--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Some Christians need encouragement to…" description: "\"Some Christians need encouragement to think before they act. Others need encouragement to act after they think.\" — Kevin DeYoung" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/69a/kevin-deyoung-1086_christian_some-christians-need-encouragement-to-th_517264.png" --- # Some Christians need encouragement to think before they… ![“Some Christians need encouragement to think before they act. Others need encouragement to act after they think.” quote by Kevin DeYoung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/69a/kevin-deyoung-1086_christian_some-christians-need-encouragement-to-th_517264.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/69a/kevin-deyoung-1086_christian_some-christians-need-encouragement-to-th_517264.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/69a/kevin-deyoung-1086_christian_some-christians-need-encouragement-to-th_517264.png) > “Some Christians need encouragement to think before they act. Others need encouragement to act after they think.” [Kevin DeYoung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-deyoung/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote highlights two types of Christians: those who need prompting to pause before acting, and those who need prompting to act after thinking. **In simple terms:** Some Christians need a push to think first, others need a push to act after thinking. Key Takeaway Encourage balanced decision‑making. Themes faith decision‑making spiritual growth Mood thoughtful encouraging Type advice spiritual When to use this quote - church groups - personal prayer - leadership training - conflict resolution Key Concepts reflection action discipline Questions to Reflect On - How can we foster both thoughtful reflection and decisive action? - What practices help balance contemplation and action? A Different Perspective May overlook context or individual differences. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Christian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christian/) [Christianity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christianity/) [Encouragement](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/encouragement/) [Need encouragement](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/need-encouragement/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) ## Related quotes > [When you need encouragement, think of the qualities the people around you have: this one's energy, that one's modesty, another's generosity, and so on.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-aurelius/when-you-need-encouragement-think-of-the-qualities-the-people-around/) [Marcus Aurelius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-aurelius/) > [As Christians we need to be patient, understanding, and kind. Instead of going on the attack, we can ask genuine questions. Instead of bristling…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-deyoung/as-christians-we-need-to-be-patient-understanding-and-kind-instead-of/) [Kevin DeYoung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-deyoung/) > [There are seeds of happiness in every soul. Our mental attitude and dispositions constitute the environment in which these seeds germinate. There is as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-o-mckay/there-are-seeds-of-happiness-in-every-soul-our-mental-attitude-and/) [David O. McKay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-o-mckay/) > [What men and women need is encouragement. Their natural resisting powers should be strengthened, not weakened ... Instead of always harping on a man's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/what-men-and-women-need-is-encouragement-their-natural-resisting/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [You dont need encouragement, you need courage. Dont think¦.DO!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/obsidian-panther/you-dont-need-encouragement-you-need-courage-dont-think-do/) [Obsidian Panther](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/obsidian-panther/) > [There is rampant among us a spirit of criticism. Men and women who carry heavy responsibility do not need criticism, they need encouragement.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-b-hinckley/there-is-rampant-among-us-a-spirit-of-criticism-men-and-women-who/) [Gordon B. Hinckley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-b-hinckley/) > [How do you identify someone who needs encouragement? That person is breathing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-truett-cathy/how-do-you-identify-someone-who-needs-encouragement-that-person-is/) [S. Truett Cathy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-truett-cathy/) > [If you are a leader, you should never forget that everyone needs encouragement. And everyone who receives it - young or old, successful or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-c-maxwell/if-you-are-a-leader-you-should-never-forget-that-everyone-needs/) [John C. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-maxwell/) > [If you explore beneath shyness or party chit-chat, you can sometimes turn a dull exchange into an intriguing one. I've found this to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joyce-carol-oates/if-you-explore-beneath-shyness-or-party-chit-chat-you-can-sometimes/) [Joyce Carol Oates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joyce-carol-oates/) > [“I prefer to say that I believe in people, and people, when given the right encouragement to think for themselves about all the information…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-dawkins/i-prefer-to-say-that-i-believe-in-people-and-people-when-given-the/) [Richard Dawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-dawkins/) > [“Sometimes I forget that the world is not on the same schedule as I. That everything is not dying, or that if it is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicole-krauss/sometimes-i-forget-that-the-world-is-not-on-the-same-schedule-as-i-2/) [Nicole Krauss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicole-krauss/) > [I'd like to see where boys and girls end up if they get equal encouragement I think we might have some differences in how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheryl-sandberg/i-d-like-to-see-where-boys-and-girls-end-up-if-they-get-equal/) [Sheryl Sandberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheryl-sandberg/) > [Don't be too quick to interpret the moment. Just keep quiet. My encouragement would always be: never think anything is against you, everything is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mooji/don-t-be-too-quick-to-interpret-the-moment-just-keep-quiet-my/) [Mooji](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mooji/) > [Christians need to take the lead in educating people that children are gifts, as my autistic grandson most surely is. By going down the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-colson/christians-need-to-take-the-lead-in-educating-people-that-children/) [Charles Colson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-colson/) > [Christians need to embrace that there need to be believers talking about love and social issues and all other aspects of life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lecrae/christians-need-to-embrace-that-there-need-to-be-believers-talking/) [Lecrae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lecrae/) ## More by Kevin DeYoung > [“Worry about the future is not simply a character tic, it is the sin of unbelief, an indication that our hearts are not resting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-deyoung/worry-about-the-future-is-not-simply-a-character-tic-it-is-the-sin-of/) [Kevin DeYoung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-deyoung/) > [There is nothing gray about whether a follower of Christ should see 50 Shades of Grey. This is a black and white issue. Don’t…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-deyoung/there-is-nothing-gray-about-whether-a-follower-of-christ-should-see/) [Kevin DeYoung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-deyoung/) > [A catechism is simply a tool for teaching the fundamentals of the faith. Unlike a creed or confession, a catechism uses questions and answers.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-deyoung/a-catechism-is-simply-a-tool-for-teaching-the-fundamentals-of-the/) [Kevin DeYoung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-deyoung/) > [Live for God. Obey the Scriptures. Think of others before yourself. Be holy. Love Jesus. And as you do these things, do whatever else…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-deyoung/live-for-god-obey-the-scriptures-think-of-others-before-yourself-be/) [Kevin DeYoung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-deyoung/) > [Busyness kills more Christians than bullets.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-deyoung/busyness-kills-more-christians-than-bullets/) [Kevin DeYoung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-deyoung/) > [Grace is free, but it's not cheap.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-deyoung/grace-is-free-but-it-s-not-cheap/) [Kevin DeYoung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-deyoung/) > [If there really is a perfect will of God we are meant to discover, in which we will find tremendous freedom and fulfillment, why…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-deyoung/if-there-really-is-a-perfect-will-of-god-we-are-meant-to-discover-in/) [Kevin DeYoung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-deyoung/) > [Seek first the kingdom of God, and then trust that He will take care of our needs, even before we know what they are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-deyoung/seek-first-the-kingdom-of-god-and-then-trust-that-he-will-take-care/) [Kevin DeYoung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-deyoung/) > [There is no sin so prevalent, so insidious, and so deep as the sin of fearing people more than we fear God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-deyoung/there-is-no-sin-so-prevalent-so-insidious-and-so-deep-as-the-sin-of/) [Kevin DeYoung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-deyoung/) > [“The pursuit of holiness is not a quixotic effort to do just what Jesus did. It’s the fight to live out the life that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-deyoung/the-pursuit-of-holiness-is-not-a-quixotic-effort-to-do-just-what/) [Kevin DeYoung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-deyoung/) > [Offendedness is just about the last shared moral currency in our country. And, I'm sorry, but it's really annoying. We don't discuss ideas or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-deyoung/offendedness-is-just-about-the-last-shared-moral-currency-in-our/) [Kevin DeYoung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-deyoung/) > [The finality of Christs redemption for us is intimately tied to the finality of his revelation to us. . . . If we say…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-deyoung/the-finality-of-christs-redemption-for-us-is-intimately-tied-to-the/) [Kevin DeYoung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-deyoung/) > [Everything before Jesus is preface. Everything after Jesus is appendix. Jesus is the story.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-deyoung/everything-before-jesus-is-preface-everything-after-jesus-is-appendix/) [Kevin DeYoung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-deyoung/) > [Sometimes feeling overwhelmed is part of what it means to be a Christian. You can't bear somebody else's burden unless you are taking something…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-deyoung/sometimes-feeling-overwhelmed-is-part-of-what-it-means-to-be-a/) [Kevin DeYoung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-deyoung/) > [“Faith and good works are both necessary. But one is the root and the other the fruit.