What is Your Favorite Quote?

The Question of the Week: What Is Your Favorite Quote?

I love this question because I love a great quote. Whether verbally or in written form, a quote captures the essence of what the author wants to convey. There is a brevity and gravity that it brings at the same time. I started compiling quotes about the same time that I took my leadership journey seriously and intentionally. Ironically, both feed each other, bringing me to a different level and expectation of what it takes to be an empowering leader and shepherd today.

My foundational, bottom-line quote — the one I go to more than any other — is this:

"I know that you can do all things, and that no purpose of yours can be thwarted." — Job 42:2 (ESV)

Oh, it's a Bible verse... yes it is. That doesn't count. Yes it does. (I asked Siri, and she said I could.)

Let me unpack why this is my favorite quote, and the components you should take away from the heart, truth, application, and hope it brings.

Heart

I have been doing a lot of work on the concept of "What is God's heart?" and "How can I be a man after God's heart?" It is a phenomenal study that I will write about in another blog. The core concept I keep landing on is that God's heart has two main expressions: love and relationship. This quote has been my favorite for well over ten years, and it attaches itself to my foundation. I believe my heart — physically, emotionally, and spiritually — is my number one responsibility to keep strong, undistracted, and healthy. I work out regularly to keep it pumping in peak condition. I continue to ask hard questions about my convictions and values and challenge myself to still adhere to them daily. Spiritually, I examine my heart toward God and others daily. I wish I could say all of this evaluation came easy and wasn't needed. On the contrary, my heart always tends toward selfish, critical, and judgmental tones — toward myself, others, or even God. Doing the daily work is what keeps it healthy in all three areas.

How this quote impacts my heart is how it reminds me how small I am and how big God is in our ongoing relationship. When I tell Him He can do all things, I remind myself that I can't do all things. When I tell Him His purpose for my life cannot be stopped, I remind myself that my plans are subject to His plans. That doesn't debase me or make me feel less than. It does just the opposite. It rightsizes my view of myself and allows me to walk in greater confidence and humility at the same time.

Truth

One question I will tackle in the upcoming weeks is about truth: Is truth absolute or relative? The more I dive into that question, the simpler and more direct the answer becomes. (Again — another blog.)

I'll approach it here from a person's posture toward the subject of truth. How much do you want to live by truth? Your answer will determine the value you put on truth in your thoughts, words, and actions. I am a big believer in living by truth. When I speak of the heart and the convictions seated there, it is the culmination of me seeking truths in my life to guide what I believe and live out daily. My quest is to find the truth and shape my convictions around that fundamental tenet. When a person seeks truth to confirm their belief, they are in a dangerous place. Their belief can change, and now truth is uncertain.

How this quote impacts my truth: when Job tells God, "I know You can do all things," he isn't questioning the thought — he isn't vacillating or trending toward uncertainty. He is stating a fact that is core to him. I take it the same way. I am stating that God can do anything with no limitations. I base my faith and trust in this one fact. I believe it to be foundationally true. In my 48 years of having a relationship with God, I cannot tell you of one time I saw God with a limitation, or a force that minimized His ability to act in my life. When it says, "No purpose of Yours can be thwarted," I see that truth every day. As I write these words today, I fundamentally believe God has me in the perfect place, time, and space to accomplish what He has purposed in my life. Do I like everything? No, not at all. Do I wish it went a different direction? At times. Do I believe my path would have been better? Yes. Do I want God to do it my way more than I should? Absolutely. Here is the final qualifier, and don't miss this: Do I want Him to change it? Absolutely not! In all my years, the truth is this — God's way is far superior, more fulfilling, wiser, and has greater impact every time than if He allowed my purpose to supersede His.

Application

Have you ever wondered what the step or plan is in your life? I have too — many times. I can get busy strategizing, asking questions, and playing out scenarios in my mind. There's nothing wrong with doing any of these things. However, if it becomes your source of fulfillment, then it becomes your challenge. All of this drives you to task and action. Neither will bring you fulfillment or peace. You might think it does if your schedule is packed, you're busier than ever, and you don't have time for another thing. But that isn't true fulfillment. That's satisfaction in using your gifts and talents.

True fulfillment comes when you see the results of your actions, strategizing, and execution. The results are the indicator of the level of fulfillment you'll enjoy in your life. That also sets the foundation for how much peace you carry. If you want peace, you'll have to move away from the busyness and the schedule to a place of listening, reflection, and gratitude. When we can do that, we're able to self-examine and reflect. The depth of fulfillment and peace grows exponentially.

How this verse applies here is simple: I take my hands off the wheel and give it all over to God. My wife Kristin shared this concept with me, and it's powerful. Have you ever driven on a dirt road with well-established ruts as its path? You literally don't have to hold onto the steering wheel. You can apply the accelerator as much or as little as you want, and the car will follow the path. The challenge comes when you want to turn off or go a different direction — you have to fight the ruts and forcefully go your own way. When I say, "I know You can do all things, and no purpose of Yours can be thwarted," I am saying: I choose Your path, Your way, and it is best for me.

Hope

In recent years, I've made a significant shift in my mindset about the future. Maybe it's because I'm 59, or maybe recent circumstances have shown me how little the past affects my present and future. I see the blessing of the past because of the wisdom I've accumulated across those years. Yet my approach to the past now is to use it as a foundation and invite the Holy Spirit to add God's supernatural wisdom to it daily. I have a strong urgency to be present today and to strategically build for tomorrow. My mindset is to show up in every moment, situation, and conversation to bring my wisdom, observe in the natural and spiritual realm, walk courageously and curiously, and model that I am a man after God's heart. If I do that well, it's a successful day. String enough days like that together, and you build a future that brings strength, growth, and fulfillment.

This verse is a great source of hope. When I say, "I know You can do all things," I am removing my ceiling and my expectations of God. In the best and worst circumstances, I am placing my hope at His feet. I'm living in the present, observing all that's going on, and I'm inviting the Holy Spirit to do whatever He wants to do. It takes my hope off myself and puts it truly in God's arena and will. Since there are no limitations, my ability to believe the best in all circumstances dramatically increases. When I say, "No purpose of Yours will be thwarted," my hope goes through the roof, because there is no stoppage in God's expression of His love. He won't be interrupted because He's tired, worn out, overburdened, overwhelmed, stressed, worried, anxious, beaten, at a loss, bored, dispassionate, or even fed up. He is always present with us.

Hebrews 13:5b says, "I will never, never leave you nor forsake you." Here's how Marvin Richardson Vincent unpacks that passage in Word Studies in the New Testament, vol. 4: he explains that the phrasing is an intensified adaptation meaning something closer to "I will by no means give you up or let you go — I will not relax My hold on you."

My hope soars when I realize that God will not give up or let go of me. One of my favorite stories P. Craig Altman has shared over the years is about a graduation at the USF Dome. A guy was acting badly and making others uncomfortable. P. Craig confronted him, and it was about to go to blows. Just as it was ready to happen, the guy backed off and sped away. Then P. Craig heard the gravelly voice of R.V. Brown, a former Division I defensive lineman, say, "I had your back, Pastor... I had your back." Bottom line: God's got this, and God's got you. You can walk in supernatural hope.

You can see why this is my favorite quote. It goes beyond the words. It solidifies all that I believe and walk in daily. So here's my challenge for you: what quote does that for you? What gives you the heart, truth, application, and hope to face today and change the world?