Faith and Politics

Your Opportunity To Make The Master Proud

Synopsis: The key moments of history are not winning elections but transforming lives. Therefore, the most important thing a Christians can do for the good of their country is to leverage all their efforts for the ultimate goal of spiritual awakening, not political ascendancy. So, when we offer our political opinions, we must do so in a way that creates interest in the gospel.

Moments With God // Proverbs 29:2.

When the godly are in authority, the people rejoice. But when the wicked are in power, they groan.

Oh great! Just when you thought the political fervor that roiled the public might die down, another election cycle looms, and the free-for-all starts over. It seems that we are never more than a few months from a full-out war for the White House, or Congress, or the possibility of controversial Supreme Court decisions that will dominate the airwaves, print media, and water-cooler conversations for much too long. Like Christmas, political seasons come earlier and earlier—and each outdoes the others with the craziness it births in the citizenry.

So what’s a Christian to do? Whatever your political persuasion or your beliefs about the mixing of Christ and politics, the Bible makes it clear: We have an obligation to engage our culture at every level—including the political level—as ambassadors of the kingdom of God. Christ desires his people to encounter this world, in every country, in every city, at every level, as his emissaries representing the interests of his kingdom! And we must never apologize or retreat from that—even in our politics!

Contrary to what we’re being told today in America, it was for this very purpose that our forebears fled England for the new world. The pilgrims’ stated mission was clearly articulated in the Mayflower Compact: “For the glory of God, and the Propagation of the Christian Faith.” Those are our roots—our nation’s true birth certificate! Since that time, Christians have played a central role in shaping American government—and must continue to do so, even in this risky political climate.

Why? Simply because, as Charles Finney said, “God will bless or curse the nation according to the [political] course Christians take.” So if Christians don’t speak into our political process, who else will be the moral compass of our nation? Jesus said in Matthew 5:13,

You are the world’s seasoning, to make it tolerable. If you lose your flavor, what will happen to the world? And you yourselves will be trampled underfoot as worthless. You are the world’s light—a city on a hill, glowing all night for all to see. Don’t hide your light! Let it shine for all.” (Living Bible)

Now having said that, just remember this: The key moments of history are not winning elections but transforming lives. Therefore, the most important thing Christians can do for the good of their country is to leverage all their efforts for the ultimate goal of spiritual awakening, not political ascendancy. When we offer our political opinions, we must do so in a way that creates interest in the gospel! 1 Peter 2:13-17 says,

“Make the Master proud of you by being good citizens. Respect the authorities, whatever their level; they are God’s emissaries for keeping order. It is God’s will that by doing good, you might cure the ignorance of the fools who think you are a danger to society. Exercise your freedom by serving God, not by breaking the rules. Treat everyone you meet with dignity. Love your spiritual family. Revere God. Respect the government.” (The Message)

Unfortunately, some politically active believers are shrill and obnoxious, not a winsome witness to the Good News. To a large degree, that is why many think we are “a danger to society.” But if we can engage with “respect for the authorities, whatever their level…treat everyone with dignity…and respect the government,” then our ultimate objective of transforming lives will be advanced.

Likewise, as we engage, we need to value God’s agenda over our party’s platform. Jesus said, “Make the Kingdom of God your primary concern.” (Matthew 6:33) Whenever possible, our political energies should be leveraged to vigorously promote kingdom concerns, such as:

  • Speaking out for the innocent and vulnerable! Proverbs 31:8 says, “Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute.” That means not only babies who face abortion before they leave the womb, but the destitute, the immigrant, and the marginalized.
  • Defending the poor and oppressed! Proverbs 31:9 says, “Speak up and judge fairly; defend the rights of the poor and needy.”
  • Confronting sin and moral decay! Proverbs 14:34 says, “Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a disgrace to any people.” Again, this calls for speaking truth to power but doing it with gentleness and respect. Truth without love becomes a cudgel that may force compliance but will never win hearts.
  • Working toward the peace and prosperity of Israel! Psalm 122:6 tells us, “Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: May those who love you be secure.” That is not to say that we remain silent when Israel acts immorally or inhumanely—even God didn’t turn a blind eye to their wicked behavior—but it is to recognize their special place in God’s plan for the ages.

