--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We must assess our thoughts and beliefs…" description: "\"We must assess our thoughts and beliefs and reckon whether they are moving us closer to conformity to Christ or farther away from it.\" — John Ortberg" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6e4/john-ortberg-932_belief_we-must-assess-our-thoughts-and-beliefs_928307.png" --- # We must assess our thoughts and beliefs and reckon whether… ![“We must assess our thoughts and beliefs and reckon whether they are moving us closer to conformity to Christ or farther away from it.” quote by John Ortberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6e4/john-ortberg-932_belief_we-must-assess-our-thoughts-and-beliefs_928307.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6e4/john-ortberg-932_belief_we-must-assess-our-thoughts-and-beliefs_928307.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6e4/john-ortberg-932_belief_we-must-assess-our-thoughts-and-beliefs_928307.png) > “We must assess our thoughts and beliefs and reckon whether they are moving us closer to conformity to Christ or farther away from it.” [John Ortberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ortberg/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Examine beliefs to ensure they draw you nearer to Christ, not farther away. **In simple terms:** Check if thoughts align with Christian faith. Key Takeaway Align thoughts with Christ’s teachings. Themes faith self‑examination spiritual growth Mood reflective spiritual Type religious motivational When to use this quote - prayer - Bible study - life decisions Key Concepts Christian doctrine personal reflection Questions to Reflect On - What beliefs might be pulling you from Christ? - How will you adjust them? A Different Perspective Self‑examination can reveal uncomfortable truths. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Belief](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/belief/) [Christ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christ/) [Conformity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conformity/) [Discipleship](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/discipleship/) [Faith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/faith/) ## Related quotes > [If we suffer persecution and affliction in a right manner, we attain a larger measure of conformity to Christ, by a due improvement of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-wesley/if-we-suffer-persecution-and-affliction-in-a-right-manner-we-attain-a/) [John Wesley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wesley/) > [None can know their election but by their conformity to Christ; for all who are chosen are chosen to sanctification.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-henry/none-can-know-their-election-but-by-their-conformity-to-christ-for/) [Matthew Henry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-henry/) > [True faith always produces real conformity to Christ.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/true-faith-always-produces-real-conformity-to-christ/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [When we become incorruptible and immortal and attain to the blessed state of conformity with Christ, we will be ever with the Lord, gaining…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-palamas/when-we-become-incorruptible-and-immortal-and-attain-to-the-blessed-2/) [Gregory Palamas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-palamas/) > [“for Paul the essential mark of apostleship is conformity to Christ crucified through sacrifice, weakness, and suffering”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-j-gorman/for-paul-the-essential-mark-of-apostleship-is-conformity-to-christ/) [Michael J. Gorman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-j-gorman/) > [When we become incorruptible and immortal, and attain to the blessed state of conformity with Christ, we will be ever with the Lord (as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-palamas/when-we-become-incorruptible-and-immortal-and-attain-to-the-blessed/) [Gregory Palamas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-palamas/) > [The decision to grow always involves a choice between risk and comfort. This means that to be a follower of Jesus, you must renounce…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ortberg/the-decision-to-grow-always-involves-a-choice-between-risk-and/) [John Ortberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ortberg/) > [Then shoulder to shoulder! Let us engirdle the little circle of the earth with the chains that bind us to each other. To one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-mickiewicz/then-shoulder-to-shoulder-let-us-engirdle-the-little-circle-of-the/) [Adam Mickiewicz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-mickiewicz/) > [How many times have you prayed or asked or said you needed help, when suddenly somebody showed up in your life? We are all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/agapi-stassinopoulos/how-many-times-have-you-prayed-or-asked-or-said-you-needed-help-when/) [Agapi Stassinopoulos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/agapi-stassinopoulos/) > [Ah, what is it we send up thither, where our thoughts are either a dissonance or a sweetness and a grace?