--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If our hearts and minds are not properly…" description: "\"If our hearts and minds are not properly transformed, we are like musicians playing untuned instruments, or engineers working with broken and ill-progr..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/52e/richard-lovelace-28923_aim_if-our-hearts-and-minds-are-not-properly_2203871.jpg" --- # If our hearts and minds are not properly transformed, we… ![“If our hearts and minds are not properly transformed, we are like musicians playing untuned instruments, or engineers working with broken and ill-programmed computers. The attunement of the heart is essential to the outflow of grace...We must aim at building the structures of God's kingdom but…” quote by Richard Lovelace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/52e/richard-lovelace-28923_aim_if-our-hearts-and-minds-are-not-properly_2203871.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/52e/richard-lovelace-28923_aim_if-our-hearts-and-minds-are-not-properly_2203871.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/52e/richard-lovelace-28923_aim_if-our-hearts-and-minds-are-not-properly_2203871.jpg) > “If our hearts and minds are not properly transformed, we are like musicians playing untuned instruments, or engineers working with broken and ill-programmed computers. The attunement of the heart is essential to the outflow of grace...We must aim at building the structures of God's kingdom but recognized that we will only create these through the transformation of our experience. Concentration on reformation without revival leads to skins without wine; concentration on revival without reformation soon loses the wine for want of skins.” [Richard Lovelace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-lovelace/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Without inner transformation, external efforts are ineffective, like broken instruments or faulty computers. **In simple terms:** Inner change is needed for true impact. Key Takeaway Focus on inner renewal before external building. Themes spirituality transformation faith action Mood reflective hopeful Type spiritual inspirational When to use this quote - personal meditation - church leadership - community projects - counseling - teaching Key Concepts grace revival reformation kingdom building Questions to Reflect On - How can you nurture inner transformation daily? - What practices align heart and mind? A Different Perspective Inner work alone cannot sustain external structures without ongoing renewal. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Change](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/change/) [Computer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/computer/) [Computers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/computers/) [Concentration](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/concentration/) [Engineers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/engineers/) [Grace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/grace/) [Heart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/heart/) [Heart and mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/heart-and-mind/) [Ill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ill/) [Kingdoms](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kingdoms/) [Mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mind/) [Music](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/music/) [Musician](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/musician/) [Nature of Beauty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nature-of-beauty/) [Psychology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/psychology/) [Reformation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reformation/) [Revival](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/revival/) [Structure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/structure/) [Transformation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/transformation/) [Wine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wine/) ## Related quotes > [“Often men have acted as though one has to choose between reformation and revival. Some call for reformation, others for revival, and they tend…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/often-men-have-acted-as-though-one-has-to-choose-between-reformation/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The story of Christian reformation, revival, and renaissance underscores that the darkest hour is often just before the dawn, so we should always be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/os-guinness/the-story-of-christian-reformation-revival-and-renaissance/) [Os Guinness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/os-guinness/) > [A great reformation and revival-it will happen the same way the early Christians conquered Rome. Their program of conquest consisted largely of two elements:…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-wilson/a-great-reformation-and-revival-it-will-happen-the-same-way-the-early/) [Douglas Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-wilson/) > [Only a true faith that applies God’s Word to everything-incl uding economics-will lead to the revival and reformation our culture needs so badly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-c-sproul/only-a-true-faith-that-applies-god-s-word-to-everything-incl-uding/) [R. C. Sproul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-c-sproul/) > [God is calling forth a generation that is passionate for His presence. A generation that knows who they are and Whose they are. He…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jaeson-ma/god-is-calling-forth-a-generation-that-is-passionate-for-his-presence/) Jaeson Ma > [“again. Here is a sober lesson. Even after times of spectacular revival, reformation, or covenantal renewal, the people of God are never more than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-a-carson-2/again-here-is-a-sober-lesson-even-after-times-of-spectacular-revival/) [D.A. Carson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-a-carson-2/) > [I believe that the imperative need of the day is not simply revival, but a radical reformation that will go to the root of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aiden-wilson-tozer/i-believe-that-the-imperative-need-of-the-day-is-not-simply-revival/) [Aiden Wilson Tozer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aiden-wilson-tozer/) > [A revival almost always begins among the laity. The ecclesiastical leaders seldom welcome reformation. History repeats itself. The present leaders are too comfortably situated…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-bartleman/a-revival-almost-always-begins-among-the-laity-the-ecclesiastical/) [Frank Bartleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-bartleman/) > [Reformation is a return to the sound doctrine of the Bible. Revival is the practice of that sound doctrine under the power of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-schaeffer/reformation-is-a-return-to-the-sound-doctrine-of-the-bible-revival-is/) [Francis Schaeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-schaeffer/) > [I dreamed there would be a time to come together to "build out the Hope Reformation that would bring certain shifts to the leaders…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-hartley/i-dreamed-there-would-be-a-time-to-come-together-to-build-out-the/) [Bob Hartley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-hartley/) > [Revival is an infusion of new spiritual life imparted by the Holy Spirit to existing parts of Christ's body.