Gratitude is the joy that arises in response to Godโs good will toward us in all his gifts.
John PiperEvery good thing in the Christian life grows in the soil of humility. Without humility, every virtue and every grace withers. Thatโs why Calvin said humility is first, second, and third in the Christian faith.
John PiperEvery Christian who struggles with depression struggles to keep their hope clear. There is nothing wrong with the object of their hope - Jesus Christ is not defective in any way whatsoever. But the view from the struggling Christian's heart of their objective hope could be obscured by disease and pain, the pressures of life, and by Satanic fiery darts shot against them... All discouragement and depression is related to the obscuring of our hope, and we need to get those clouds out of the way and fight like crazy to see clearly how precious Christ is.
John PiperWhat was once foolishness to us-a crucified God-must become our wisdom and our power and our only boast in this world.
John PiperNot to abide in Jesusโ love would mean that we stop believing that we are loved by Jesus. We look at our circumstances - perhaps persecution or disease or abandonment - and we conclude that we are not loved by Jesus anymore. Thatโs the opposite of abiding in the love of Jesus. So abiding in his love means continuing to believe, moment by moment, that we are loved.
John Piper