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-macdonald/ah-what-is-it-we-send-up-thither-where-our-thoughts-are-either-a/) [George MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-macdonald/) > [Metaphor isn't just a fancy turn of speech. It shapes our thoughts and feelings, reaches out to grasp new experience, and even binds our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-richardson/metaphor-isn-t-just-a-fancy-turn-of-speech-it-shapes-our-thoughts-and/) [James Richardson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-richardson/) > [The World's a Printing-House, our words, our thoughts, Our deeds, are characters of several sizes. Each soul is a Compos'tor, of whose faults The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-quarles/the-world-s-a-printing-house-our-words-our-thoughts-our-deeds-are/) [Francis Quarles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-quarles/) > [Knowing does not always allow us to prevent, but at least the things that we know, we hold them, if not in our hands,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcel-proust/knowing-does-not-always-allow-us-to-prevent-but-at-least-the-things/) [Marcel Proust](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcel-proust/) > [If we will not interfere with our thought, but will act entirely, or see how the thing stands in God, we know the particular…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/if-we-will-not-interfere-with-our-thought-but-will-act-entirely-or/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [Jobs and money are never the primary cause of stress. Thinking, negative thinking causes stress. The real cause of all problems lie in our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-proctor/jobs-and-money-are-never-the-primary-cause-of-stress-thinking/) [Bob Proctor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-proctor/) ## More by John Ortberg > [“What do we do in the dark night? We do nothing. We wait. We remember that we are not God. We hold on. We…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ortberg/what-do-we-do-in-the-dark-night-we-do-nothing-we-wait-we-remember/) [John Ortberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ortberg/) > [If we are serious about loving God, we must begin with people, all people. And especially we must learn to love those that the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ortberg/if-we-are-serious-about-loving-god-we-must-begin-with-people-all/) [John Ortberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ortberg/) > [True repentance never leads to despair. Its leads home. It leads to grace.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ortberg/true-repentance-never-leads-to-despair-its-leads-home-it-leads-to/) [John Ortberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ortberg/) > [The greatest bloodbaths in the history of the human race were recorded in the twentieth century in countries that sought to eliminate God, worship,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ortberg/the-greatest-bloodbaths-in-the-history-of-the-human-race-were/) [John Ortberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ortberg/) > [There is no way for a human being to come to God that does not involve surrender.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ortberg/there-is-no-way-for-a-human-being-to-come-to-god-that-does-not/) [John Ortberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ortberg/) > [Will you keep going when you don't know why? When you can't get any answers that would make the pain go away, will you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ortberg/will-you-keep-going-when-you-don-t-know-why-when-you-can-t-get-any/) [John Ortberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ortberg/) > [Death is the prerequisite to resurrection, the new life God intends.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ortberg/death-is-the-prerequisite-to-resurrection-the-new-life-god-intends/) [John Ortberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ortberg/) > [From ancient times, the core idea of the soul is the soul is the capacity to integrate different functions into a single being or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ortberg/from-ancient-times-the-core-idea-of-the-soul-is-the-soul-is-the/) [John Ortberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ortberg/) > [“Hurry is the great enemy of spiritual life in our day. You must ruthlessly eliminate hurry from your life.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ortberg/hurry-is-the-great-enemy-of-spiritual-life-in-our-day-you-must/) [John Ortberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ortberg/) > [In reality, each thought we have carries with it a little spiritual power, a tug toward or away from God. No thought is purely…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ortberg/in-reality-each-thought-we-have-carries-with-it-a-little-spiritual/) [John Ortberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ortberg/) > [The miracle of Sunday is that a dead man lives. The miracle of Saturday is that the eternal Son of God lies dead.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ortberg/the-miracle-of-sunday-is-that-a-dead-man-lives-the-miracle-of/) [John Ortberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ortberg/) > [“The most important thing about you,” Dallas would often say, “is not the things that you achieve; it is the person that you become.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ortberg/the-most-important-thing-about-you-dallas-would-often-say-is-not-the/) [John Ortberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ortberg/) > [Jesus had a universal concern for those who suffered that transcended the rules of the ancient world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ortberg/jesus-had-a-universal-concern-for-those-who-suffered-that-transcended/) [John Ortberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ortberg/) > [God is a God of endless opportunities to do good; the God of the open door.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ortberg/god-is-a-god-of-endless-opportunities-to-do-good-the-god-of-the-open/) [John Ortberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ortberg/) > [One of the most painful aspects of suffering is the loneliness of it. Others may offer support or empathy, but no one can walk…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ortberg/one-of-the-most-painful-aspects-of-suffering-is-the-loneliness-of-it/) [John Ortberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ortberg/) [Explore all 325 John Ortberg quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ortberg/) ## More Belief quotes > [“Cine a ucis stelele? Cine a surpat drumul spre viitor al celor din morminte?