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-lovelace/revival-is-an-infusion-of-new-spiritual-life-imparted-by-the-holy/) [Richard Lovelace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-lovelace/) > [The goal of revival is conformity to the image of Christ, not imitation of animals.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-lovelace/the-goal-of-revival-is-conformity-to-the-image-of-christ-not/) [Richard Lovelace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-lovelace/) > [“That little shit. If we pull through this I’ll nail his dick to the wall with those logs so hard I’ll make the Reformation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-warren/that-little-shit-if-we-pull-through-this-i-ll-nail-his-dick-to-the/) Scott Warren > [Any change of government which has to be introduced should be one which men, starting from their existing constitutions, will be both willing and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aristotle/any-change-of-government-which-has-to-be-introduced-should-be-one/) [Aristotle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aristotle/) > [People who have reformed themselves has contributed their full share towards the reformation of their neighbor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-douglas/people-who-have-reformed-themselves-has-contributed-their-full-share/) [Norman Douglas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-douglas/) ## More by Richard Lovelace > [The asp doth on his feeder feed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-lovelace/the-asp-doth-on-his-feeder-feed/) [Richard Lovelace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-lovelace/) > [Revival is an infusion of new spiritual life imparted by the Holy Spirit to existing parts of Christ's body.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-lovelace/revival-is-an-infusion-of-new-spiritual-life-imparted-by-the-holy/) [Richard Lovelace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-lovelace/) > [As pain tells us of the need for healing, worry tells us of the need for prayer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-lovelace/as-pain-tells-us-of-the-need-for-healing-worry-tells-us-of-the-need/) [Richard Lovelace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-lovelace/) > [The goal of revival is conformity to the image of Christ, not imitation of animals.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-lovelace/the-goal-of-revival-is-conformity-to-the-image-of-christ-not/) [Richard Lovelace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-lovelace/) > [Stone walls do not a prison make, nor iron bars a cage. Minds innocent and quiet take that for a hermitage: If I have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-lovelace/stone-walls-do-not-a-prison-make-nor-iron-bars-a-cage-minds-innocent/) [Richard Lovelace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-lovelace/) > [“ To Lucasta, Going to the Wars Tell me not, Sweet, I am unkind, That from the nunnery Of thy chaste breast and quiet…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-lovelace/to-lucasta-going-to-the-wars-tell-me-not-sweet-i-am-unkind-that-from/) [Richard Lovelace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-lovelace/) > [Fishes that tipple in the deep, Know no such liberty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-lovelace/fishes-that-tipple-in-the-deep-know-no-such-liberty/) [Richard Lovelace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-lovelace/) > [“I could not love thee, Dear, so much, Loved I not Honour more.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-lovelace/i-could-not-love-thee-dear-so-much-loved-i-not-honour-more/) [Richard Lovelace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-lovelace/) > [When thirsty grief in wine we steep, When healths and draughts go free, Fishes, that tipple in the deep, Know no such liberty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-lovelace/when-thirsty-grief-in-wine-we-steep-when-healths-and-draughts-go-free/) [Richard Lovelace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-lovelace/) > [Those glories come too late That on our ashes wait.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-lovelace/those-glories-come-too-late-that-on-our-ashes-wait/) [Richard Lovelace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-lovelace/) > [Stone walls do not a prison make, nor iron bars a cage.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-lovelace/stone-walls-do-not-a-prison-make-nor-iron-bars-a-cage/) [Richard Lovelace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-lovelace/) > [Forbear, thou great good husband, little ant.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-lovelace/forbear-thou-great-good-husband-little-ant/) [Richard Lovelace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-lovelace/) > [I could not love thee, dear, so much, loved I not Honor more.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-lovelace/i-could-not-love-thee-dear-so-much-loved-i-not-honor-more/) [Richard Lovelace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-lovelace/) > [It is an item of faith that we are children of God; there is plenty of evidence in us against it. The faith that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-lovelace/it-is-an-item-of-faith-that-we-are-children-of-god-there-is-plenty-of-2/) [Richard Lovelace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-lovelace/) > [It is my assumption that growth in faith is the root of all spiritual growth and is prior to all disciplines of works. True…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-lovelace/it-is-my-assumption-that-growth-in-faith-is-the-root-of-all-spiritual/) [Richard Lovelace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-lovelace/) [Explore all 19 Richard Lovelace quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-lovelace/) ## More Aim quotes > [If you aim at nothing, you will hit it every