Gary W. Moon > Quotes

“If there is a single factor that makes spiritual direction effective as a change agency for the soul, it is this: spiritual direction holds our shame at bay long enough for us to see ourselves as God sees us in Christ.”
― Gary W. Moon

“In the years to come, Dallas would begin pouring some of his teaching energy into other off-campus programs. But whether he was teaching from behind the podium at a major university or seminary, or from the pulpit in a church, his philosophy of teaching was clear. He saw it all as service. “That’s why I teach.” He begins, “That’s my work as a teacher. It is a part of a general life which has to be given in loving service to others. No matter where you may be or what you may do that’s what your job is to be. And when you see it as a part of that calling and that vocation to be the loving servant of those around you, then you will begin to ‘occupy your place until I [Jesus] come.’” 2”
― Gary W. Moon, Becoming Dallas Willard: The Formation of a Philosopher, Teacher, and Christ Follower

“The constant theme has been the cultivation of communion with God, prayer and the transformation it brings. In the Orthodox tradition, this is true healing for the soul.”
― Gary W. Moon, Spiritual Direction and the Care of Souls: A Guide to Christian Approaches and Practices

“I define spiritual direction as the interaction between one person, trained to listen for the movement of God, and another who desires to develop and cultivate an intimate, personal relationship with God.”
― Gary W. Moon, Spiritual Direction and the Care of Souls: A Guide to Christian Approaches and Practices

“Believing that spirituality is vital for growth and essential for dealing with life's problems, many individuals are pursuing a journey of spiritual growth.”
― Gary W. Moon, Spiritual Direction and the Care of Souls: A Guide to Christian Approaches and Practices

“allowing the Word and Spirit of Christ to enter into one's depths and begin to transform each component of the human being to Christlikeness-under the direction of a regenerate will and with constant overtures of grace from God (Willard 2002:42).”
― Gary W. Moon, Spiritual Direction and the Care of Souls: A Guide to Christian Approaches and Practices

“First, he claims many people feel a need for personal growth in a
Christian way of life.”
― Gary W. Moon, Spiritual Direction and the Care of Souls: A Guide to Christian Approaches and Practices

“We define Christian spiritual direction, then, as help given by one Christian to another which enables that person to pay attention to God's personal”
― Gary W. Moon, Spiritual Direction and the Care of Souls: A Guide to Christian Approaches and Practices

“One can almost apply Gabriel Marcel's famous insight: life is not a problem to be solved but a mystery to be lived.”
― Gary W. Moon, Spiritual Direction and the Care of Souls: A Guide to Christian Approaches and Practices

“Believing that spirituality is vital for growth and essential for dealing with life's problems, many individuals are pursuing a journey of spiritual growth. Pursuing this journey typically involves a commitment to engage in spiritual practices such as prayer and meditation. As a result of this pursuit, some are finding their lives are more centered and fulfilling, while others find themselves trapped in old feelings, attitudes and habits that appear to undo their progress. Even those who have made progress on the journey often encounter spiritual and psychological roadblocks to growth.”
― Gary W. Moon, Spiritual Direction and the Care of Souls: A Guide to Christian Approaches and Practices

“If you eat, breathe and grow, two things are happening—which have little to do with either air or burgers. You are receiving an education and your “spirit” is being formed. To be alive is to be formed.”
― Gary W. Moon

“David G. Benner has defined spiritual direction as a "prayer process in which a person seeking help in cultivating a deeper personal relationship with God meets another for prayer and conversation that is focused on increasing awareness of God in the midst of life experiences and facilitating surrender to God's will" (2002:94).”
― Gary W. Moon, Spiritual Direction and the Care of Souls: A Guide to Christian Approaches and Practices

“Faith is, at heart, the central relationship that gives meaning to our life; we are able to interpret our experiences in light of that relationship. Or as Katherine Dyckman and L. Patrick Carroll put it, "To `faith' is to hand over the direction of one's journey to another, to yield up . . . `the illusion of control' to someone who is essentially beyond our control, over whom we have no power" (1981:8 9).”
― Gary W. Moon, Spiritual Direction and the Care of Souls: A Guide to Christian Approaches and Practices