Are You Self-Driven or Spirit-Led?

Heather Edmund
Jun 17
8 min read

Updated: 9 hours ago

In a world that celebrates hustle culture, personal ambition, and self-made success, being self-driven is often applauded—and rightly so. To be self-driven means being motivated, proactive, and committed to pursuing goals without the need for constant supervision or pressure. It’s about owning your actions, showing up with consistency, and striving for excellence in all you do.

However...

All of our drive, ambition, and plans must ultimately be surrendered to God's direction.

Scripture clearly shows that laziness leads to lack, while diligence produces fruit. Also, God created us to be active stewards of our time, talents, and assignments.

Proverbs 6:6–8 teaches:

“Go to the ant, you sluggard; consider its ways and be wise! It has no commander, no overseer or ruler, yet it stores its provisions in summer and gathers its food at harvest.”

Here, we see the ant—a tiny creature—is used as an example of initiative and preparation. No one tells it what to do, yet it works with wisdom and foresight. Likewise, we’re called to be self-starters who work as unto the Lord.

Colossians 3:23 echoes this:

“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters.”

Hard work and inner motivation are not just for our success—they’re a form of obediene unto God our Creator.

But here’s the reality: you can be incredibly driven—and still headed in the wrong direction.

Philippians 2:13 puts it this way:

“For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him.”

Your ambition to succeed, your dreams, and your motivation are gifts from God at work within you. The aim is not merely to work hard, but to align your efforts with God’s will, as being self-driven without God can result in striving, burnout, and frustration.

Not By Might Nor By Power (Zechariah 4:6).

We don’t need to fulfill our life’s purpose by our own strength. Unlike those who live apart from Christ, we’re not required to exhaust ourselves chasing success or rely on our own cleverness or skills to get ahead (Proverbs 23:4; Proverbs 3:5–6).

Instead, we can live with peace and joy as God gives us wisdom and the ability to prosper—because “it is not by strength that one prevails” (1 Corinthians 3:6; 1 Samuel 2:9). It's soley from God's unmatched wisdom.

For those who truly love God and earnestly seek Him, He provides a blueprint for success—regardless of what’s happening in life or the economy. Like Joseph, who received divine strategy during a time of famine (Genesis 41:28–40), we too can know what to do and thrive even in the most difficult seasons.

What God offers is more valuable than gold and exceeds the finest silver or the most coveted riches or wealth (Proverbs 8:17-19).

Numerous individuals have resorted to dishonesty because the adversary has persuaded them through coercion, deception, fear, lies, time pressures, and various other tactics and strategies to make them believe it is the only option. However, this is false, as is the deceiver himself (John 8:44; 2 Corinthians 11:14; 1 Peter 5:8; Revelation 12:9).

You Can Live Life in Abundance

God promised us abundant life (John 10:10). He desires for you to have plenty of everything that belongs to Him, but you must seek and desire what He offers (Matthew 6:33).

He invites us to ask Him for the greatest path to genuine, secure, honest, and guaranteed success, which requires only that we ask. This is found in James 1:5, which states, "If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you."

God's wisdom is supreme and powerful. And like Solomon, it will be one the wisest request you can make (1 Kings 3:1-15).

What God has surpasses material wealth, which is insignificant in comparison to what He offer. He offers something far more precious than any possessions, like grace (2 Peter 1:2). Grace is when God alters the outcome of events—to benefit you, even when you don’t deserve it.

However, since He is an abundant God, He can give you wealth without working hard for it or being exhausted, for “The blessing of the Lord brings wealth, without painful toil for it.” — Proverbs 10:22.

Wealth is part of God's plan for you. It says in Deuteronomy 8:18 that it's God who gives us the ability to produce wealth. Since it is part of God's divine purpose for us, there is no need to hustle and wear ourselves out.

You can have grace and peace in abundance through the knowledge of God and Jesus our Lord. Grace is being able to do more with less and go far with little (2 Peter 1:3; Philippians 4:13).

While the world hustles, the child of God is led by the Spirit (Romans 8:14). And who better to guide your life than God Himself? Who has more wisdom than He does (1 Corinthians 3:19)? Who can outthink or outsmart God (Ephesians 3:20) or do the impossible like He can (Matthew 19:26)?

God exposes and overturns the clever plans of those who think they’re wise in their own eyes, especially when their wisdom is rooted in pride, manipulation, or worldly logic rather than godliness.

Those who rely on on their own or other peoples wisdom or cunning to manipulate situations will be trapped by their own schemes. Also, God sees through human cleverness and will often use it against the person to humble them or reveal the futility of their plans.