By engaging in our political world assertively, respectfully, and Christianly, you and I will “make the Master proud by being a good citizen”—dual citizens, actually, of both heaven and earth. And, giving Jesus reason to be proud is what is most important!

Take A Moment: Memorize Romans 13:1-6 from The Message, “Be a good citizen. All governments are under God. Insofar as there is peace and order, it is God’s order. So live responsibly as a citizen. If you’re irresponsible to the state, then you’re irresponsible to God, and God will hold you responsible…Fulfill your obligations as a citizen. Pay your taxes, pay your bills, respect your leaders”

2,000 Years And Stronger Than Ever

You May Not See The Seed Growing, But It Is

SYNOPSIS: Mark it down: God’s work will grow! It’s unstoppable! Little by little, imperceptibly, over time God’s kingdom begins to produce, prevail, and even perpetuate itself until it becomes a dominating, irresistible, governing force in individual lives, whole families, communities, and entire people groups. As Rudolph Stier said, “The seed once sown grows … of itself, from its own impulse and power of life … The self-inherent power of growth of the kingdom of God.” So, stay faithful to your kingdom assignment — never waver. Don’t lose heart and never give up because, as Jesus promised, “the grain will finally ripen.” You have a stake in something that is truly, indescribably amazing, but the full results of its growth will not be known until the other side of eternity.

Moments With God // Mark 4:28

… And finally the grain ripens.

Jesus spent a fair amount of time in both private settings and public presentations describing the kingdom of God to people. One of the compelling ways he did that was through stories—parables—earthy vignettes that revealed spiritual truth about God, heaven, and the kingdom life. Jesus did that because people’s understanding of God’s kingdom had gotten messed up over the thousands of years since God first called the tribes of Israel out of Egypt and fashioned them into a people for himself. So, through parables, he reminded them of what God and his rule were really like.

Of the many wonderful descriptions Jesus gave, we find two stories about seeds in Mark 4:26-34 that describe the amazing, unstoppable growth of God’s kingdom on Planet Earth: The parable of the growing seed and the parable of the mustard seed. The point of both is that when the seed—the Word of God—is faithfully planted in good soil—the hearts of open and hungry people—the rule of God will begin to grow. Little by little, imperceptibly, over time the kingdom begins to produce, prevail, and even perpetuate itself until it becomes a dominating, irresistible, governing force in individual lives, whole families, communities, and entire people groups.

I hope that encourages you—it does me! Sometimes we get frustrated by the lack of growth of God’s kingdom in our lives, or our churches, or perhaps by what we may perceive as a falling away from the rule of God in our nation. To be sure, there are enemies and forces that not only oppose the kingdom but are actively working to kill it off. The truth is the growth of the kingdom is not an easy thing because there is a very strong Enemy whose chief objective is to stop it. Satan is alive and well on God’s planet, and he will be a force to be reckoned with until his time is up.

However, at the end of the day, the kingdom of God is unstoppable. People who claim to follow God may come and go, churches that once thrived may plateau, decline, or perhaps even close their doors; denominations will rise and fall; nations will wander from the guiding principles that once made them a godly nation—and you might even find your own passion for the rule of God waxing and waning a bit. Yet the kingdom of God is doing just fine after 2,000 years since Jesus gave it its start. What began with twelve unlikely fishermen from Galilee has spread around the world to hundreds of millions today who have joyfully surrendered to God’s rule—and it shows no signs of abating.

So don’t get discouraged, my friend. You may not be able to see the seed growing, but it is—and it will. You may never see the end result, but that does not diminish the seed’s potential. Just keep planting that seed wherever you can. Water the soil—in your own life, in your family, in your circle of influence, and at your church. Keep the weeds pulled—it is a constant battle because the Enemy keeps sneaking into the field to sow tares.

Just stay faithful to the kingdom, don’t lose heart, and never give up. You have a stake in something that is truly, indescribably amazing—and the full results of its growth will not be known until the other side of eternity.

Yes, the grain will finally ripen!

Takes A Moment: Recommit your life to the kingdom of God today—especially if you have become discouraged by its lack of growth in your own life or its waning vitality in your church or some other circle of concern—by praying this prayer: “Heavenly Father, may your kingdom come, may your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. For yours is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory forever! Amen.”

