Passion and Purity

I'm reading the book "Passion and Purity" by Elisabeth Elliot. It's designed to help you learn to bring your love life under Christ's control. No, I do not have a love life, except with my Savior. It really is a great book though and I definately recommend it whether you are single, in a relationship, or married. However, God has been using this book to speak to my heart in ways other than in the relationship context. Last night I was reading from ch 19 and this is what stuck out to me:

" I realized that the deepest spiritual lessons are not learned by His letting us have our way in the end, but by His making us wait, bearing with us in love and patience until we are able honestly to pray that He taught His disciples to pray: Thy will be done"

"It was the taking up of the cross daily that Jesus spoke of. Is it a tough thing to do? Then do it. Take it up at once. Say yes to God. He will bring the very best to pass."

"If you love someone, there are many thigns you will do for that person because you love him-not because it's what you'd prefer if love did not enter the picture. The fact is, love has entered the picture. Therefore, in your heart, you can do what He wants, because, more than your own pleasure, you want His. When obedience to God contradicts what I think will give me pelasure, let me ask myself if I love him. IF I can say yes to that question, can't I say to pleasing Him? Can't I say yes even if it means a sacrifice? A little quiet reflection will remind me that yes to God always leads in the end to joy. We can absolutely bank on that."

I hope this encourage you as it has me.