--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The visionary who is serving God ceases…" description: "\"The visionary who is serving God ceases to live for personal ambitions, but rather for God's ambitions.\" — George Barna" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/27a/george-barna-31184_ambition_the-visionary-who-is-serving-god-ceases_2027613.png" --- # The visionary who is serving God ceases to live for… ![“The visionary who is serving God ceases to live for personal ambitions, but rather for God's ambitions.” quote by George Barna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/27a/george-barna-31184_ambition_the-visionary-who-is-serving-god-ceases_2027613.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/27a/george-barna-31184_ambition_the-visionary-who-is-serving-god-ceases_2027613.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/27a/george-barna-31184_ambition_the-visionary-who-is-serving-god-ceases_2027613.png) > “The visionary who is serving God ceases to live for personal ambitions, but rather for God's ambitions.” [George Barna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-barna/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. True visionaries prioritize divine purpose over personal goals. **In simple terms:** Serve higher purpose, not self. Key Takeaway Align actions with higher purpose. Themes spirituality purpose service Mood inspirational solemn Type theological motivational When to use this quote - ministry - non‑profit work - personal mission Key Concepts faith leadership self‑transcendence Questions to Reflect On - How do you discern divine ambition? - What sacrifices are needed for higher purpose? A Different Perspective Conflicts arise between personal ambition and divine call. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Ambition](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ambition/) [God](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/god/) [Serving god](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/serving-god/) [Visionaries](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/visionaries/) [Visionary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/visionary/) ## Related quotes > [Ambitions for self may be quite modest. . . . Ambitions for God, however, if they are to be worthy, can never be modest.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-stott/ambitions-for-self-may-be-quite-modest-ambitions-for-god-however-if/) [John Stott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-stott/) > [There is something inherently inappropriate about cherishing small ambitions for God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-stott/there-is-something-inherently-inappropriate-about-cherishing-small/) [John Stott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-stott/) > [A man who throws himself on God ceases to fear man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/a-man-who-throws-himself-on-god-ceases-to-fear-man/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [“We become so accustomed to our sins we sometimes lapse into a state of peaceful coexistence with them, but God never ceases to hate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-bridges/we-become-so-accustomed-to-our-sins-we-sometimes-lapse-into-a-state/) [Jerry Bridges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-bridges/) > [God never ceases to speak to us, but the noise of the world without and the tumult of our passions within bewilder us and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-fenelon/god-never-ceases-to-speak-to-us-but-the-noise-of-the-world-without/) [Francois Fenelon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-fenelon/) > [If you remove enjoyment of God from faith in God, it ceases to be faith.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-piper/if-you-remove-enjoyment-of-god-from-faith-in-god-it-ceases-to-be-faith/) [John Piper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-piper/) > [In Silence God ceases to be an object and becomes an experience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-merton/in-silence-god-ceases-to-be-an-object-and-becomes-an-experience/) [Thomas Merton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-merton/) > [God ceases to be God only for those who can admit the possibility of His non-existence, and that conception is in itself the most…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/giacomo-casanova/god-ceases-to-be-god-only-for-those-who-can-admit-the-possibility-of/) [Giacomo Casanova](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/giacomo-casanova/) > [As we passed on, it seemed those scenes of visionary enchantment would never have an end.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meriwether-lewis/as-we-passed-on-it-seemed-those-scenes-of-visionary-enchantment-would/) [Meriwether Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meriwether-lewis/) > [Michael Cole is a visionary!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/the-miz/michael-cole-is-a-visionary/) [The Miz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/the-miz/) > [Revolutionary art and visionary physics are both investigations into the nature of reality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonard-shlain/revolutionary-art-and-visionary-physics-are-both-investigations-into/) [Leonard Shlain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonard-shlain/) > [Wright is a visionary with a great strategic mind, and he's a strong business leader with outstanding people skills, ... He's a terrific guy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-welch/wright-is-a-visionary-with-a-great-strategic-mind-and-he-s-a-strong/) [Jack Welch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-welch/) > [The visionary lies to himself, the liar only to