223 Quotes by John Ortberg Jr.

Whether with an entire day, or periods of time set aside every day, your soul needs rest. Not a change of scenery or a spiritual retreat – those are fine and may contribute to rest. But to remain healthy, our souls need solitude with no agenda, no distractions, no noise. If someone asks you what you did in your “time apart,” the correct response should be, “Nothing.” Doing nothing does wonders for the soul.

Imagine watching all that God might have done with your life if you had let him.

The test of love is that it gives even when there is no expectation of a return.

The goal is not for us to get through the Scriptures. The goal is to get the Scriptures through us.

The Holy Spirit says: You are it. You are God’s plan. In a thirsty world, people need to be refreshed. It is a broken world, and people need to be healed. Now get out there and do it!

I’m more concerned about who you’re becoming than what you’re doing.

It’s not what’s on the other side of the door that gives me confidence to go through; it’s the one who goes with me.

You can only love and be loved to the extent that you know and are known by somebody.

I am the master of my fate: I am the captain of my soul.” No, I am its keeper, not its captain. I did not make it, and I cannot save it from death. That’s why soul-care is a different task than self-care. I do not care for my soul only for my own sake. It is only mine on loan, and it is coming due soon.