Chris Hodges > Quotes

“We usually expect too much from people. Often we judge them based on their actions even as we judge ourselves based on our intentions.”
― Chris Hodges, Fresh Air: Trading Stale Spiritual Obligation for a Life-Altering, Energizing, Experience-It-Everyday Relationship with God

“Paul was focusing on what was happening in him, not to him. Likewise, we can be sure that when something is happening to us, God is doing something in us--something that will shape us for eternity.”
― Chris Hodges, Fresh Air: Trading Stale Spiritual Obligation for a Life-Altering, Energizing, Experience-It-Everyday Relationship with God

“The problem with baggage is that it affects other people's trips.”
― Chris Hodges, Fresh Air: Trading Stale Spiritual Obligation for a Life-Altering, Energizing, Experience-It-Everyday Relationship with God

“Here's the real secret: you can fulfill the commands of the Bible better by falling in love with God than by trying to obey him. It's not that your obedience isn't significant or relevant; it's simply not the center of the wheel. No, the hub of your life is your relationship with God. Your behavior and obedience radiate like spokes from the center of your life and allow you to roll forward. When you try to make your eternal behavior the hub on which you turn, you get stuck. Forward motion must be fueled by love.”
― Chris Hodges, Fresh Air: Trading Stale Spiritual Obligation for a Life-Altering, Energizing, Experience-It-Everyday Relationship with God

“Temptation is a test of your relationship, not your self-control.”
― Chris Hodges, Fresh Air: Trading Stale Spiritual Obligation for a Life-Altering, Energizing, Experience-It-Everyday Relationship with God

“Jesus connected with people before he corrected them.”
― Chris Hodges, The Daniel Dilemma: How to Stand Firm and Love Well in a Culture of Compromise

“Sometimes it seems safer to have just enough God to get to heaven, but not so much that he radically alters our lives.”
― Chris Hodges, Fresh Air: Trading Stale Spiritual Obligation for a Life-Altering, Energizing, Experience-It-Everyday Relationship with God

“When people confront the past—their sins, wounds, and curses—they experience amazing joy, freedom, and spiritual growth. They move from just the assurance of their salvation to an experience of divine deliverance.”
― Chris Hodges, Four Cups: God's Timeless Promises for a Life of Fulfillment

“You can't make a difference unless you are different.”
― Chris Hodges

“There seems to be something in our human nature that draws us away from a life-giving relationship with Jesus because it feels more comfortable to focus on what to do and not do. That tendency robs us of real joy and peace.”
― Chris Hodges, Fresh Air: Trading Stale Spiritual Obligation for a Life-Altering, Energizing, Experience-It-Everyday Relationship with God

“If religions have one thing in common, it’s that they require us to do something to get to God. All except Christianity. So many people, including many Christians, believe that God requires us to make changes before we can approach him. But that’s not true. We don’t get our lives together in order to get to God. We go to God to get our lives together! So what are we supposed to do? The answer is in God’s first cup of promise. He said, “I will bring you out.”
― Chris Hodges, Four Cups: God's Timeless Promises for a Life of Fulfillment

“Have you been in a compromising situation this week? Have any of your financial dealings lacked integrity? Have you viewed any sexually explicit material? Have you spent quality time in Bible study and prayer? Have you given priority time to your family? Have you fulfilled the mandates of your calling? Have you just lied to me?”
― Chris Hodges, Out of the Cave: Stepping into the Light when Depression Darkens What You See

“But Elijah still compared himself to his ancestors—and felt like he wanted to die.”
― Chris Hodges, Out of the Cave: Stepping into the Light when Depression Darkens What You See

“God wants his power in every person’s life. He loves taking ordinary people and using them to do extraordinary things. It didn’t take long, however, for Christians to make ministry a profession and hire a few folks to lead their churches. They called these people clergy and soon the rest of the body of Christ sat passively on the sidelines and watched. They could be part of a “church” without any real sacrifice or personal commitment to the well-being of the community.”
― Chris Hodges, Four Cups: God's Timeless Promises for a Life of Fulfillment

“It is better to have less of what doesn’t matter and more of what does. It is better to have enough so that you can enjoy what you have than to have more and never enjoy it.”
― Chris Hodges, The Daniel Dilemma: How to Stand Firm and Love Well in a Culture of Compromise

“No particular shape of brokenness is worse or better than any other. When I see the remains of houses still standing after a tornado, I don't compare the broken windows of one house to another and think, Now that one is broken more severely than this other one. No! Shattered windows, like shattered lives, are all simply in need of repair.”
― Chris Hodges, Out of the Cave: Stepping into the Light when Depression Darkens What You See

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:6-7).”
― Chris Hodges, Fresh Air: What Happens When You Discover the Powerful Secrets of a God-Breathed Life

“Because of our selfishness and inclination toward personal comfort and convenience, we'd rather not have to deal with constant change and uncertainty. We have difficulty reconciling the goodness of God with the mystery of his ways.”
― Chris Hodges, Fresh Air: Trading Stale Spiritual Obligation for a Life-Altering, Energizing, Experience-It-Everyday Relationship with God

“Worship is love expressed.”
― Chris Hodges, Fresh Air: Trading Stale Spiritual Obligation for a Life-Altering, Energizing, Experience-It-Everyday Relationship with God

“It's okay to not be okay. But don't settle for a lifetime of "not okay".”
― Chris Hodges, Out of the Cave: Stepping into the Light when Depression Darkens What You See

“Probably one of the most surprising discoveries I've made while studying the Bible is that God does not condone religion. It's a consistent theme throughout scripture. Religion is man's external effort to please God. But God doesn't care about all my efforts to get it right. He wants more, something far greater.”
― Chris Hodges, Fresh Air: Trading Stale Spiritual Obligation for a Life-Altering, Energizing, Experience-It-Everyday Relationship with God

“Any time you are choosing a guide to get you through hard places, you want to know some very crucial things are true about them: that they are wise, that they are experienced, that they will care for you, and that they will get you through safely to the other side.”
― Chris Hodges, The Daniel Dilemma: How to Stand Firm and Love Well in a Culture of Compromise

“You will never know all that your life can be until you hand it over to the One who gave you life.”
― Chris Hodges, The Daniel Dilemma: How to Stand Firm and Love Well in a Culture of Compromise

“When you surrender yourself to Christ daily”
― Chris Hodges, Pray First: The Transformative Power of a Life Built on Prayer

“Prayer is the bridge to living in the spiritual world and unleashing God’s power in our lives.”
― Chris Hodges, Pray First: The Transformative Power of a Life Built on Prayer

“We overlook the fact that God knows every moment of our past and loves us as if he didn’t. In fact, he wants to redeem our past, but too often we get in the way because we refuse to let go of our old labels.”
― Chris Hodges, The Daniel Dilemma: How to Stand Firm and Love Well in a Culture of Compromise

“Humility is not thinking less of yourself. Humility is thinking of yourself less. We can be courageous and contrite at the same time.”
― Chris Hodges, The Daniel Dilemma: How to Stand Firm and Love Well in a Culture of Compromise

“Pray for blessing so that you can bless others around you.”
― Chris Hodges, Pray First: The Transformative Power of a Life Built on Prayer

“After submitting to God”
― Chris Hodges, Pray First: The Transformative Power of a Life Built on Prayer

“When we focus on all God has done for us and given us”
― Chris Hodges, Pray First: The Transformative Power of a Life Built on Prayer