O For Intelligent, Sensible Leaders!

Good Character Makes A Good Leader

Synopsis: Nothing significant happens in life without someone providing good leadership to achieve it. That is just one of the immutable laws of life. Everything rises or falls on leadership — and if it is going to rise, then it will require a foundation of intelligent, sensible leadership. If it falls, it will most likely be because there was a leader who had charisma or maybe even competence but lacked character. Since God has given you some level of influence in your corner of the world, ask him to make you an intelligent, sensible, and godly leader.

Moments With God // Proverbs 28:2

When a nation sins, it will have one ruler after another. But a nation will be strong and endure when it has intelligent, sensible leaders.

Nothing significant happens in life without someone providing good leadership to achieve it. That is just one of the immutable laws of life. Everything rises or falls on leadership—and if it is going to rise, then it will require a foundation of intelligent, sensible leadership. If it falls, it will most likely be because there was a leader who had charisma or maybe even competence but lacked character. That’s why, in I Timothy 4:12, Paul told a young, developing leader named Timothy, “As a young man be an example in leadership.” In other words, Paul was saying that more than charisma and competence, it is the example of a leader’s life that counts most.

The Bible tells us that David was just such a leader. He was one of the greatest leaders in human history, not so much because of his great exploits, or even his perfect track record, but because of his personal integrity. In spite of his well-known mistakes, Psalm 78:72 says of David, “His good heart made him a good leader; he guided his people wisely and well.”

Unfortunately, a lot of leaders today in government, business, and even in the church, have loads of personal charisma and gobs of professional competence, but they bomb because they lack something far more important: a good heart. The good heart of a good leader doesn’t necessarily mean personal magnetism or off-the-charts job knowledge, but it does mean credibility and conviction. As Cavett Roberts said, “If a leader’s people understand him, he’ll get their attention. If they trust him, he’ll get their action.” You see, it is moral fiber that really counts in leadership that is worth following. Ralph Waldo Emerson once said:

Every great organization is lengthened by the shadow of a single person.

The quality and character of the leader determine the quality and character of the organization. May God give us intelligent, sensible leaders who will lengthen and deepen the organizations that make up the fabric of our great nation! How we need men and women — in Washington, DC and on Wall Street, in the academy and in the church, and especially in our homes — whose character enriches and strengthens those whom they lead!

Now here is the deal: Take Emerson’s words and combine them with the words of Proverbs 28:2, then apply them to anywhere you are involved: your family, your business, your school, your church, or your local government. If you have any influence in those areas at all—and I suspect you have more influence than you realize—then those people and that organization will be strengthened, lengthened, and deepened if you will exert intelligent, sensible, good, and godly leadership.

I hope you will. The corner of the world that God has assigned to you desperately needs it. Ralph Waldo Emerson also said,

Do not follow where the path may lead. Go instead where there is no path and leave a trail.

Consider that quote in terms of the area or areas where you have influence. In those areas, God is likely calling you to be a trailblazer for the people you lead.

Take A Moment: In your corner of the world where God has given you influence, large or small, ask God to help you to be a leader of wise and godly character. And while you are at it, ask him to give you influence, even if it seems in a small way.

Check The Dipstick

From the Abundance of the Heart

SYNOPSIS: Engage your mind before you put your mouth in gear. Control your thinking and you’ll control your speaking. Control your speaking and you’ll control your whole life. And the best way to control your thinking is by consistently and prayerfully filling your mind with the Word of God. What goes into your mind, gets into your heart, and what gets into your heart, comes out of your mouth. So don’t just watch your mouth—for sure, do that—but “above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life.” (Prov 4:23)

Check The Dipstick

Moments With God // Matthew 12:34 & 36

How could evil men like you speak what is good and right? For whatever is in your heart determines what you say. A good person produces good things from the treasury of a good heart, and an evil person produces evil things from the treasury of an evil heart. And I tell you this, you must give an account on judgment day for every idle word you speak.

Just think of your heart as the reservoir and your tongue as the dipstick. If you want to figure out what is in the tank, or how much is there, just listen to what you say and you’ll get a pretty accurate picture of the true you.

