Worship is the fuel and goal of missions. Missions exits because worship

does not. . . . Passion for God in worship precedes the offer of God in

preaching. You can’t commend what you don’t cherish. Missionaries will

never call out, “Let the nations be glad!” who cannot say from the heart,

“I rejoice in the Lord. . . . I will be glad and exult in thee, I will sing

praise to thy name, O Most High” (Ps 104:34, 9:2). Missions begins and ends

in worship. 

– John Piper

And Mary said, “My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God

my Savior, for he has looked on the humble estate of his servant. For

behold, from now on all generations will call me blessed; for he who is

mighty has done great things for me, and holy is his name.” 

— Mary’s Magnificat, Luke 1:46–49

This is the month, and this the happy morn, 

Wherein the Son of Heav’n’s eternal King, 

Of wedded Maid, and Virgin Mother born, 

Our great redemption from above did bring; 

For so the holy sages once did sing, 

That he our deadly forfeit should release, 

And with his Father work us a perpetual peace. 

— John Milton, On the Morning of Christ’s Nativity

If we take it all for granted, if we think life just shows up with this stuff already in place, if we trick ourselves into believing that everyday household items come from the grocery rather than from a gracious God, we walk right past countless reasons for [thanksgiving] without even knowing it. – Nancy DeMoss Wolgemuth

The sin underneath all our sins is to trust the lie of the serpent that we cannot trust the love and grace of Christ and must take matters into our own hands. — Martin Luther

When the devil throws our sins up to us and declares that we deserve death and hell, we ought to speak thus: “I admit that I deserve death and hell. What of it? Does this mean that I shall be sentenced to eternal damnation? By no means. For I know One who suffered and made satisfaction in my behalf. His name is Jesus Christ, the Son of God. Where He is, there I shall be also.” — Martin Luther

It is not the strength of your faith that saves you, but the strength of Him upon whom you rely! Christ is able to save you if you come to Him – be your faith weak or be it strong. – C. H. Spurgeon

God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in him.  — John Piper

If we have God for our friend, what need we to fear, nothing; but without his friendship we may be looked on as the most miserable of men. — James Newton

The enjoyment of God is the only happiness with which our souls can be satisfied. To go to heaven, fully to enjoy God, is infinitely better than the most pleasant accommodations here. Fathers and mothers, husbands, wives, or children, or the company of earthly friends, are but shadows; but God is the substance. These are but scattered beams, but God is the sun. These are but streams, but God is the fountain. These are but drops; but God is the ocean. — Jonathan Edwards