I love to collect quotes. In fact, I am known for it in our community. So I thought I would start a series sharing some of those with you. This first batch is from a book by Frederica Matthewes-Green called The Jesus Prayer which I read almost 15 years ago.

“So practice agape [long suffering, self-giving love] in every context (and it does take lots of practice). Every person you encounter gives you a God-appointed opportunity to die to self. The six or ten people you deal with every day are meant to furnish your own Roman Colosseum where you can battle against self-will to your last breath.” (p.51)

“Expect that you will have sorrow, and that you will suffer injustice; expect this, and it won’t shatter your faith. Believe firmly that all your joy is with Christ, and you will be able to bear it if other sources of joy prove temporary, or are never found at all.” (p. 52)

“Humility is of more value than the greatest asceticism. One day, as the desert monk Saint Macarius was returning to his cell, the devil attacked him swinging a scythe, but was unable to wound him. The devil complained, ‘Macarius, I suffer a lot of violence from you for I cannot overcome you. Whatever you do, I do also. If you fast, I eat nothing; if you keep watch, I never sleep. There is only one way in which you surpass me: your humility. That is why I cannot prevail against you.'” (p. 53)