The Bible uses the term “heart” to describe the inner person. The word “mind” could easily be substituted for “heart”, but it is more than that. The heart is not only your thinking part, but also your attitudes, desires, dreams, ambitions, personality—the invisible stuff that gives life to your skin and bones and makes you uniquely you. The heart is the inner capacity to know, love and respond to God.

The tongue, or what you say, simply reveals what already exists in your heart. Your words are critically important, and as Jesus said, you will be held to account for them, even the off-the-cuff ones. Yet it is not so much the words you speak, it’s what is behind them that is truly important. That is why you can’t simply discipline your tongue—though that is not a bad idea. It is your heart that needs to be transformed. If you don’t, your speech will ultimately betray what is on the inside.

A person with a harsh tongue has an angry heart; a negative tongue comes from a fearful heart; an overactive tongue springs from an insecure heart; a boasting tongue is from a prideful heart; a filthy tongue comes from an impure heart; a person who is critical all the time has a bitter heart. On the other hand, a person who is always encouraging has a joyful heart. One who speaks gently has a loving heart. Someone who speaks truthfully has an honest heart.

So what’s the solution to managing your mouth? I like what Lloyd Ogilvie, former Chaplain of the United States Senate says, “you’ve got to heart your tongue.”

That means, to begin with, you’ve got to get a new heart. Mouth control begins with a heart transplant. Ezekiel 18:31 says, “Rid yourself of all the offenses you have committed and get a new heart and a new spirit!” Painting the outside of the pump doesn’t make any difference if there is poison in the well. I can change the outside, and turn over a new leaf, but what I really need is a new life or a fresh start. I need supernatural surgery from the Great Physician.

How do I get one? David prayed in Psalm 51, “Create in me a clean heart, O God.” Maybe you ought to pray that prayer right now because God is in the heart transplant business. Ezekiel 36:26 says of God, “I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh.”

Then once God gives you a new heart, ask him for help every day. You need supernatural power to control your tongue. You can’t do it alone. Your life is living proof of that. That’s why we’ve got to daily ask God to help us. In Psalm 141:3, the psalmist prays, “Set a guard over my mouth, O Lord; keep watch over the door of my lips.”

That’s a great verse to memorize and pray every morning: “God, muzzle my mouth. Don’t let me be critical or judgmental or harsh today. Don’t let me say things that I’ll regret.” If you ask God for help, he will.

Finally, master your mouth by disciplined thinking. James 1:19 says, “Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry.” In other words, engage your mind before you put your mouth in gear. Control your thinking and you’ll control your speaking. Control your speaking and you’ll control your whole life. And the best way to control your thinking is by consistently and prayerfully filling your mind with the Word of God.

What goes into your mind, gets into your heart, and what gets into your heart, comes out of your mouth. So don’t just watch your mouth—for sure, do that—but “above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life.” (Prov 4:23)

Takes A Moment: Memorize Psalm 141:3, “Take control of what I say, O Lord, and guard my lips.” Then pray this prayer morning, noon, and night for the next seven days: “God, muzzle my mouth. Don’t let me be critical or judgmental or harsh today. Don’t let me say things that I’ll regret, but only things that will please you!”

The Sun Will Come Out, Tomorrow!

With God, Tomorrow Is Always A New Day

Synopsis: Who knows what tomorrow will hold? Only God! That’s why we need to fiercely cling to him on this day, expressing our utter dependence on his purposes being fulfilled in our lives and recognizing his sovereign control over each second of our existence. King David understood that people who live under the daily threat of death like he did will grasp that reality better than those of us who live relatively safe, carefree, and easy lives. We tend to slide into the false notion that a pain-free, worry-free, tragedy-free life is our divine right. Not David! He got it right when he wrote “Every day of my life was recorded in your book. Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed.” (Psalm 139:16) David knew and trusted what we need to learn and trust: God is in control of my life. When you know that, you’ll confidently sing, “The sun will come out tomorrow!”

The Sun Will Come Out, Tomorrow

Moments With God // Proverbs 27:1

Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring forth.

Who knows what will happen tomorrow? Just ask any family whose lives were displayed on the late-night news last evening—whose peace and tranquility was unexpectedly interrupted by some sort of disaster: a car accident coming home from work, a random act of violence outside the restaurant, a massive layoff at the company that no one saw coming, the sudden bacterial infection resistant to all known forms of medication that attacked their child without warning. None of them got up that morning expecting anything close to that would happen during the day that lay ahead.

