Say what? Sometimes I seriously wonder about my blog post titles (like today), but I’m gonna run with it anyway.
Over the past few months, there are definitely times when I can’t seem to kick my day into high gear. Because this ministry is my job, and I don’t show up to an office anywhere, I need an extra dose of self-motivation on a lot of days.
After the dogs are fed in the morning, my normal routine is to crash on the couch, referee which animal gets my lap, read the daily paper, do the crossroad puzzle, and end with my devotions for the day. Then, theoretically, I get up and start on my “to-do” list.
But, MANY times, I don’t want to get up. Nobody is there to encourage that. Sometimes I don’t want to make more cold calls/contacts. What harm is there in reading a book for an hour or so? The animals are all so cozy on the blankets that I don’t have the heart to disturb them.
And so it goes. I know this is NOT the way I should be approaching the work of this ministry, or my life in general. Not that any of those things are bad in and of themselves. But if I’m using them as an excuse to avoid the work I’m called to do, that’s a whole different story.
So I’ve recently begun adding a specific prayer at the end of my daily devotions, asking God to give me the desire and the energy to get up off that couch and go to work! HIS work, by the way. And guess what? It helps! Why should I be surprised?
I don’t have this conquered 100%, but I’m clearly experiencing a more defined sense of purpose for the day. So it’s a work in progress at best, but one I’m encouraged by.
I was chatting with a friend today about this exact issue. She has a different schedule from mine and goes to an office certain days of the week. The other days are available for whatever tasks she needs to accomplish that week. So her challenge is getting to those tasks on days where she’d rather veg out or watch a good movie.
She told me that she had gotten ready first thing this morning and had also consumed adequate amounts of caffeine in her coffees (yes, plural), but still wasn’t feeling the motivation. My first suggestion was that she try adding some chocolate to the mix to get just a little extra caffeine. That’s MY go-to source.
But alas, no chocolate in the house. My SECOND suggestion was based on my rediscovered source of motivation. I shared with her how my prayer while ensconced on my comfy couch was making a difference in my mornings. Why not try tapping into the One whose strength is immeasurable? God’s Spirit living within the heart of every believer can completely transform our motivation. Essentially taking it from SELF motivation to GOD’S motivation.
So I declared to her, “It’s our Holy Spirit caffeine!” We had a good chuckle over that, but agreed that there is really no better solution to our couch potato tendencies.
What about you? Do you find times in your week where you struggle to find motivation, too? The reasons for that are as numerous as the individuals. For me, some of it stems from the sadness of this season I’m in. So, I cut myself a little slack and read that book for an hour. That’s fine occasionally, but definitely not a good pattern for my life.
If you too struggle with motivation in any area of your life, have you tried asking God to change your heart, infuse you with HIS strength and then expect Him to do exactly that? Might not be as tasty as chocolate, but I guarantee it’s much more effective.
Now go forth and show the world what true motivation looks like!
My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart
and my portion forever.
Psalm 73:26
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