--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The needed change within us is God's…" description: "\"The needed change within us is God's work, not ours. The demand is for an inside job, and only God can work from the inside. We cannot attain or earn t..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fd3/richard-j-foster-1460_change_the-needed-change-within-us-is-god-s-wor_3152979.png" --- # The needed change within us is God's work, not ours. The… ![“The needed change within us is God's work, not ours. The demand is for an inside job, and only God can work from the inside. We cannot attain or earn this righteousness of the kingdom of God: it is a grace that is given.” quote by Richard J. Foster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fd3/richard-j-foster-1460_change_the-needed-change-within-us-is-god-s-wor_3152979.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fd3/richard-j-foster-1460_change_the-needed-change-within-us-is-god-s-wor_3152979.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fd3/richard-j-foster-1460_change_the-needed-change-within-us-is-god-s-wor_3152979.png) > “The needed change within us is God's work, not ours. The demand is for an inside job, and only God can work from the inside. We cannot attain or earn this righteousness of the kingdom of God: it is a grace that is given.” [Richard J. Foster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-j-foster/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Spiritual transformation is a divine work within, not a human achievement; grace, not effort, brings true righteousness. **In simple terms:** God changes us from inside, not our own work. Key Takeaway Rely on divine grace for inner change. Themes spirituality grace humility Mood reflective hopeful serene Type theological inspirational When to use this quote - personal prayer - church fellowship - ethical decision making Key Concepts Christian mysticism theology Questions to Reflect On - How do you experience inner transformation? - What role does effort play in faith? A Different Perspective May discourage personal responsibility. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Change](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/change/) [Demand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/demand/) [Grace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/grace/) [Jobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/jobs/) [Kingdom of god](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kingdom-of-god/) [Kingdoms](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kingdoms/) [Needed change](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/needed-change/) [Righteousness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/righteousness/) ## Related quotes > [Some people will NEVER change on their own...only God can work that miracle.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/some-people-will-never-change-on-their-own-only-god-can-work-that/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [It was the Almighty who decreed that men and women must cover their nakedness by wearing proper and modest clothing. No amount of rationalizing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-e-petersen/it-was-the-almighty-who-decreed-that-men-and-women-must-cover-their/) [Mark E. Petersen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-e-petersen/) > [And this is the mission of the church--not civilization, but salvation--not better laws, purer legislation, social elevation, human equality and liberty, but first, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abbott-eliot-kittredge/and-this-is-the-mission-of-the-church-not-civilization-but-salvation/) [Abbott Eliot Kittredge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abbott-eliot-kittredge/) > [“Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.’” For”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paramahansa-yogananda/seek-ye-first-the-kingdom-of-god-and-his-righteousness-and-all-these/) [Paramahansa Yogananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paramahansa-yogananda/) > [“Righteousness is the truth revealed and working in you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherry-k-white/righteousness-is-the-truth-revealed-and-working-in-you/) [Sherry K. White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherry-k-white/) > [But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesus/but-seek-ye-first-the-kingdom-of-god-and-his-righteousness-and-all/) [Jesus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesus/) > [May God give you - and me- the courage, the wisdom, the strength always to hold the kingdom of God as the number one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-j-foster/may-god-give-you-and-me-the-courage-the-wisdom-the-strength-always-to/) [Richard J. Foster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-j-foster/) > [“And so I urge you to still every motion that is not rooted in the Kingdom. Become quiet, hushed, motionless until you are finally…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-j-foster/and-so-i-urge-you-to-still-every-motion-that-is-not-rooted-in-the/) [Richard J. Foster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-j-foster/) > [I've never felt like I needed to change...I've always thought, 'if you want someone different, pick somebody else.