Who knows what tomorrow will hold? Only God! That’s why we need to fiercely lean into him for this day, expressing our utter dependence on his good purposes being fulfilled in our lives and recognizing his sovereign control over each second of our existence. The Psalmist David understood that people who live under the daily threat of death like he did tend to get that reality better than those of us who live relatively safe, carefree, and easy lives. We tend to slide into the false notion that a pain-free, worry-free, tragedy-free life is our divine right.

Not David! He got it right when he wrote in Psalm 139:16,

Every day of my life was recorded in your book. Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed.

Only God knows how many days you have, and what will happen in each of those days. Only he knows the exact number of your days, and you will not live a day longer, nor die a day sooner than what he already has planned for you. That is why it is not wise to get too far ahead of God in your thoughts about tomorrow. Now, obviously, this is not about wise planning and preparation. That is certainly taught throughout the Bible, and a great deal of emphasis is placed on that right here in the book of Proverbs.

What Solomon is calling for is living with an attitude of gratitude for each and every breath we take, expressing humble dependence on the Almighty for each and every second of our existence, and submitting each and every ounce of our energy today, and if he graciously gives us tomorrow, to be used for his good purposes.

When we live that way, we can sing with confidence, “The sun will come out tomorrow.” Maybe that will mean the blazing sunshine of yet another day here on Planet Earth, but if not, the joy of unending days where there is no need for the sun, since the indescribable glory of his shining presence of God himself will render our current source of light and heat meaningless.

So, as scary as that might seem, take courage, because as a Christ-follower, the sun will come out tomorrow.

Read and meditate on Psalm 90, and memorize verse 12: “Teach us to number our days aright, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.” Then early and often, quote it to yourself and others!

Narrow And Intolerant

Make No Mistake: There Is Only One Way

SYNOPSIS: We could fill page after page with Jesus’ claims about himself and the exclusive authority he possessed to grant eternal life only to those who solely follow him. For anyone who takes the time to actually read Jesus’ own words, the truth is abundantly clear: He is unequivocally exclusive about the way to eternal life. Does that sound narrow? It most definitely is—but so is a runway and landing exclusively on that landing strip is the only way to get the airplane you are on safely to its destination. When it is the only way, thank God for narrowness and intolerance!

Narrow And Intolerant

Moments With God // Luke 13:24

Work hard to enter the narrow door to God’s Kingdom, for many will try to enter but will fail.

Christianity is often accused these days of being a narrow and intolerant religion. Guilty as charged! You can come up with no other verdict. After all, just look at the overwhelming verbal evidence offered by its founder, Jesus Christ. Here are just a few of his outrageous claims from the Gospel of John:

For it is my Father’s will that all who see his Son and believe in him should have eternal life. I will raise them up at the last day. (John 6:40, NLT)

Only insofar as you eat and drink flesh and blood, the flesh and blood of the Son of Man, do you have life within you. The one who brings a hearty appetite to this eating and drinking has eternal life and will be fit and ready for the Final Day. (John 6:53-54, The Message)

I tell you the truth, I am the gate for the sheep. All who came before me were thieves and robbers. But the true sheep did not listen to them. Yes, I am the gate. Those who come in through me will be saved. (John 10:7-9, NLT)

I am the one who raises the dead to life! Everyone who has faith in me will live, even if they die. And everyone who lives because of faith in me will never really die.” (John 11:25-26, CEV)

“I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me. (John 14:16, NLT)

We could fill page after page with Jesus’ claims about himself and the exclusive authority he possessed to grant eternal life only to those who follow him solely. For anyone who takes the time to actually read Jesus’ own words, the truth is abundantly evident: Jesus is unequivocally exclusive, narrow, and intolerant about the way to eternal life. Of course, he loves and died for the whole world (John 3:16). And of course, he didn’t stand on a street corner condemning those who refused to believe in him. (John 3:17) Yet the unavoidable truth about Jesus is that he was very clear that there was one, and only one way, to forgiveness of sin and life forever with the Father.

