Motivated

Motivated

Hebrews 13: ⁷ Remember your former leaders, who spoke God's message to you. Think back on how they lived and died, and imitate their faith. ⁸ Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. ⁹ Do not let all kinds of strange teachings lead you from the right way. It is good to receive inner strength from God's grace, and not by obeying rules about foods; those who obey these rules have not been helped by them.

 

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“You can do this” were the words I clung onto when times were difficult. Halfway believing in the words, I continued on through frustration, obstacles and a desire to give up. After coming through the problem I remembered the words “You can do this”  

 

• I thought I needed someone to motivate me.
• I really needed something inside me to keep going.
• I was able to go through the problem and use the situation as an example of overcoming issues.

 

Paul, the assumed writer, addressed a problem of fear related to following the Law over eating certain types of food. Some “strange teachings” had risen, causing people to have fear and eventually lose their faith. He told everyone to “remember your former leaders, who spoke GOD’s message to you” so all would not forget where their faith came from.

 

My Observations:

• There have been many people who told me about CHRIST being the answer to my problems.
• Encouraging words about how GOD will never leave me, helped me through many difficult situations.
• GOD protects me from weak philosophies that raise more concerns than solve my problem.

 

Problems sometime makes me want any solution, no matter how far it will take me away from believing in GOD. I mean, when I have a problem that threatens my livelihood or comfort or pleasure, I listen to people who sound like he or she has an answer, but really do not. I listen to philosophies that take me further and further from faith in GOD, meanwhile my situation gets worse and worse. GOD wants something different.

 

HE provides faith, love, and joy as my foundation. HE then tells me to remember what JESUS did for me whenever I can. HE reminds me of people who encouraged me to keep going when times were difficult. HE then let’s me know I can be used even though I am not perfect. I am motivated from within, because the HOLY SPIRIT lives in me.

 

Challenge

• What philosophy is the writer warning against?
• Have you ever tried to follow a human philosophy that seemed like a good idea, but turned out to be a dead end?
• Will you take a moment to remember those who provided godly encouragement and imitate those who have been through many situations by believing in GOD today?

 

Motivation

Mark 4: And again He began to teach by the sea. And a great multitude was gathered to Him, so that He got into a boat and sat in it on the sea; and the whole multitude was on the land facing the sea. ² Then He taught them many things by parables, and said to them in His teaching:

³ “Listen! Behold, a sower went out to sow. ⁴ And it happened, as he sowed, that some seed fell by the wayside; and the birds of the air came and devoured it. ⁵ Some fell on stony ground, where it did not have much earth; and immediately it sprang up because it had no depth of earth. ⁶ But when the sun was up it was scorched, and because it had no root it withered away. ⁷ And some seed fell among thorns; and the thorns grew up and choked it, and it yielded no crop. ⁸ But other seed fell on good ground and yielded a crop that sprang up, increased and produced: some thirtyfold, some sixty, and some a hundred.”

⁹ And He said to them, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear!”

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“I wanna go!” was my immediate response when I heard that my siblings and some neighbors would possibly travel to the local amusement park. I just knew it would be fun and I imagined myself on all the rides. I also said “I wanna go” on vacations, restaurants visits to relatives and recreation.

• Sometimes I am motivated by getting something that I will enjoy.
• Sometimes I am motivated to work hard so I can get to some place where I can relax.
• Sometimes I am motivated to endure life’s trials so I can eventually reach society’s utopia.

Where there was fun I wanted to be there, but what about GOD? I mean HE has stuff for me to do as well right? Yes, but sometimes I am not motivated to do HIS work. I was quite amazed at the beginning of the parable. “A sower went out to sow.” What motivated the sower?

• GOD wants me to be motivated to seek the lost because HE sought me.
• GOD wants me to be excited to spread HIS Gospel because HE saved me with it.
• GOD wants me to be inspired to seek HIS kingdom first then HE will add to me what HE pleases.

Saving people from eternal death was the motivation of the sower. HE created me and does not want me to be lost. HE gives me seeds of wisdom, knowledge and understanding and it is up to me to allow them to grow. HE wants me to do the same to others.

• Are you stuck?
• Do you feel like hiding instead of running out and shouting in praise?
• Can you come out of your hiding place to serve JESUS today just because HE loves you?

Trying too Hard

Zechariah 4: ⁶ So he said to me, “This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel: ‘Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,’ says the Lord Almighty.

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After looking at the clock when I got home, I noticed thirty six hours had passed from the time I had last got out of bed. We were trying to land an account and I stayed overnight to work on the proposal.

• There were times I worked extremely hard to make things work.
• There were times I worked to exhaustion only to find dead ends.
• There were times I worked my fingers to the bone in order to get what “I” wanted.

Avoiding disappointment was the reason behind all the effort. I figured that since the others were not “strong” enough to complete the work, I would push us over the top with “my might.” We did not get the account. Wait, I worked hard! Why didn’t we get the account?

• GOD said to me “Not by your might.”
• GOD said to me “Not by your power.”
• GOD said to me “Only by MY SPIRIT.”

Success is defined by GOD alone. HE is the one who deems what will be successful and what will fail miserably. GOD places perfect barriers on my path that I cannot go over, under around or through. HE stops me dead in my tracks until I acknowledge I need HIM and HIM alone.

I have to take my faulty thinking that the source of success is from me and turn it towards the truth, namely GOD.  HE is the way the truth and the life!

• Are you depending on yourself for your success?
• Do you think you can get yourself out of your mess?
• Will you stop trying to depend on yourself and place your trust in GOD who will guide you?

In memory of Daryl Matthews

I thought I did it Myself

Psalm 64: ⁹ All people will fear;
    they will proclaim the works of God
    and ponder what he has done.

¹⁰ The righteous will rejoice in the Lord
    and take refuge in him;
    all the upright in heart will glory in him!

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Leadership training taught me to take credit for “my” accomplishments and help others do the same. I saw videos that showed the power of one person stopping a tank. I “can” be powerful, I thought to myself.

• I have read so many motivational sayings about power from within.
• I have heard so many people tell me “I” am great.
• I have listened to motivators tell me “I can conquer anything” but they leave off “how.”

Arrogance is bred when “I” think “I” accomplished anything on my own. I mean I have held some great titles and been rewarded by people. Sometimes these awards went to my head and I thought I was doing something. BUT GOD truly wants me to give HIM credit.

• GOD wants me to acknowledge I cannot anything on my own.
• GOD wants me to state that HE can tear me down or lift me up as HE pleases.
• GOD wants me to understand that all “my” works are known by HIM way before I do them.

There is no power within me. GOD is my source of power. HE gave me an empty shell and I have the choice to fill it up with “me” or HIM. No matter what I choose, when it is all over I will be required to proclaim the works of GOD. I choose to believe that GOD is my refuge and I rejoice at all HE is doing!

• Do you feel self-made?
• Do you lack confidence?
• Can you stop looking at yourself and start looking at GOD for the source of your strength?
• Do you know when you are at your weakest, GOD’s strength shines bright?
• Can you reset your confidence by going after “that” thing with GOD in front of you?