A Myth

“And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall

reap if we do not lose heart.” Galatians 6:9

Motivation as we know it is a myth. We use the word motivation interchangeably with “feel.” I’m not “motivated” to mow the yard today. No, you don’t feel like it. That is not what motivation is. In that context, you will never feel motivated for anything you don’t want to do. Therefore, you will only do the things you like and use that lack of “motivation” as an excuse for not doing all other things.

However, motivation is another word for desire. Your desire may be because of someone or something else. You may be motivated to work because you want to care for your family. That doesn’t mean that you love to work or enjoy your work, but you are still “motivated.” It can be an internal goal that gets you motivated. Something somewhere somehow threw a desire on you to accomplish that task. Often, that motivation/desire is not as epic as we would like others to believe. Sometimes, it's as little as I just want to be the best or better than that person. You see, motivation is not about feeling. It’s about desire and a choice to act on that desire.

So, don’t wait till you “feel” like doing something to do it. You don’t have to have a reason either. You can do it. Act, then let the feeling part come later. Act, and eventually, you’ll feel it, understand it, and become it. Too often, we try to understand and feel something. When the reality is that you can’t understand it or how it truly feels until you do it.

We have a desire to be pleasing to the God we so dearly love. That desire is our motivation to act on His word. Thereby showing our faith in and love of Him. In fact, without that desire, we won't do anything that God wants. We will use lack of motivation or skill as an excuse for why we can’t accomplish the very thing He said we could. We will also never understand it or know how it feels to act on His word until we do it.

Start doing the things God asks of you, and the rest will come. One day, you will look back and wonder why you didn’t start sooner. Do good!

-Steve Johnson

#MaysvilleMessenger