Jim Elliot Quotations

God always gives His best to those who leave the choice with him.

He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose.

Ninety-five percent of our wool is going to China.

It is true that a fellow cannot ignore women - but he can think of them as he ought - as sisters, not as sparring partners.

Most laws condemn the soul and pronounce sentence. The result of the law of my God is perfect. It condemns but forgives. It restores - more than abundantly - what it takes away.

The sound of 'gentle stillness' after all the thunder and wind have passed will the ultimate Word from God.

Grieve not, then, if your sons seem to desert you, but rejoice, rather, seeing the will of God done gladly.

Feast of Stephen, Deacon, First Martyr, the man who will not act until he knows all will never act at all.

I many no longer depend on pleasant impulses to bring me before the Lord. I must rather response to principles I know to be right, whether I feel them to be enjoyable or not.

He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain that which he cannot lose.

We are eager to use the occultation technique to probe for atmospheres around large Kuiper belt objects.

You're moving muscles and improving circulation in areas you can't when you're in a wheelchair on land or crutches or a walker.

It was pretty windy out there but the team played well. Phillips have a very young team so they should improve down the road.

So many missionaries, intent on doing something, forget that His main work is to make something of them...

The shiny paint laid on by curiosity's hand has worn off. What thing better can a man know than the love of Christ, which passes knowledge?

In my own experience I have found that the most extravagant dreams of boyhood have not surpassed the great experience of being in the Will of God, and I believe that nothing could be better. That is not to say that I do not want other things, and other ways of living, and other places to see, but in my right mind I know that my hopes and plans for myself could not be any better than He has arranged and fulfilled them. Thus may we all find it, and know the truth of the Word which says, He will be our guide even until death.

For my generation I must have the oracles of God in fresh terms.

I do not know how to make a man think seriously about sin and judgment, and must look to the work of the Holy Spirit for any hint of such a working.

Ah, how many Marahs have been sweetened by a simple, satisfying glimpse of the Tree and the Love which underwent its worst confict there. Yes, the Cross is the tree that sweetens the waters. 'Love never faileth.

Singleness, simplicity, is required of me. One treasure, a single eye, and a sole Master!

None of it gets to be 'old stuff', for it is Christ in print, the Living Word. We wouldn't think of rising in the morning without a facewash, but we often neglect that purgative cleansing of the Word of the Lord. It wakes us up to our responsibility

God deliver me from the dread asbestos of “other things.” Saturate me with the oil of the Spirit that I may be aflame.

Be on guard, my soul, of complicating your environment so that you have neither time nor room for growth!

No one warns young people to follow Adam's example. He waited till God saw his need. Then God made Adam sleep, prepared for his mate, and brought her to him.

Those whimpering Stateside young people will wake up on the Day of Judgment condemned to worse fates than these demon-fearing Indians, because, having a Bible, they were bored with it - while these never heard of such a thing as writing.

I have had to make a cross of two logs, and lie down on it, to show the Indians what it means to crucify a man.

Eagles are very tolerant and very adaptable, but they have to get established first. When birds are setting up their breeding territory, they are the most susceptible to being discouraged.

Birds are extremely valued as indicators of overall environmental health. If there's a problem in a wild bird population, it's indicative that something went wrong.

God, I pray light these idle sticks of my life and may I burn up for thee.

Missionaries are very human folks, simply a bunch of nobodies trying to exalt somebody.

I pray for you, that all your misgivings will be melted to thanksgivings. Remember that the shadow a thing casts often far exceeds the size of the thing itself (especially if the light be low on the horizon) and though some future fear may strut brave darkness as you approach, the thing itself will be but a speck when seen from beyond. Oh that He would restore us often with that 'aspect from beyond,' to see a thing as He sees it, to remember that He dealeth with us as with sons.

Our young men are going into the professional fields because they don't 'feel called' to the mission field. We don't need a call; we need a kick in the pants. We must begin thinking in terms of 'going out,' and stop our weeping because 'they won't come in.' Who wants to step into an igloo? The tombs themselves are not colder than the churches. May God send us forth.

Oh, the fullness, pleasure, sheer excitement of knowing God on Earth! I care not if I never raise my voice again for Him, if only I may love Him, please Him. Mayhap in mercy He shall give me a host of children that I may lead them through the vast star fields to explore His delicacies whose finger ends set them to burning. But if not, if only I may see Him, touch His garments, smile into His eyes - ah then, not stars nor children shall matter, only Himself.

The will of God is sweet tonight, altogether ‘good and acceptable and perfect.’ The considerate love of the Lord Jesus for us seems such a kind thing now. I know it has always been so, but somehow I didn’t see how wise it was when it didn’t seem kind… Remind me of this when I cannot regard His love as considerate some time.

He is no fool who parts with that which he cannot keep, when he is sure to be recompensed with that which he cannot lose.

Surely those who know the great passionate heart of Jehovah must deny their own loves to share in the expression of His.

What good are Greek, commentaries, insight, gift, and all the rest, if there is no heart for Christ?

