mind -jump in. — Charles R. Swindoll

God's word is tailor-made for gray-slush days. It sends a beam of light through the fog. It signals safety when we fear we'll never make it through. — Charles R. Swindoll

Worry and faith just don't mix. — Charles R. Swindoll

My hope is that this volume will make a fresh impact on an entirely new generation of believers who are longing to be free from bondage to others, but have not known how to make that happen. It is gratifying to think that these pages will provide the keys you have been looking for that will unlock those iron bars and release you from the shackles of slavery to others, awakening you to what it means to be truly free. Free in Christ. Free indeed. Free at last. - CHARLES R. SWINDOLL Dallas, Texas — Charles R. Swindoll

I'm not against screens, or new songs, or innovation. I just don't like the gimmicks. I want to know when worship is over that that leader's sole purpose was to glorify the Lord Jesus Christ. — Charles R. Swindoll

We must cease striving and trust God to provide what He thinks is best and in whatever time He chooses to make it available. But this kind of trusting doesn't come naturally. It's a spiritual crisis of the will in which we must choose to exercise faith. — Charles R. Swindoll

The more impossible the situation, the greater God accomplishes His work. — Charles R. Swindoll

I know of no realm of life that can provide more companionship in a lonely world or greater feelings of security and purpose in chaotic times than the close ties of a family. — Charles R. Swindoll

Isn't God the one who urges us to "Make a joyful noise unto the Lord"? Why do we always think that means singing? Seems to me the most obvious joyful sound on earth is laughter ... I've seen folks quote verses like "Rejoice in the Lord always" while their faces look like they just buried a rich uncle who willed everything to his pregnant guinea pig. Something is missing. — Charles R. Swindoll

Humility - the discipline of putting others ahead of self, the choice to value others above self - is, at its core, a matter of faith. — Charles R. Swindoll

When each elder or pastor has his will aligned with the Lord's, we waste no time arguing for our own. — Charles R. Swindoll

Envy is one of the great enemies of active spirituality. It keeps us from loving our neighbours, from functioning with others in community, and from affirming people's unique worth. It also steals contentment from the heart. Is there anything or anyone you are envious of? — Charles R. Swindoll

It's daring to be curious about the unknown, to dream big dreams, to live outside prescribed boxes, to take risks, and above all, daring to investigate the way we live until we discover the deepest treasured purpose of why we are here. — Luci Swindoll

God seems to reward us with good, delightful experiences when we move with joy through the less-than-delightful times. — Charles R. Swindoll

When we panic, we instinctively turn to our own internal resources because we doubt Him. — Charles R. Swindoll

Any idol, regardless of its beauty or usefulness or original purpose, is to be set aside so that Christ might reign supreme, without a single competitor. — Charles R. Swindoll

Grace has to be the loveliest word in the English language. It embodies almost every attractive quality we hope to find in others. Grace is a gift of the humble to the humiliated. Grace acknowledges the ugliness of sin by choosing to see beyond it. Grace accepts a person as someone worthy of kindness despite whatever grime or hard-shell casing keeps him or her separated from the rest of the world. Grace is a gift of tender mercy when it makes the least sense. — Charles R. Swindoll

The skeptic may deny your doctrine or attack your church but he cannot honestly ignore the fact that your life has been changed. — Charles R. Swindoll

The size of a challenge should never be measured by what we have to offer. It will never be enough. Furthermore, provision is God's responsibility, not ours. We are merely called to commit what we have - even if it's no more than a sack lunch. — Charles R. Swindoll

A family is a place where principles are hammered and honed on the anvil of everyday living. — Charles R. Swindoll

People are far more important than rigid rules and demanding expectations. — Charles R. Swindoll

Anxious. Intriguing word. It literally means, "to be divided" or "distracted." It conveys the idea of being so mentally ill at ease that you cannot do what you need to do because you are so distracted in your thinking. — Charles R. Swindoll

Boldness in the course of a noble fight is worth the risk ... If you stand on truth, you'll only regret your timidity later, but you'll never regret being bold. — Charles R. Swindoll