time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zig-ziglar/if-you-aim-at-nothing-you-will-hit-it-every-time/) [Zig Ziglar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zig-ziglar/) > [A good aim surveys the present state of experience of pupils, and forming a tentative plan of treatment, keeps the plan constantly in view…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dewey/a-good-aim-surveys-the-present-state-of-experience-of-pupils-and/) [John Dewey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dewey/) > [The Christian man must aim at that complete obedience to God in which life finds its highest happiness, its greatest good, its perfect consummation,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-barclay/the-christian-man-must-aim-at-that-complete-obedience-to-god-in-which/) [William Barclay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-barclay/) > [ He \[an earnest young reporter\] seemed to share the view of many intelligent, well-educated, well-meaning people that, while adult literature may aim to be… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katherine-paterson/he-an-earnest-young-reporter-seemed-to-share-the-view-of-many/) [Katherine Paterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katherine-paterson/) > [In Bosnia, little children shot in the head by a guy who thinks it's okay to aim his gun at a child.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christiane-amanpour/in-bosnia-little-children-shot-in-the-head-by-a-guy-who-thinks-it-s/) [Christiane Amanpour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christiane-amanpour/) > [Design certainly has a cosmetic, aesthetic aim. It always aims at making things beautiful. But relevance is just as important. I often say, 'If…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yves-behar/design-certainly-has-a-cosmetic-aesthetic-aim-it-always-aims-at/) [Yves Behar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yves-behar/) > [My aim was to make money for the bank. You lose track of the amounts involved when you are engaged in this kind of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerome-kerviel/my-aim-was-to-make-money-for-the-bank-you-lose-track-of-the-amounts/) [Jerome Kerviel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerome-kerviel/) > [My only aim is to clock a time that everyone remembers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hima-das/my-only-aim-is-to-clock-a-time-that-everyone-remembers/) [Hima Das](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hima-das/) > [My main aim has always been to do good quality films with roles that have some substance. With Power and Beauty there were loads…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natasha-henstridge/my-main-aim-has-always-been-to-do-good-quality-films-with-roles-that/) [Natasha Henstridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natasha-henstridge/) > [ I really enjoyed it - being involved in watching rushes and playback \[in "The Invisible Woman"\]. Ralph \[Fiennes\] was very open to my input,… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/felicity-jones/i-really-enjoyed-it-being-involved-in-watching-rushes-and-playback-in/) [Felicity Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/felicity-jones/) > [My aim is to be counted among the top players.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/babar-azam/my-aim-is-to-be-counted-among-the-top-players/) [Babar Azam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/babar-azam/) > [The single aim of my life is that every child is: free to be a child, free to grow and develop, free to eat,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kailash-satyarthi/the-single-aim-of-my-life-is-that-every-child-is-free-to-be-a-child/) [Kailash Satyarthi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kailash-satyarthi/) > [The aim of good prose words is to mean what they say. The aim of good poetical words is to mean what they do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gilbert-k-chesterton/the-aim-of-good-prose-words-is-to-mean-what-they-say-the-aim-of-good/) [Gilbert K. Chesterton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gilbert-k-chesterton/) > [Prescribing hard work for the soft, or easy work for the hardy, is generally nonsense. What is always needed in any aim is right…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/idries-shah/prescribing-hard-work-for-the-soft-or-easy-work-for-the-hardy-is/) [Idries Shah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/idries-shah/) > [To be normal is the ultimate aim of the unsuccessful.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-jung/to-be-normal-is-the-ultimate-aim-of-the-unsuccessful/) [Carl Jung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-jung/) Browse all 3,047 Aim quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "If our hearts and minds are not properly transformed, we are like musicians playing untuned instruments, or engineers working with broken and ill-programmed computers. The attunement of the heart is essential to the outflow of grace...We must aim at building the structures of God's kingdom but recognized that we will only create these through the transformation of our experience. Concentration on reformation without revival leads to skins without wine; concentration on revival without reformation soon loses the wine for want of skins.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Richard Lovelace" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-lovelace/if-our-hearts-and-minds-are-not-properly-transformed-we-are-like/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Aim" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-lovelace/if-our-hearts-and-minds-are-not-properly-transformed-we-are-like/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/52e/richard-lovelace-28923_aim_if-our-hearts-and-minds-are-not-properly_2203871.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/52e/richard-lovelace-28923_aim_if-our-hearts-and-minds-are-not-properly_2203871.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/52e/richard-lovelace-28923_aim_if-our-hearts-and-minds-are-not-properly_2203871.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“If our hearts and minds are not properly transformed, we are like musicians playing untuned instruments, or…” — Richard Lovelace", "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": "Richard Lovelace", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-lovelace/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "If our hearts and minds are...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-lovelace/if-our-hearts-and-minds-are-not-properly-transformed-we-are-like/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-lovelace/if-our-hearts-and-minds-are-not-properly-transformed-we-are-like/#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 } } ] } ```