It takes two means to produce a revival: one to influence people and the other to influence God. People are influenced by truth; God is moved by prayer. To move God does not mean that God changes His mind through prayer, or that His thinking or His character is altered. Rather, prayer produces such a change in us that it now becomes consistent for God to do something that was not consistent before.
— Charles Finney (1792–1875), Erweckungsprediger
Topics: Prayer & Silence
Charles Finney
Charles Grandison Finney (1792–1875) war ein US-amerikanischer Rechtsanwalt, presbyterianischer und kongregationalistischer Prediger sowie Präsident des Oberlin College in Ohio. Er gilt als prägende Gestalt der Zweiten Großen Erweckung, führte neue methodische Mittel wie die Bußbank ein und engagierte sich entschieden im Abolitionismus. Während seine Schriften heute für ihren Fokus auf Gebet und radikale Lebensübergabe rezipiert werden, stießen seine Abkehr von der traditionellen Erbsündenlehre, sein Perfektionismus und der psychologische Druck seiner Methoden auf anhaltende theologische Kritik.
All quotes by Charles Finney (35)
When we pray, the circumstances often remain the same, but we become different.
Oswald Chambers
Prayer does not change God, but the one who prays.
Søren Kierkegaard
Courage is fear that has said its prayers.
Corrie ten Boom
To pray is to draw breath from God.
Dietrich Bonhoeffer
Charles Haddon Spurgeon
Prayer does not equip us for greater works – prayer is the greater work.
Oswald Chambers
God has his ear at your heart.
Augustine of Hippo
Prayers are tools not for doing or getting, but for being and becoming.
Eugene Peterson