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ionel-teodoreanu/cine-a-ucis-stelele-cine-a-surpat-drumul-spre-viitor-al-celor-din/) [Ionel Teodoreanu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ionel-teodoreanu/) > [“MIND & GRIND Self-belief and hard work can propel you past more talented peers”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kamil-ali/mind-grind-self-belief-and-hard-work-can-propel-you-past-more/) [Kamil Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kamil-ali/) > [Philosopher is a dictator who modifies accepted standards with his thoughts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilkin-santak/philosopher-is-a-dictator-who-modifies-accepted-standards-with-his/) [Ilkin Santak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilkin-santak/) > [There is something about the South that accepts the supernatural. If you don't accept it and you're having a conversation with someone who does,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-englert/there-is-something-about-the-south-that-accepts-the-supernatural-if/) [Alice Englert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-englert/) > [It took me 20 years of hard training to get the physique I have today. what you need is what i had - BELIEF…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/branch-warren/it-took-me-20-years-of-hard-training-to-get-the-physique-i-have-today/) [Branch Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/branch-warren/) > [“Here is a fundamental difference between the man of faith and the man of unbelief. The unbeliever is 'of the world', judges everything by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-w-pink/here-is-a-fundamental-difference-between-the-man-of-faith-and-the-man/) [Arthur W. Pink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-w-pink/) > [“She herself vacillated when it came to belief. She did not particularly believe in God. Or, rather, she didn't believe in a particular God.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allegra-goodman/she-herself-vacillated-when-it-came-to-belief-she-did-not/) [Allegra Goodman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allegra-goodman/) > [Let us remember that every worldview-not just Christianity's-must give an explanation or an answer for evil and suffering...this is not just a problem distinctive…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ravi-zacharias/let-us-remember-that-every-worldview-not-just-christianity-s-must/) [Ravi Zacharias](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ravi-zacharias/) > [“Rigid traditions capture souls prisons of spiritual thought man’s religion has captured a god grown too small and very weak.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-w-earle/rigid-traditions-capture-souls-prisons-of-spiritual-thought-man-s/) [David W Earle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-w-earle/) > [We can find common qualities and common values that have made Britain the country it is. Our belief in tolerance and liberty which shines…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-brown/we-can-find-common-qualities-and-common-values-that-have-made-britain/) [Gordon Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-brown/) > [The inner defenses are unconscious. They consist of a kind of magic aura which the mind builds around cherished belief. Arguments which penetrate into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-koestler/the-inner-defenses-are-unconscious-they-consist-of-a-kind-of-magic/) [Arthur Koestler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-koestler/) > [I have tried to resign myself, and to console myself; and that, I hope, I may have done imperfectly; but what I cannot firmly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/i-have-tried-to-resign-myself-and-to-console-myself-and-that-i-hope-i/) [Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/) > [In business, as in politics, it is never easy to go against the beliefs and attitudes held by the majority. The businessman who moves…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-paul-getty/in-business-as-in-politics-it-is-never-easy-to-go-against-the-beliefs/) [J. Paul Getty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-paul-getty/) > [There's no greatest moment in the arts. It's a life; it's a continuity thing. You can't have a great moment because it's spiritual. 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Contrary to popular belief, it is not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathaniel-branden/to-preserve-an-unclouded-capacity-for-the-enjoyment-of-life-is-an/) [Nathaniel Branden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathaniel-branden/) [Browse all 10,268 Belief quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/belief/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "We must assess our thoughts and beliefs and reckon whether they are moving us closer to conformity to Christ or farther away from it.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "John Ortberg" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ortberg/we-must-assess-our-thoughts-and-beliefs-and-reckon-whether-they-are/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Belief" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ortberg/we-must-assess-our-thoughts-and-beliefs-and-reckon-whether-they-are/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6e4/john-ortberg-932_belief_we-must-assess-our-thoughts-and-beliefs_928307.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6e4/john-ortberg-932_belief_we-must-assess-our-thoughts-and-beliefs_928307.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6e4/john-ortberg-932_belief_we-must-assess-our-thoughts-and-beliefs_928307.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“We must assess our thoughts and beliefs and reckon whether they are moving us closer to conformity to Christ…” — John Ortberg", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "John Ortberg", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ortberg/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "We must assess our thoughts and...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ortberg/we-must-assess-our-thoughts-and-beliefs-and-reckon-whether-they-are/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ortberg/we-must-assess-our-thoughts-and-beliefs-and-reckon-whether-they-are/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```