It is a balance. There are things God is going to do and there are things you have to do. The key is to understand which is which.

This is my new favorite quote. Now to understand it you must know what "go to the hole" means. Go to the hole is a basketball term for going forcefully to the basket to score a goal. It in essence means "Take it to 'em!" Vince Carter is considered by many to be the next Michael Jordan. He plays for the Toronto Raptors and is a staple of the evening highlight shows. A few weeks back his mother was being interviewed on national TV and the interviewer asked her what advice she gave her son. She replied ; "All I tell Vincent (leave it to your mother to call you by your full name on national TV) is to trust the Lord and go to the hole!" So I got to thinking about that ; and it makes so much sense.

The confusion for so many people is what responsibility to put in God's hands and what responsibility to take ourselves.

Some people take everything upon themselves when instead they should be trusting that God is in control and there is no way you can control those things anyway. Those things are better left up to the All-knowing. I will give you an example from my own life. I speak on a regular basis. I probably give 75 speeches a year. Now ; not everybody is going to like what I have to say. I leave those people up to God ; because I cannot control people's reactions to me. But I still go to the hole every time I talk! On the other hand there are people who just think God is going to do it all for them. Like they will pay their rent because some manila folder is going to fall out of the sky filled with money right before the start of each month. When it doesn't happen ; they wallow "Why does God let this happen?" The answer? "Because you won't get off your duff and do what you are supposed to do.” It is a balance. There are things God is going to do and there are things you have to do. The key is to understand which is which.

Another saying I like is that we should pray like it depends on God and work like it depends on us!

So what shall I encourage you to do today? What is your charge? The same one Mrs. Carter gives her boy. The same one I give myself  - Trust the Lord and go to the hole!