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-ve-never-felt-like-i-needed-to-change-i-ve-always-thought-if-you/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [We'd been on Geffen for a long time, and I think we felt that we needed a change. I just don't think we felt…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-ranaldo/we-d-been-on-geffen-for-a-long-time-and-i-think-we-felt-that-we/) [Lee Ranaldo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-ranaldo/) > [When I found out that I had a baby on the way it changed my mind and my whole way of thinking. I knew…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nle-choppa/when-i-found-out-that-i-had-a-baby-on-the-way-it-changed-my-mind-and/) [NLE Choppa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nle-choppa/) > [To all of the people along the way who hurt me, lied to me, betrayed me and broke my heart... You forced me to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hemant-smarty/to-all-of-the-people-along-the-way-who-hurt-me-lied-to-me-betrayed-me/) [Hemant Smarty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hemant-smarty/) > [Physically, I definitely needed to change some things, get fit and get in position where I could be consistent without injury, and I've put…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mardy-fish/physically-i-definitely-needed-to-change-some-things-get-fit-and-get/) [Mardy Fish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mardy-fish/) > [I needed to change my name just to liberate myself and find out I could do it without walking into a Hollywood casting office…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicolas-cage/i-needed-to-change-my-name-just-to-liberate-myself-and-find-out-i/) [Nicolas Cage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicolas-cage/) > [“The implication was that either the people in the room needed to change their areas of knowledge and expertise or people themselves needed to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-s-grove/the-implication-was-that-either-the-people-in-the-room-needed-to/) [Andrew S. Grove](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-s-grove/) ## More by Richard J. Foster > [Prayer is - listening for the still small voice of God. Listening with the "ear of our hearts."](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-j-foster/prayer-is-listening-for-the-still-small-voice-of-god-listening-with/) [Richard J. Foster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-j-foster/) > [Over-consumption is a cancer eating away at our spiritual vitals. It distances us from the great masses of broken bleeding humanity. It converts us…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-j-foster/over-consumption-is-a-cancer-eating-away-at-our-spiritual-vitals-it/) [Richard J. Foster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-j-foster/) > [“To believe that God can reach us and bless us in the ordinary junctures of daily life is the stuff of prayer.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-j-foster/to-believe-that-god-can-reach-us-and-bless-us-in-the-ordinary/) [Richard J. Foster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-j-foster/) > [Prayer is simply saying "thank you, bless you, praise you."](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-j-foster/prayer-is-simply-saying-thank-you-bless-you-praise-you/) [Richard J. Foster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-j-foster/) > [There is an old proverb to the effect that 'all those who open their mouths, close their eyes!' The purpose of silence and solitude…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-j-foster/there-is-an-old-proverb-to-the-effect-that-all-those-who-open-their/) [Richard J. Foster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-j-foster/) > [It is an occupational hazard of devout folk to become stuffy bores. This should not be. Of all people, we should be the most…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-j-foster/it-is-an-occupational-hazard-of-devout-folk-to-become-stuffy-bores/) [Richard J. Foster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-j-foster/) > [“Lord God, you deserve my best. Forgive me for the times I have offered you only the dregs, whether it be half-heartedly muttered prayers…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-j-foster/lord-god-you-deserve-my-best-forgive-me-for-the-times-i-have-offered/) [Richard J. Foster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-j-foster/) > [Superficiality is the curse of our age. The doctrine of instant satisfaction is a primary spiritual problem.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-j-foster/superficiality-is-the-curse-of-our-age-the-doctrine-of-instant/) [Richard J. Foster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-j-foster/) > [If worship does not change us it has not been worship.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-j-foster/if-worship-does-not-change-us-it-has-not-been-worship/) [Richard J. Foster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-j-foster/) > [“I want to mention one other reason why we shy away from commitment. It is, very simply, the fear that we will not be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-j-foster/i-want-to-mention-one-other-reason-why-we-shy-away-from-commitment-it/) [Richard J. Foster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-j-foster/) > [“It is one thing to act like a servant; it is quite another to be a servant.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-j-foster/it-is-one-thing-to-act-like-a-servant-it-is-quite-another-to-be-a/) [Richard J. Foster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-j-foster/) > [“we hold on so tightly to the good that we do know that we cannot receive the greater good that we do not know.