Desiring God

A friend recently lent me the book Desiring God by John Piper. I delved into this evening, and just a few pages in found myself intrigued. Here are some quotes that have already made an impact on me:

"That God is most glorified in me when I am most satisfied in Him continues to be a spectacular and precious truth in my mind and heart."

"When delighting in God is the work of our lives...there will be an inner strength for ministries of love to the very end."

"But not only does the pursuit of joy in God give strength to endure, it is the key to breaking the power of sin on our way to heaven...I know of no other way to triumph over sin long-term than to gain a distaste for it because of a superior satisfaction in God."

"I never tire of saying and savoring the truth that God's passion to be glorified and our passion to be satisfied are one experience in the Christ-exalting act of worship."

"The chief end of man is to glorify God by enjoying Him forever."

"In a matter of weeks I came to see that it is unbiblical and arrogant to try to worship God for any other reason than the pleasure to be had in Him."

Finally, Piper quoted C.S. Lewis as saying,
"But the most obvious fact about praise--whether of God or anything-escaped me. I thought of it in terms of compliment, approval, or the giving of honor. I had never noticed that all enjoyment spontaneously overflows into praise...The world rings with praise--lovers praising their mistresses, readers their favorite poet, walkers praising the countryside, players praising their favorite game...I think we delight to praise what we enjoy because the praise not merely expresses but completes the enjoyment; it is its appointed consummation."

"Praise the LORD, all you nations;

extol him, all you peoples.

For great is his love toward us,

and the faithfulness of the LORD endures forever.

Praise the LORD."

Ps. 117