Richard Blackaby

“But a deep walk with God does not come effortlessly. If it did, many more people would have one.

First, you must decide you're unwilling to remain where you are.

Second, you must be prepared to pay a price. Will you rise earlier so you can spend unhurried tome with Him? Will you forgo comforts and pleasures so you can focus on your walk with Him?”
― Richard Blackaby, Unlimiting God: Increasing Your Capacity to Experience the Divine

“Some leadership proponents suggest leaders should determine their talents and their passion, and in so doing they determine their calling. They argue if you understand the passion God has given you and you identify the gifts God placed in your life, then you can deduce the kinds of things God has prepared you to do. The problem with this line of thinking is the lack of biblical support. Consider Moses herding sheep in the wilderness. Had he discovered his gifts and passions, he would never have returned to Egypt to deliver the Hebrews. But that was God's agenda. Second, it is tempting to assume God wants us to do things we enjoy and are good at doing. However, for God to accomplish his purposes, he may ask us to do things we do not consider enjoyable (he asked his Son to die on a cross), but they are necessary tasks for God's will to be fulfilled. It's great to be passionate about the work you do. However, spiritual leaders are driven by God, not their passion and talents.”
― Richard Blackaby, Spiritual Leadership: Moving People on to God's Agenda