I longed that those who, I have reason to think, owe me ill will, might be eternally happy. It seemed refreshing to think of meeting them in heaven, how much soever they had injured me on earth: had no disposition to insist upon any confession from them, in order to reconciliation, and the exercise of love and kindness to them. Oh! it is an emblem of heaven itself, to love all the world with a love of kindness, forgiveness, and benevolence.

David Brainerd

Categorized in : Thinking Exercise Kindness

Lord, let me make a difference for you that is utterly disproportionate to who I am.

David Brainerd

differences who-i-am christian

Let me forget the world and be swallowed up in the desire to glorify God.

David Brainerd

desire forget world

Here am I, send me; send me to the ends of the earth; send me to the rough, the savage lost of the wilderness; send me from all that is called comfort on earth; send me even to death itself, if it be but in your service, and to promote your kingdom

David Brainerd

kingdoms earth christian

There is a God in heaven who overrules all things for the best; and this is the comfort of my soul.

David Brainerd

soul comfort heaven

We should always look upon ourselves as God's servants, placed in God's world, to do his work; and accordingly labour faithfully for him; not with a design to grow rich and great, but to glorify God, and do all the good we possibly can.

David Brainerd

design looks world

Give yourself to prayer, to reading and meditation on divine truths: strive to penetrate to the bottom of them and never be content with a superficial knowledge.

David Brainerd

superficial-knowledge reading prayer

I care not where I go, or how I live, or what I endure so that I may save souls. When I sleep I dream of them; when I awake they are first in my thoughts.

David Brainerd

soul dream sleep

Further, Take heed that you faithfully perform the business you have to do in the world, from a regard to the commands of God; and not from an ambitious desire of being esteemed better than others.

David Brainerd

ambitious desire world

It is impossible for any rational creature to be happy without acting all for God. God Himself could not make him happy any other way... There is nothing in the world worth living for but doing good and finishing God's work, doing the work that Christ did. I see nothing else in the world that can yield any satisfaction besides living to God, pleasing Him, and doing his whole will.

David Brainerd

finishing yield acting

Oh! one hour with God infinitely exceeds all the pleasures and delights of this lower world.

David Brainerd

delight christianity world

I cared not where or how I lived, or what hardships I went through, so I could but gain souls to Christ

David Brainerd

hardship soul missionary

I longed to be a flame of fire continually glowing in the divine service and building up of Christ's kingdom to my last and dying breath.

David Brainerd

glowing flames fire

Oh that God would humble me deeply in the dust before Him! i deserve Hell every day for not lovingmy Lord more, who has, i trust, loved me and given Himself for me.

David Brainerd

dust humble love

When you cease from labour, fill up your time in reading, meditation, and prayer: and while your hands are labouring, let your heart be employed, as much as possible, in divine thoughts.

David Brainerd

reading prayer heart

I have received my all from God. Oh, that I could return my all to God.

David Brainerd

return missionary

It is sweet to be nothing and less than nothing that Christ may be all in all.

David Brainerd

missionary may sweet

If you hope for happiness in the world, hope for it from God, and not from the world.

David Brainerd

happy happiness world

Thirsting desires and longings possessed my soul after perfect holiness. God was so precious to my soul that the world with all its enjoyments appeared vile. I had no more value for the favor of men than for pebbles.

David Brainerd

soul perfect men

My soul often mourned of more time and opportunity to be alone with God

David Brainerd

alone-with-god soul opportunity

Saw so much of the wickedness of my heart that I longed to get away from myself...I felt almost pressed to death with my own vileness. Oh what a body of death is there in me...Oh the closest walk with God is the sweetest heaven that can be enjoyed on earth!

David Brainerd

wickedness heart heaven