Quotes from You Can Change by Tim Chester

You Can Change by Tim Chester has been on my bookshelf for a few years.  I started it this year and I am sorry that I didn't start it sooner.  This book is so good!  Chester's book cover states "God's Transforming Power for Our Sinful Behavior and Negative Emotions"  Go buy the book.  

But for now, here are several great quotes:

We're not changed by systems or rules. We need a Redeemer to set us free, and we have a great Redeemer in Jesus...What this book tries to do is connect the truth about God with our Monday-morning struggles.

The message of this book is that change takes place in our lives as we turn to see the glory of God in Jesus. We "see" the glory of Christ as we "hear" the gospel of Christ. Moral effort, fear of judgment, and sets of rules can't bring lasting change. But amazing things happen when we "turn to the Lord."

What the law does do is show us we can't change ourselves or make ourselves good enough for God. The purpose of the law is to point to the righteousness that Jesus offers. The law isn't meant to be the starting point for change. It's meant to bring us to an end of ourselves and so drive us into the arms of Jesus.

We're changed when we look at Jesus, delight in Jesus, commune with Jesus...What a set of rules could never do, grace did...What makes us fruitful is our connection to Jesus...Transformation is the special work of the Holy Spirit...The gospel is s gift that comes with "batteries included." God gives us power through the Holy Spirit to make our new life work.

We begin the Christian life through faith and repentance, and we continue the Christian life through faith and repentance...The key to continual and deeper spiritual renewal and revival is continual re-discovery of the gospel.

There is a twofold problem in the heart: what we think or trust and what we desire or worship. Sin happens when we don't trust God above everything (when we interpret in the wrong way) and when we don't desire God above everything (when we worship the wrong thing)...So the answer is faith and repentance. We need to trust God instead of believing lies = faith; worship God instead of worshipping idols = repentance.

Behind every sin is a lie.

The key to change is continually returning to the cross...At the cross we see the source of our sanctification...At the cross we find the grace, power, and delight in God we need to overcome sin...The secret to change is to renew your love for Christ as you see him crucified in your place.

We're particularly vulnerable to temptation when we're hungry, angry, lonely or tired (giving the mnemonic HALT)...Christians have traditionally spoken of the world, the flesh and the devil as the three threats to a Christian. They all work together...The question is, which voice are you listening to?

God is in the business of change, and he's placed us in a community of change. The church is one of God's means of grace to reinforce our faith and repentance...But change in the Bible is never a solo project. Change is a community project.

Change is a lifetime task, not a one-time event...There are few quick fixes...Other Christians worry that they're not growing when they actually are. Often growth in grace means a growing awareness of our sin...Sin is never the last word for the children of God. Grace is always the last word.