If I ever wrote a book on preaching, it would contain three words: Preach the Word. Get rid of all the other stuff that gets you sidetracked; preach the Word. — Charles R. Swindoll

The world has changed and it's going to keep changing, but God never changes; so we are safe when we cling to Him. — Charles R. Swindoll

Worry about nothing. Pray about everything. — Charles R. Swindoll

God uses those who seem ill-fitted for a significant life. — Charles R. Swindoll

Walk by faith! Stop the plague of worry. Relax! Learn to say, "Lord, this is Your battle." — Charles R. Swindoll

We gain the ability to rejoice under pressure through a carefully monitored training program directed by the Lord Himself. — Charles R. Swindoll

More than once Jesus deliberately addressed certain issues that quickly diminished the number of onlookers. It was commitment that thinned the ranks. — Charles R. Swindoll

And when God steps in, His working is like the difference between a skyscraper and a star. — Charles R. Swindoll

You may be going through a trial so overwhelming that it's borderline unbearable. You want to see the end of the tunnel. Which is only natural, because once we see that little speck of light, we feel we can make it through to the finish. But God's tunnels are often twisting, too complex and dark to see the light for many days. In such settings He says, "In that dark, twisting, seemingly endless period of time, trust Me. Stop running scared! Stop fearing!" — Charles R. Swindoll

I believe firmly in God's control in life. — Charles R. Swindoll

I let people see the cracks in my life. We can't be phony. We've got to keep it real. — Charles R. Swindoll

Anything under God's control is never out of control. — Charles R. Swindoll

In our rough and rugged individualism, we think of gentleness as weakness, being soft and virtually spineless. Not so! Gentleness includes such enviable qualities as having strength under control, being calm and peaceful when surrounded by a heated atmosphere, emitting a soothing effect on those who may be angry or otherwise beside themselves, and possessing tact and gracious courtesy that causes others to retain their self-esteem and dignity. Instead of losing, the gentle gain. Instead of being ripped off and taken advantage of, they come out ahead! — Charles R. Swindoll

Sometimes I wake up before dawn, and I love sitting up in the middle of the bed with all the lights off, pitch-black dark, and talking to the Father, with no interruptions and nothing that reminds me that there's anything in life but me and Him. — Charles R. Swindoll

It's not our church; it's God's - it's not our responsibility to run it! — Charles R. Swindoll

Don't expect wisdom to come into your life like great chunks of rock on a conveyor belt. Wisdom comes privately from God as a byproduct of right decisions, godly reactions, and the application of spiritual principles to daily circumstances. — Charles R. Swindoll

The world is waiting to hear an authentic voice, a voice from God - not an echo of what others are doing and saying, but an authentic voice. - A. W. Tozer3 — Charles R. Swindoll

Purpose, or mission, is determined by the development of values, balance, ethics, humor, morality, and sensitivities. It manifests itself in the way we look at life. — Luci Swindoll

Words can never adequately convey the incredible impact of our attitudes toward life. The longer I live the more convinced I become that life is 10 percent what happens to us and 90 percent how we respond to it. — Charles R. Swindoll

Life is difficult. That blunt, three-word statement is an accurate ap praisal of our existence on this planet. — Charles R. Swindoll

The secret to responsible trust is acceptance. Acceptance is taking from God's hand absolutely anything He gives, looking into His face in trust and thanksgiving, knowing that the confinement of the hedge we're in is good and for His glory. Even though what we're enduring may be painful, it's good simply because God Himself has allowed it. — Charles R. Swindoll

Unfair suffering is never funny. — Charles R. Swindoll

Lead with action and let the feelings follow. — Charles R. Swindoll

I don't see life divided into public and private, secular and sacred. It's all an open place of service before our God. — Charles R. Swindoll

Whatever we do, we must not treat the Great Commission like it's the Great Suggestion. — Charles R. Swindoll

Someone has said,"Education is going from an unconscious to conscious awareness of one's ignorance."..No one has a corner on wisdom. All the name-dropping in the world does not heighten the significance of our character. If anything, it reduces it. Our acute need is to cultivate a willingness to learn and to remain teachable. — Charles R. Swindoll

