I wish I could feel like I do the day after a conference. I wish I could feel like I do on Monday morning like I do on Sunday evening. Staying motivated is one of our most difficult challenges. I set goals like most of you do, I try to take aim at a given target for a certain task, yet I don’t always feel motivated.
Prayer, fasting, studying, teaching Bible studies, doing outreach and getting tasks completed can get wearisome. Some days I just want to sit on my couch and watch Andy Griffith for hours. Even though I need to get things done, and I want to get things done I lack the motivation. Sure you can feel the spiritual high on Sunday, but then you have to learn how to follow through on Monday. You have to come back down to reality, and allow your feet to touch the ground after you’ve been in the heavenlies the day before.
We have to be relentless. We have to be disciplined. If being disciplined was easy, then everyone would do it. The difficulty of it makes it great. That’s what separates us from the mediocre. I don’t always feel like praying, I don’t always want to read my Bible, it’s way easier to eat than to fast, yet I know it brings a harvest that being lazy doesn’t. So how can I get my motivation back?
1. Mix it up- Mix things up a litte, change your prayer time. A personal trainer told me one time, that to grow your muscles you need to confuse them every once in awhile. Don’t always do the same workout, do something different, train a new muscle group in a new way. The same goes with prayer, get up earlier, or pray at night. Don’t get in a rut!
2. Take a Break-When studying is getting no where, take a break. Get up and do something else for a couple of hours. Go watch Andy, go grab a coffee, go eat somewhere different or eat some chocolate. Let your brain relax for a little bit then go back and pick it up again.
3. Read a Biography- This is a little different, yet I have found that reading biographies of spiritual giants has given me greater motivation. I recently read two biographies of Charles Spurgeon that gave me a kick in the seat. Charles Finney has a great biography that’s worth your reading. Andrew Urshan’s biography is probably one of my favorites that I’ve read at least twice. Reading through a biography can inspire you and increase your dedication, I highly recommend doing this.
4. Listen to Preaching- Get online and watch or listen to some preaching. Listen to somebody you don’t normally listen to. Find a sermon that’s along the lines of where you need motivation. Sis. Vesta Mangun always inspires me to pray and win souls. JH Osborne and Jeff Arnold inspire me to study. Let the preached Word of God inspire you!
I pray this helps you when you don’t feel motivated. We have a high calling that demands we stay encouraged!
What are some ways you can stay motivated? What helps you?
Good stuff bro. I love listening to preaching & switching it up a bit. Reading biographies of great men of God can be quite the push I need. I think of men & women from the past that took a stand for God when it wasn’t popular & could even lose their lives for preaching; if they can do it, we can too.