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-deyoung/faith-and-good-works-are-both-necessary-but-one-is-the-root-and-the/) [Kevin DeYoung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-deyoung/) [Explore all 295 Kevin DeYoung quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-deyoung/) ## More Christian quotes > [I need a bath." He chuckled. "You smell of smoke, as do I." The duke turned, leaning heavily on his cane. "Jameson, open the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-hawkins/i-need-a-bath-he-chuckled-you-smell-of-smoke-as-do-i-the-duke-turned/) [Karen Hawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-hawkins/) > [I think, here's what I've realized from interviewing people, and I've been very open about my Catholicism and my love of Christ and I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-mohr/i-think-here-s-what-i-ve-realized-from-interviewing-people-and-i-ve/) [Jay Mohr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-mohr/) > [The truth is, of course, that the curtness of the Ten Commandments is an evidence, not of the gloom and narrowness of a religion,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-truth-is-of-course-that-the-curtness-of-the-ten-commandments-is/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Why do Christians sing when they are together? The reason is, quite simply, because in singing together it is possible for them to speak…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dietrich-bonhoeffer/why-do-christians-sing-when-they-are-together-the-reason-is-quite/) [Dietrich Bonhoeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dietrich-bonhoeffer/) > [I'm very used to working with first time actors - you can just look back at 'E.T.' with Drew Barrymore, and Christian Bale from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-spielberg/i-m-very-used-to-working-with-first-time-actors-you-can-just-look/) [Steven Spielberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-spielberg/) > [“A question for Christians who accept evolution: When did we gain a "soul"? Did Homo habilis have a soul? Homo ergaster? Did God only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-g-mcafee/a-question-for-christians-who-accept-evolution-when-did-we-gain-a/) [David G. McAfee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-g-mcafee/) > [Always have the fear of God in your heart, and remember that God is always with you, everywhere, whether you are walking or sitting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gennadius-of-constantinople/always-have-the-fear-of-god-in-your-heart-and-remember-that-god-is/) [Gennadius of Constantinople](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gennadius-of-constantinople/) > [For many, the call to be a Christian can seem demanding, even overwhelming. But we need not be afraid or feel inadequate. The Savior…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-d-hales/for-many-the-call-to-be-a-christian-can-seem-demanding-even/) [Robert D. Hales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-d-hales/) > [A real Christian in an odd number anyway. He feels supreme love for One whom he has never seen, talks familiarly every day to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/a-real-christian-in-an-odd-number-anyway-he-feels-supreme-love-for/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [When the Lord Jesus Christ became my surety . . . He went to Calvary's cross, and all my guilt was charged against Him.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-allen-ironside/when-the-lord-jesus-christ-became-my-surety-he-went-to-calvary-s/) [Henry Allen Ironside](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-allen-ironside/) > [The world's history is a divine poem, of which the history of every nation is a canto, and every man a word. Its strains…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-a-garfield/the-world-s-history-is-a-divine-poem-of-which-the-history-of-every/) [James A. Garfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-a-garfield/) > [Poor David Hume is dying fast, but with more real cheerfulness and good humor and with more real resignation to the necessary course of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-smith/poor-david-hume-is-dying-fast-but-with-more-real-cheerfulness-and/) [Adam Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-smith/) > [“Is there any holy beings like human beings?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/is-there-any-holy-beings-like-human-beings/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [Jeff Chu's pilgrimage across America to discover his own place as a gay man in the Christian church as well as attitudes about being…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donna-freitas/jeff-chu-s-pilgrimage-across-america-to-discover-his-own-place-as-a/) [Donna Freitas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donna-freitas/) > [We need to discover all over again that worship is natural to the Christian, as it was to the godly Israelites who wrote the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-i-packer/we-need-to-discover-all-over-again-that-worship-is-natural-to-the/) [J. I. Packer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-i-packer/) [Browse all 14,306 Christian quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christian/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Some Christians need encouragement to think before they act. Others need encouragement to act after they think.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Kevin DeYoung" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-deyoung/some-christians-need-encouragement-to-think-before-they-act-others/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Christian" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-deyoung/some-christians-need-encouragement-to-think-before-they-act-others/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/69a/kevin-deyoung-1086_christian_some-christians-need-encouragement-to-th_517264.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/69a/kevin-deyoung-1086_christian_some-christians-need-encouragement-to-th_517264.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/69a/kevin-deyoung-1086_christian_some-christians-need-encouragement-to-th_517264.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Some Christians need encouragement to think before they act. Others need encouragement to act after they…” — Kevin DeYoung", "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": "Kevin DeYoung", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-deyoung/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Some Christians need encouragement to think...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-deyoung/some-christians-need-encouragement-to-think-before-they-act-others/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-deyoung/some-christians-need-encouragement-to-think-before-they-act-others/#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 } } ] } ```