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-j-foster/we-hold-on-so-tightly-to-the-good-that-we-do-know-that-we-cannot/) [Richard J. Foster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-j-foster/) > [“Once we have made generous latitude for individual differences and schedules, we must firmly discipline ourselves to a regular pattern of prayer. We cannot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-j-foster/once-we-have-made-generous-latitude-for-individual-differences-and/) [Richard J. Foster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-j-foster/) > [Freedom in the Gospel does not mean license. It means opportunity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-j-foster/freedom-in-the-gospel-does-not-mean-license-it-means-opportunity/) [Richard J. Foster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-j-foster/) > [“The tongue is our most powerful weapon of manipulation. A frantic stream of words flows from us because we are in a constant process…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-j-foster/the-tongue-is-our-most-powerful-weapon-of-manipulation-a-frantic/) [Richard J. Foster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-j-foster/) [Explore all 239 Richard J. Foster quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-j-foster/) ## More Change quotes > [Only within yourself exists the other reality for which you long. I can give you nothing that has not already its being within yourself.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hermann-hesse/only-within-yourself-exists-the-other-reality-for-which-you-long-i/) [Hermann Hesse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hermann-hesse/) > [Life is full of change. That's how we learn and grow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/life-is-full-of-change-that-s-how-we-learn-and-grow/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I can't believe that I'm sitting in meetings with Steven Spielberg, Tom Hanks, and Annette Bening. I want to take on that responsibility to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ross-williams/i-can-t-believe-that-i-m-sitting-in-meetings-with-steven-spielberg/) [Roger Ross Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ross-williams/) > [“…progress isn't necessarily about change but about things turning out as we want them to”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-hogan/progress-isn-t-necessarily-about-change-but-about-things-turning-out/) Phil Hogan > [Nobody can tell me that no changes are necessary in Washington.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-weld/nobody-can-tell-me-that-no-changes-are-necessary-in-washington/) [William Weld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-weld/) > [If my campaign is not in the debate, we will not be talking about how we really fix this problem of endless and expanding…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-stein/if-my-campaign-is-not-in-the-debate-we-will-not-be-talking-about-how/) [Jill Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jill-stein/) > [When you walk down the street of Kabul your values for life changes, they do change.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marco-pierre-white/when-you-walk-down-the-street-of-kabul-your-values-for-life-changes/) [Marco Pierre White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marco-pierre-white/) > [Your world will change whether or not you choose to change, but you have the power to choose it's direction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-hill/your-world-will-change-whether-or-not-you-choose-to-change-but-you/) [Napoleon Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-hill/) > [I hope I continue to evolve.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-flair/i-hope-i-continue-to-evolve/) [Charlotte Flair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-flair/) > [“Stay focused on bringing people together and more on positive messaging so that you can be the change you wish to see in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/germany-kent/stay-focused-on-bringing-people-together-and-more-on-positive/) [Germany Kent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/germany-kent/) > [The biggest change for me as a mom was realizing I needed to put someone else before me. Now the hardest part about the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-alexis/the-biggest-change-for-me-as-a-mom-was-realizing-i-needed-to-put/) [Kim Alexis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-alexis/) > [“After the funeral, my life changed. I felt as if time were suddenly precious, water going down an open drain, and I could not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-albom/after-the-funeral-my-life-changed-i-felt-as-if-time-were-suddenly/) [Mitch Albom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-albom/) > [You practice mindfulness, on the one hand, to be calm and peaceful. On the other hand, as you practice mindfulness and live a life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-practice-mindfulness-on-the-one-hand-to-be-calm-and-peaceful-on/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Irish research will contribute to global progress and have the potential to help all countries realise the potential of their land sectors in addressing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/enda-kenny/irish-research-will-contribute-to-global-progress-and-have-the/) [Enda Kenny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/enda-kenny/) > [No man can change himself into anything from sheer reason; he can only change into what he potentially is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-jung/no-man-can-change-himself-into-anything-from-sheer-reason-he-can-only/) [Carl Jung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-jung/) [Browse all 33,920 Change quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/change/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The needed change within us is God's work, not ours. 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