What motivates you?

I found it difficult to get going this morning. I was debating on whether to skip my water aerobics class.  With single digit temperatures, I wanted to stay in my warm bed. Instead, I chose to fight the temptation and go to class.

Getting dressed and driving to the Y was half the battle.  Once class was finished, I was glad I forced myself to go. Discipline is challenge for me.

This afternoon, I was communicating with friends about motivation and discipline. I think we all agreed, often the good feeling comes after we had accomplished the task.  It is the action of getting there that is often the most challenging.

John Henry Newman said this,  “Virtue is its own reward and brings with it the truest and highest pleasure; but if we cultivate it only for pleasure’s sake, we are selfish and not religious, and will never gain the pleasure, because we can never have the virtue. “

What motivates you? Does your motivation to exercise spring from a desire to look good?  Maybe the motivation is to regain your health. Or is your motivation to take care of your body and serve God with excellence? 

Where does the motivation to do good come from? As Christians what motivates us? What is the source of goodness? Simple … it is from God. God is good. That is part of the character of God. We serve a loving God. We want others to have a relationship with God. 

What about other motivations? One short passage from Genesis illustrates one group's motivation. 

Here is this passage:

“Then they said, “Come, let’s build a great city for ourselves with a tower that reaches into the sky. This will make us famous and keep us from being scattered all over the world.” Genesis 11:4  ( New Living Translation)

The short passage  is one example of what motivated a group.  I also thought of Old Testament prophet Jeremiah.  In the midst of extreme difficulty and reproach, Jeremiah chose to obey God.  Interested in discovering more about Jeremiah, I suggest you look at a short portion of scripture found in Jeremiah 20: 8 – 9

Why am I thinking about motivation? My word for 2014 is FOCUS.  I am working to discern my motivation regarding some activities in my life.  I want my motivation to be God focused. 




I know I will have more private reflections about motivations.