others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche/the-visionary-lies-to-himself-the-liar-only-to-others/) [Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/) > [The visionary is the one who brings his or her voice into the world and who refuses to edit, rehearse, perform, or hide. It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angeles-arrien/the-visionary-is-the-one-who-brings-his-or-her-voice-into-the-world/) [Angeles Arrien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angeles-arrien/) > [If critics and fanboys weren't suckers for simplistic nihilism and high-pressure marketing, Afterlife would be universally acclaimed as a visionary feat, superior to Inception…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/armond-white/if-critics-and-fanboys-weren-t-suckers-for-simplistic-nihilism-and/) [Armond White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/armond-white/) ## More by George Barna > [If you want to have a lasting influence upon the world, you must invest in people's lives; and if you want to maximize that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-barna/if-you-want-to-have-a-lasting-influence-upon-the-world-you-must/) [George Barna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-barna/) > [Leadership is the art of serving God by helping His people become more like His Son through the indefatigable pursuit of His vision and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-barna/leadership-is-the-art-of-serving-god-by-helping-his-people-become/) [George Barna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-barna/) > [The absolute goal of vision for ministry is to glorify God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-barna/the-absolute-goal-of-vision-for-ministry-is-to-glorify-god/) [George Barna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-barna/) > [When we're always connected, we allow others-colleagu es and celebrities, close friends and distant acquaintances, bloggers and news aggregators-set our life's agenda. Our ability…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-barna/when-we-re-always-connected-we-allow-others-colleagu-es-and/) [George Barna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-barna/) > [Jesus didn't die so we could fill auditoriums, he died so that lives could be transformed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-barna/jesus-didn-t-die-so-we-could-fill-auditoriums-he-died-so-that-lives/) [George Barna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-barna/) > [The average Christian leaves planet earth never having led anyone to Christ.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-barna/the-average-christian-leaves-planet-earth-never-having-led-anyone-to/) [George Barna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-barna/) > [God can, has and will use anybody who is open to serving Him to convey the gospel. He will bless the efforts of His…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-barna/god-can-has-and-will-use-anybody-who-is-open-to-serving-him-to-convey/) [George Barna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-barna/) > [Evangelism that starts at the nonbeliever's point of felt need and ties the gospel into that area of need has the greatest capacity for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-barna/evangelism-that-starts-at-the-nonbeliever-s-point-of-felt-need-and/) [George Barna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-barna/) > [Increasingly, America is biblically illiterate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-barna/increasingly-america-is-biblically-illiterate/) [George Barna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-barna/) > [It is not a church’s job to spiritually develop your children. Scripturally, it is the job of the parents. The church body is supposed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-barna/it-is-not-a-church-s-job-to-spiritually-develop-your-children/) [George Barna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-barna/) > [True visionaries are never lukewarm.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-barna/true-visionaries-are-never-lukewarm/) [George Barna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-barna/) > [These figures emphasize how soft people's commitment to God is. Americans are willing to expend some energy in religious activities such as attending church…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-barna/these-figures-emphasize-how-soft-people-s-commitment-to-god-is/) [George Barna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-barna/) > [Leadership is the process of motivating, mobilizing, resourcing, and directing people to passionately and strategically pursue a vision from God that a group jointly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-barna/leadership-is-the-process-of-motivating-mobilizing-resourcing-and/) [George Barna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-barna/) > [We cannot be effective if we continue to cling to the old ways, the old strategies, the old assumptions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-barna/we-cannot-be-effective-if-we-continue-to-cling-to-the-old-ways-the/) [George Barna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-barna/) > [Nearly 60% of Americans who regularly attend Christian church say there is no such thing as the Holy Spirit—they say the Holy Spirit is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-barna/nearly-60-of-americans-who-regularly-attend-christian-church-say/) [George Barna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-barna/) [Explore all 16 George Barna quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-barna/) ## More Ambition quotes > [Ambition drives you on, ability certainly helps, but the fickle finger of fate and luck are great things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fergus-henderson/ambition-drives-you-on-ability-certainly-helps-but-the-fickle-finger/) [Fergus Henderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fergus-henderson/) > [One needs more than ambition and talent to make a success of anything, really. There must be love and a vocation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessye-norman/one-needs-more-than-ambition-and-talent-to-make-a-success-of-anything/) [Jessye Norman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessye-norman/) > [I just think my own ambition would not allow me to sit on the gifts that my creator had given me. And so that's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janelle-monae/i-just-think-my-own-ambition-would-not-allow-me-to-sit-on-the-gifts/) [Janelle Monae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janelle-monae/) > [A man's worth is no greater than the worth of his ambitions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/a-man-s-worth-is-no-greater-than-the-worth-of-his-ambitions/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I'm hungry and ambitious.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julen-lopetegui/i-m-hungry-and-ambitious/) [Julen Lopetegui](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julen-lopetegui/) > [“I was ambitious and desperate to direct my first film, so I capitulated and blew it. Never again. Never fucking again.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-ferguson/i-was-ambitious-and-desperate-to-direct-my-first-film-so-i/) [Craig Ferguson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-ferguson/) > [I was always attracted most to joining City, and I am pleased to be at such a good club with such a big ambition…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edin-dzeko/i-was-always-attracted-most-to-joining-city-and-i-am-pleased-to-be-at/) [Edin Dzeko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edin-dzeko/) > [Work towards your goal and dont watch the post size,its either they hate,or like you.there is no room for both sides.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-buabeng/work-towards-your-goal-and-dont-watch-the-post-size-its-either-they/) [Isaac Buabeng](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-buabeng/) > [“But young men have not only this frivolous ambition of being thought masters of execution, inciting them on the one hand, but also their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/but-young-men-have-not-only-this-frivolous-ambition-of-being-thought/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I almost never have a plan for myself... I'm not ambitious in that way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-plimpton/i-almost-never-have-a-plan-for-myself-i-m-not-ambitious-in-that-way/) [Martha Plimpton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-plimpton/) > [I play for high stakes and given an audience - there is no act too daring or too noble.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winston-churchill/i-play-for-high-stakes-and-given-an-audience-there-is-no-act-too/) [Winston Churchill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winston-churchill/) > [There's nothing worse than a leader who lacks ambition.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/there-s-nothing-worse-than-a-leader-who-lacks-ambition/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [If i can't even protect my captain's dream, then whatever ambition i have is nothing but talk..](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zoro/if-i-can-t-even-protect-my-captain-s-dream-then-whatever-ambition-i/) [Zoro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zoro/) > [It may seem unattainable but if you put actions, your heart and your mind into it, you will prevail.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/london-mond/it-may-seem-unattainable-but-if-you-put-actions-your-heart-and-your/) [London Mond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/london-mond/) > [Obligation is what's leading us to toward successful, and what keeps us moving towards the future.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wazim-shaw/obligation-is-what-s-leading-us-to-toward-successful-and-what-keeps/) [Wazim Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wazim-shaw/) [Browse all 4,601 Ambition quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ambition/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The visionary who is serving God ceases to live for personal ambitions, but rather for God's ambitions.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "George Barna" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-barna/the-visionary-who-is-serving-god-ceases-to-live-for-personal/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Ambition" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-barna/the-visionary-who-is-serving-god-ceases-to-live-for-personal/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/27a/george-barna-31184_ambition_the-visionary-who-is-serving-god-ceases_2027613.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/27a/george-barna-31184_ambition_the-visionary-who-is-serving-god-ceases_2027613.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/27a/george-barna-31184_ambition_the-visionary-who-is-serving-god-ceases_2027613.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The visionary who is serving God ceases to live for personal ambitions, but rather for God's ambitions.” — George Barna", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "George Barna", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-barna/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "The visionary who is serving God...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-barna/the-visionary-who-is-serving-god-ceases-to-live-for-personal/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-barna/the-visionary-who-is-serving-god-ceases-to-live-for-personal/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```