Does that sound narrow? It most definitely is—but so is a runway, and landing exclusively on it is the only way to get the airplane you are on safely to its destination. When it is the only way, thank God for narrowness and intolerance!

Takes A Moment: Have you ever taken the time to pray the most important prayer—really, the one prayer that empowers all other prayers—to acknowledge that Jesus is both Lord and Savior, to confess your sins and ask him to forgive you, and invite him into your life as your one and only Master and Commander? If not, I hope you will do that right now!

Get With It!

Just Do It Already

Synopsis: Proverbs reminds us that motivation is a holy thing; it is a state of being that will energize you to do the hard—but right—thing. And, as we see throughout Proverbs, the Lord highly values and honors it. One of my favorite motivational gurus, the late Zig Ziglar, said, “Motivation is not permanent. But then, neither is bathing; but it is something you should do on a regular basis.” I agree: Just do it already! And Walt Disney gave us some free advice that we would do will to apply to our own lives: “The way to get started is to quit talking and begin doing.” So, what is one area in your life in which you would need up your motivation game? Identify it, and my friend, just get after it! Again, quit talking and do it already!

Get With It

Moments With God // Proverbs 26:13-15

Loafers say, “It’s dangerous out there! Tigers are prowling the streets!” and then pull the covers back over their heads. Just as a door turns on its hinges, so a lazybones turns back over in bed. A shiftless sluggard puts his fork in the pie, but is too lazy to lift it to his mouth.

Motivation! It is one of the major themes in Proverbs—praising those who have it and admonishing those who do not. Proverbs does not offer an intricate explanation for why people are not motivated, or a detailed plan for how they can get motivated. It just says they need to build a fire in their life and get with it.

Speaking of motivation, I love the story of the guy who worked the swing shift in a factory, and every night when he walked home from work after dark, he would go a great distance out of the way just to avoid a cemetery that was smack dab in the middle of his route. One night, wanting to save some time, he worked up the courage to walk through the graveyard>. Well, lo and behold, it wasn’t so bad after all! So, he started walking right through the cemetery every day, to and from work.

However, on one of his walks home, a fresh grave had been dug right in the path he now walked by habit, and he fell into a deep, dark, damp open grave. For some time he scratched and clawed trying to climb out called—to no avail—so he then started calling out for help, but it became apparent that he was going to get neither help nor out of his tomb. So, he sank down into the bottom of this pit, pulled his coat up around his ears and prepared for a long night until the grave diggers came the next morning and could help him out.

After some time had passed, another man came down the same path, and he too, fell into the open grave. The first guy just sat there with a smile on his face watching this second guy, who was so preoccupied with getting out that he didn’t notice the first guy.

After a while, the second guy grew tired and he, too, gave up his clawing and scratching and yelling and sank down into the bottom of the grave. At that point, the first guy said, “You’ll never get out of here, boy!” Guess what? On hearing that eerie, disembodied voice from the other end of the grave, the second guy did! The disembodied voice from the grave was all the motivation he needed—and he was out in about two ticks.

Proverbs reminds us that motivation is a holy thing; it is a state of being that will energize you to do the hard—but right—thing. And, as we see throughout Proverbs, the Lord highly values and honors it. Consider these verses from this book of practical wisdom:

The sluggard craves and gets nothing, but the desires of the diligent are fully satisfied. (Prov 13:4)

All hard work brings a profit, but mere talk leads only to poverty. (Prov 14:23)

The way of the sluggard is blocked with thorns, but the path of the upright is a highway. (Prov 15:19)

Speaking of motivation, one of my favorite motivational gurus, the late Zig Ziglar, said, “Of course motivation is not permanent. But then, neither is bathing; but it is something you should do on a regular basis.” I agree: Just do it already! And Walt Disney gave us some free advice that we would do will to apply to our own lives: “The way to get started is to quit talking and begin doing.”

So, quit talking and do it already!

Now if you are a committed Christ-follower, and if you are motivated, God has promised honor to you. If you are not, however, then you will get no psychological explanation or motivational pep talk from the Bible—only a swift kick to the seat of the pants and a warning: Get with it or get left in the dust of those in life who are motivated.

So, get with it already! God stands ready to bless you!

What is one area in your life in which you would need up your motivation game? Identify it, and my friend, just get after it!