Expect great things from God, attempt great things for God.
William CareyRead
I am very defective in all duties... In prayer I wander and am formal... I soon tire; devotion languishes; and I do not walk with God.
Interpretation
The quote reflects self-awareness of one's shortcomings in spiritual practice and the struggle for genuine devotion.
William Carey's quote expresses a candid admission of personal failings in fulfilling religious duties. He acknowledges the challenges of maintaining sincere prayer and devotion, highlighting a common struggle faced by many in their spiritual journeys. This introspection reveals a desire for a deeper connection with God, despite the difficulties encountered in sustaining that relationship.
In practice
During a discussion on faith, you might use this quote to illustrate the common struggles of maintaining spiritual practices.
Expect great things from God, attempt great things for God.
If you want the Kingdom speeded, go out and speed it yourselves. Only obedience rationalizes prayer. Only Missions can redeem your intercessions from insincerity.
I'm a dreamer and continue to dream of what can and will be, "Expecting great things from God, Attempting great things for God
You have been saying much about Dr. Carey and his work. When I am gone, say nothing about Dr. Carey; speak about Dr. Carey's Saviour.
I'm not afraid of failure; I'm afraid of succeeding at things that don't matter.
William Carey chides his countrymen for deciding it would be impossible for the Gospel to travel over great distances and to penetrate varied cultures when they are willing to face the same trials for the sake of commerce.
The point is that our true nature is not some ideal that we have to live up to. It's who we are right now, and that's what we can make friends with and celebrate.
With the eventual acceptance of Darwin's theory we reach a modern understanding of nature, one which has since then changed in detail rather than in fundamentals. Only those who prefer religious faith to beliefs based on reasoning and evidence can still maintain that the human species is the special darling of the entire universe, or that other animals were created to provide us with food, or that we have divine authority over them, and divine permission to kill them.
Life is God's novel. Let him write it.
The Eyes of the Future are looking back at us and they are praying for us to see beyond our own time.
By divine mandate the interpreter and guardian of the Scriptures, and the depository of Sacred Tradition living within her, the Church alone is the entrance to salvation: She alone, by herself, and under the protection and guidance of the Holy Spirit, is the source of truth.
He cannot "tempt" to virtue as we do to vice. He wants them to learn to walk and must therefore take away His hand; and if only the will to walk is really there He is pleased even with their stumbles.
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