Trusting in the sovereignty of God comes most easily in the abstract. The further out the reality, the easier it is to piously nod my head. But as the concentric circles get closer in to me and my actual life, the higher the stakes get, and the stronger the impulse becomes to take things into my own hands. 

Is earned by learning Jesus’ prayer on the cross: 

Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” And they divided up his clothes by casting lots.

Luke 23:34

Glory is that quality of someone or something that attracts attention. Glory demands to be noticed. Glory causes eyes to grow wide, jaws to drop, and voices to gasp. 

We all respond to glory. It’s a human reflex. Like when you see people pulled over on the side of the highway, phones out, pointed up at a double rainbow.

Was my stubborn reply to the insistence of my mother and brother and other family members. “There’s too much fog and smog. And we’re just a little to far away. And not high enough up.”

There was an unusual amount of fog. That much was true. And there was the usual amount of smog. Also true. But we were indeed close enough and high enough up—my insistence that we were too low and distant was untrue.

For everyone going into ministry. Or anyone doing anything important, for that matter. 

But those who wait upon God get fresh strength.

They spread their wings and soar like eagles,

they run and don’t get tired,

they walk and don’t lag behind.

Isaiah 40:31

This is really good news, because waiting upon God is hard work. 

You’ve heard that old saying. You know the feeling. It’s like your brain has hearing damage.

I’m beginning to realize that the hearing damage is actually more profound: “It’s so loud I can’t hear my soul speak.” 

Then talk about it. Especially if it’s potentially difficult. Especially if the stakes are high. Odds are it won’t be as difficult as you fear, nor the stakes as high as you imagine them to be.

Is a transformative tool. A simple twist of perspective can change our hearts and minds. It can take prayer in new directions. It can even make it a little more fun!

STEP 1: Find a prayer. Scriptures are a good place to start. 

STEP 2: Change the pronouns. For example, Us —> I. I —> them. Us —> she. Mix it up and see how it changes your prayers

Like this. 

Because the best motivation doesn’t come from within you—it comes from outside of you. The best motivation isn’t drummed up just because you need to feel motivated—it’s imparted to you from a source external to your own self. Such motivations are more like received gifts than they are like re-charged batteries.