We regard God as an airman regards his parachute; it's there for emergencies but he hopes he'll never have to use it.

Perhaps your own reiterated cries deafen you to the voice you hoped to hear

Regarding the debate about faith and works: It's like asking which blade in a pair of scissors is most important.

The perfect church service would be one we were almost unaware of. Our attention would have been on God.

At the very least, they can be persuaded that the bodily position makes no difference to their prayers; for they constantly forget[...]that they are animals and that whatever their bodies do affects their souls.

I sometimes think that shame, mere awkward, senseless shame, does as much towards preventing good acts and straightforward happiness as any of our vices can do.

You ask ‘for what’ God wants you. Isn’t the primary answer that He wants you. We’re not told that the lost sheep was sought out for anything except itself [Matthew 18:12-14; Luke 15:3-7]. Of course, He may have a special job for you: and the certain job is that of becoming more and more His.