Isaiah 14:27 states, "For the Lord of hosts has planned, and who can cancel it? His hand is extended, and who can retract it?" Similarly, Isaiah 46:10 declares, "Announcing the end from the beginning, and from ancient times things not yet done, saying, 'My counsel shall stand, and I will fulfill all my purpose." Acts 5:39 encapsulates this idea, "But if it is from God, you will not be able to stop them. You will only find yourselves opposing God."

This is who is with us.

And when we invite Him into our life and world, we’ll begin to see how our life—though in this world—is not of it (John 17:16). We won’t be shaped or controlled by culture, but by the supernatural guidance of God.

If we do not let God buid for us, all our efforts may be in vain (Psalm 127:1-2). In fact, everything we do may be in vain. Therefore, entrust your life to Him to gain assurance, peace, joy, and happiness, and allow Him to take the lead.

While being self-driven reflects motivation and a commitment to growth, ultimately, everything we do, have, and accomplish should be through God’s grace and power.

Self-driven individuals often rely on personal desires, ambitions, and their plans. While spirit-led individuals, pursue God’s will and follow God's direction—even when it's different from their own desires

Jesus highlights the importance of complete reliance on Him for achieving fruitfulness and enduring outcomes: “Apart from me you can do nothing.” John 15:5 (NIV). Even when we are motivated, it is God who determines the outcome: “In their hearts humans plan their course, but the Lord establishes their steps.” Proverbs 16:9 (NIV).

Even Paul acknowledged that, although he worked hard, his success was ultimately due to God’s grace. He said, “But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace to me was not without effect. No, I worked harder than all of them—yet not I, but the grace of God that was with me.” —1 Corinthians 15:10.

The Bible encourages diligence and responsibility, but it also reminds us that our efforts must be surrendered to God’s greater plan. We’re called to trust in the Lord—not just our own understanding or vision (Proverbs 3:5–6), God has a purposeful and hope-filled plan for each of our lives (Jeremiah 29:11). Even some of our motivation, desires, and passion come from Him (Philippians 2:13).

Be diligent like the ant (Proverbs 6:6–8)—but depend on God like a branch depends on the vine (John 15:4–5). You do the work—but God works through you (Philippians 2:13).

“For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things He planned for us long ago.” — Ephesians 2:10

Our purpose is to walk in God’s pre-designed path.

➡️ Putting It Together: Self-Driven and Spirit-Led

Being self-driven is about self-effort, self-discipline, and self-focus. But being God-directed is about surrendering your plans to God's will and aligning your ambition with His purpose.

Being self-driven is about pushing yourself forward. While being Spirit-led is about letting God lead you forward. Both involve movement—but only one ensures you're going in the right direction.

Self-Driven	Spirit-Led
Motivated by personal ambition or goals	Motivated by God’s purpose and leading
Leans on human strength, logic, and willpower	Relies on God’s wisdom, timing, and direction
Focused on success, achievement, or progress	Focused on obedience, faithfulness, and trust
Plans based on what looks good or practical	Moves according to what God reveals or confirms
Can lead to burnout, frustration, or pride	Leads to peace, fruit, and spiritual growth
Asks: “What do I want to accomplish?”	Asks: “Lord, what do You want me to do?”
Driven by pressure, performance, or fear	Led by peace, purpose, and God's voice

🧭 Final Thought:

Drive without direction leads to burnout. But drive submitted to God’s direction leads to purpose and fruitfulness. God is not against your ambition—He wants to guide and use it.

Just remember: your gifts, determination, and goals are valuable tools—but Jesus is the Master Builder. Therefore, “Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and He will establish your plans.” — Proverbs 16:3. Let Him guide your steps, shape your purpose, and use your time and energy for His glory.

Here's what to read next — It's not over — God has an amazing plan for you!

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A call for salvation

When you accept Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, His Spirit becomes one with yours. This is one of the greatest blessings of salvation. You no longer need to go through anyone else to reach God—because you and He are now united.

All you need to do is receive the gift of salvation by repenting of your sins, inviting Jesus into your life, and confessing Him as Lord. This involves acknowledging your sin and need for forgiveness, believing that Jesus died for your sins and rose again, and surrendering your life to Him.

As Romans 10:9 declares, “If you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.” And 1 John 4:15 assures us, “If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in them and they in God.”

When you take this step, you are saved and welcomed into God’s Kingdom—becoming a member of the family of Christ!

Here's a Prayer that you can pray to get saved:

Jesus, I confess that You are Lord, and I believe in my heart that You died and rose again for my sins. I know that I am a sinner, and I ask for Your forgiveness. I invite You to come into my heart and life, and I receive You as my personal Lord and Savior. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

After this step, pray for guidance to find a ministry where you can grow spiritually, gain knowledge about the kingdom, and begin living the abundant life promised by Jesus.

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