As your life is in His hands, so are the days of your life. But don’t let the sands of time get into the eye of your vision to reach those who sit in darkness. They simply must hear.

I have prayed for new men, fiery, reckless men, possessed of uncontrollably youthful passion-these lit by the Spirit of God. I have prayed for new words, explosive, direct, simple words. I have prayed for new miracles. Explaining old miracles will not do. If God is to be known as the God who does wonders in heaven and earth, then God must produce for this generation. Lord, fill preachers and preaching with Thy power. How long dare we go on without tears, without moral passions, hatred and love? Not long, I pray, Lord Jesus, not long.

It's hard to steer a parked car.

God is still on His throne, we're still on His 'footstool,' and there's only a knee's distance between!

Unwillingness to accept God's 'way of escape' from temptation frightens me - what a rebel yet resides within.

I couldn’t have asked for more than God in deliberate grace has surprised me with!

Oh, the fullness, pleasure, sheer excitement of knowing God on earth!

I seek not a long life, but a full one, like you Lord Jesus.

Why do you need a voice when you have a verse?

Rest in this-it is His business to lead, command, impel, send, call, or whatever you want to call it. It is your business to obey, follow, move, respond, or what have you... The sound of 'gentle stillness' after all the thunder and wind have passed will be the ultimate Word from God.

Wherever you are, be all there! Live to the hilt every situation you believe to be the will of God.

Let not our longing slay the appetite of our living.

When it comes time to die, make sure that all you have to do is die.

If we are the sheep of His pasture, remember that sheep are headed for the altar.

Ps 119:89-91: The settled Word in Heaven makes for a solid foundation on earth and a safe path for today.

That saint who advances on his knees never retreats...

I have felt the impact of your prayer in these past weeks. I am certain now that nothing has had a more powerful infl uence on this life of mine than your prayers.

Dreams are tawdry when compared with the leading of God, and not worthy of the aura of wonder we usually surround them with. God only doeth wonders. He does nothing else. His hand can work nothing less.

The will of God is always a bigger thing than we bargain for.

Eternity shall be at once a great eye-opener and a great mouth-shutter.

Children are arrows in a quiver, and they are to be trained as missionaries and shot at the Devil.

Father, let me be weak that I might loose my clutch on everything temporal. My life, my reputation, my possessions, Lord, let me loose the tension of the grasping hand. Even, Father, would I lose the love of fondling. How often I have released a grasp only to retain what I prized by 'harmless' longing, the fondling touch. Rather, open my hand to received the nail of Calvary, as Christ's was opened- that I, releasing all, might be released, unleashed from all that binds me now. He thought Heaven, yea, equality with God, not a thing to be clutched at. So let me release my grasp.

Father, take my life, yea, my blood if Thou wilt, and consume it with Thine enveloping fire. I would not save it, for it is not mine to save. Have it Lord, have it all. Pour out my life as an oblation for the world. Blood is only of value as it flows before Thine altar

God, I pray Thee, light these idle sticks of my life and may I burn for Thee. Consume my life, my God, for it is Thine. I seek not a long life, but a full one, like you, Lord Jesus.

Father, make of me a crisis man. Bring those I contact to decision. Let me not be a milepost on a single road; make me a fork, that men must turn one way or another on facing Christ in me.

Always seek peace between your heart and God, but in this world, always be careful to remain ever-restless, never satisfied, and always abounding in the work of the Lord.

It makes me boil when I think of the power we profess and the utter impotency of our action. Believers who know one-tenth as much as we do are doing one-hundred times more for God, with His blessing and our criticism. Oh if I could write it, preach it, say it, paint it, anything at all, if only God's power would become known among us.

Lord, give me firmness without hardness, steadfastness without dogmatism, love without weakness.

Wherever you are - be all there.

Lord, make my way prosperous not that I achieve high station, but that my life be an exhibit to the value of knowing God.

Forgive me for being so ordinary while claiming to know so extraordinary a God.

Desire is the putting of my will into God’s concern. It’s not a passive, sitting back in your easy chair, folding your arms sort of thing, which says, 'Well, I’m willing, if God would only give me a good swift kick and send me.' That’s willingness all right. But God doesn’t want willingness, He wants will! He wants your will put behind those desires.

We are so utterly ordinary, so commonplace, while we profess to know a Power the Twentieth Century does not reckon with.... Oh that God would make us dangerous!

Live every day as if the Son of Man were at the door, and gear your thinking to the fleeting moment. Just how can it be redeemed? Walk as if the next step would carry you across the threshold of Heaven. Pray. That saint who advances on his knees never retreats.

He makes His ministers a flame of fire. Am I ignitible? God deliver me from the dread asbestos of 'other things.' Saturate me with the oil of the Spirit that I may be aflame. But flame is transient, often short lived. Canst thou bear this, my soul - short life? ... Make me thy fuel, Flame of God.

The will of God is always a bigger thing than we bargain for, but we must believe that whatever it involves, it is good, acceptable and perfect.

Rest in this - it is His business to lead, command, impel, send, call... It is your business to obey, follow, move, respond...