Bill Hybels citations

“The greatest prayer motivator in existence is answered prayer.”

“If you lower the ambient noise of your life and listen expectantly for those whispers of God, your ears will hear them. And when you follow their lead, your world will be rocked.”

“You're a leader. It's your job to keep your passion hot. Do whatever you have to do, read whatever you have to read, go wherever you have to go to stay fired up. And don't apologize to anybody.”

“A key ingredient in authentic Christianity is time. Not leftover time, not throwaway time, but quality time. Time for contemplation, meditation and reflection. Unhurried, uninterrupted time.”

“The heart and soul of the Christian life is learning to hear God's voice and then developing the courage to do what he asks us to do.”

“Authentic Christians are persons who stand apart from others. Their character seems deeper, their ideas fresher, their spirit softer, their courage greater, their leadership stronger, their concerns wider, their compassion more genuine and their convictions more concrete.”

“Adoration in prayer reminds us of God's identity and inclination. As we list his attributes, lifting up his character and personality, we reinforce our understanding of who he is.”

“Are you expecting God to fill your needs? Are you asking him to do so - regularly, earnestly and persistently?”

“Sensing the carelessness and one-sidedness of our prayers, we start to feel guilty about praying. Guilt leads to faint-heartedness and that in turn leads to prayerlessness.”

“Prayerless people cut themselves off from God's peace and from his prevailing power, and a common result is that they feel overwhelmed, overrun, beaten down, pushed around, and defeated by a world operating with a take-no-prisoners approach.”

“By forcing us to look closely at our requests, prayer purifies us.”

“God is no more intimidated by childish demands for instant gratification than are wise parents.”

“The idea that God doesn't care about his children is rooted in a lie, plain and simple.”

“Be wary of insisting that you know better than God about when a prayer request should be granted. God's delays are not necessarily denials. He always has reasons for his 'not yets.”

“Unconfessed sin cuts off our communication with the Father.”

“When Jesus prayed the model prayer we call the Lord's Prayer, his first requests were that God's name be shown reverence, that his kingdom come, that his will be done.”

“Confession is probably the most neglected area of personal prayer.”

“God-honoring prayers are not simply shopping lists. They are more than cries for help, strength, mercy and miracles. Authentic prayer should include worship, submission, requests, and confessions.”

“Perfect peace comes only through relating with the Peacemaker himself.”

“Adoration in prayer purges our spirit and prepares us to listen to God.”

“As you walk with God, your faith will grow, your confidence will increase and your prayers will have real power.”

“God isn't interested in stock phrases. Talk to him. Talk to the Father sincerely.”

“The Lord's Prayer is an excellent model, but it was never intended to be a magical incantation to get God's attention. Jesus gave this prayer as a pattern to suggest the variety of elements that should be included when we pray.”

“Don't let your prayers turn into a wish list for Santa Claus. Worship God and praise him when you come to him in prayer.”

“Never forget that if you are God's child through Jesus Christ, you are praying to a Father who couldn't love you more than he already does.”

“If you let even a little sin into your heart, it's going to contaminate your prayers. Your Christian life will not achieve its full potential.”

“A lot of spiritual gains come through pain, hurt, struggle, confusion and disappointment.”

“Our spirits, like our bodies, have requirements for health and growth. Some people don't want to pay the price of developing good spiritual habits.”

“If your life is rushing in many directions at once, you are incapable of the kind of deep, unhurried prayer that is vital to the Christian walk.”