A warning is in order. Reject any teaching that even suggests material wealth, physical health, or favorable circumstances have anything to do with the amount of faith you have or how pleased God happens to be with you. And beware those who teach that financial donations will unlock an endless abundance of God's blessings. They are false shepherds who will rob you of your money and destroy your relationship with God. The "faith" they proclaim is a toxic faith. — Charles R. Swindoll

A selfless devotion. High-impact people don't care about who gets the credit, and they never complain about the role they fill. — Charles R. Swindoll

While I wholeheartedly believe in choosing to approach every challenge with a great attitude, I don't mean that we should abandon authenticity and live in fantasyland. — Charles R. Swindoll

Strength comes from choosing to fully trust, pray, and praise. Our circumstances may not change, but in the process we change. — Charles R. Swindoll

Encouragement is awesome. Think about it. It has the capacity to lift a man's or a woman's shoulders. To breathe fresh air into the fading embers of a smoldering dream. To actually change the course of another human being's day, week, or life. — Charles R. Swindoll

While God, for the most part, allows this cosmos [creation] to work according to the laws of nature, there is never a time when He is not actively involved in every detail of life. — Charles R. Swindoll

I believe the single most significant decision I can make on a day-to-day basis is my choice of attitude. It is more important than my past, my education, my bankroll, my successes or failures, fame or pain, what other people think of me or say about me, my circumstances, or my position. — Charles R. Swindoll

God alone is perfectly and consistently just. We forget; God remembers. We see an action; God sees a motive. This qualifies Him as the best recordkeeper and judge. — Charles R. Swindoll

In other words Jesus went into the desert to confront His enemy and throw down the gauntlet. He would prove Himself to be the legitimate shepherd of Israel by overcoming the temptations that had undone all of Israel's previous kings, including His mighty ancestor, King David. — Charles R. Swindoll

It is in lonely solitude that God delivers His best thoughts, and the mind needs to be still and quiet to receive them. — Charles R. Swindoll

Convictions are a matter of choice, not force. — Charles R. Swindoll

The difference between something good and something great is attention to detail. — Charles R. Swindoll

Patience is a bitter plant that produces sweet fruit. — Charles R. Swindoll

The silence of God's voice will make you wonder if He is even there. And the absence of God's presence will make you wonder if He even cares. He is. And He does. — Charles R. Swindoll

We aren't just thrown on this earth like dice tossed across a table. We are lovingly placed here for a purpose — Charles R. Swindoll

We continually encounter hardships. People disappoint us. We disappoint ourselves. But God is constant and compassionate. We are not alone. He cares. Against all reason, the transcendent God loves us so much that He has committed Himself to us. — Charles R. Swindoll

Believing in grace is one thing. Living it is another. — Charles R. Swindoll

Every one of us can blame somebody for something that has happened in our lives. But don't waste your time. What we need most is a steady stream of love flowing among us. Love that quickly forgives, willingly overlooks, and refuses to take offense. — Charles R. Swindoll

No, the thing that makes for greatness is determination, persisting in the right direction over the long haul, following your dream, staying at the task. — Charles R. Swindoll

When you trust the Lord God to give you the next step, when you wait in humility upon Him, *He* will open the doors or close them, and you'll get to rest and relax until He says, 'Go. — Charles R. Swindoll

For there to be true maturity, people must be given room to grow, which includes room to fail ... — Charles R. Swindoll

When you are in the center of God's will, my friend, it flows. — Charles R. Swindoll

God will never adjust His agenda to fit ours. He will not speed up His pace to catch up with ours; we need to slow our pace in order to recover our walk with Him. God will not scream and shout over the noisy clamor; He expects us to seek quietness, where His still small voice can be heard again. — Charles R. Swindoll

Things may not be logical or fair, but when God is directing the events of our lives, they are right. — Luci Swindoll

When a sudden ray of sun or a moonbeam falls on a dreary street, it makes no difference what it illumines-a broken bottle on the ground, a fading flower in a field, or the flaxen blonde hair of a child's head. The object is transformed and the viewer is transfixed. Celebrate that moment of beauty and take it with you in your memory. It is God's gift to you. — Luci Swindoll