Act When You Are Motivated! –
Have you heard strike when the iron is hot?
That desire we spoke of (Part 2) is motivating. When you want something a lot, you are more likely to take the steps to get it. Motivation changes our thinking into doing. It creates focus from fog. It develops clarity and intention. Often, it provides a sense of urgency, and it may even give us an adrenaline boost.
What happens when we don’t act on that motivation? Have you ever wanted to do something, but then you had to put it off? Did the motivation to do that thing leave? Sometimes our motivation for doing something is based on a short-term thing. Consider Zacchaeus.
And Jesus entered and passed through Jericho. And, behold, there was a man named Zacchaeus, which was the chief among the publicans, and he was rich. And he sought to see Jesus who he was; and could not for the press, because he was little of stature. And he ran before, and climbed up into a sycomore tree to see him: for he was to pass that way. And when Jesus came to the place, he looked up, and saw him, and said unto him, Zacchaeus, make haste, and come down; for to day I must abide at thy house. And he made haste, and came down, and received him joyfully.
Luke 19:1-6
Zacchaeus may not have been motivated to climb that tree at any other time. Sometimes what motivates us is fleeting. In Zacchaeus case, it was a once in a lifetime opportunity to see Jesus. Not that climbing a tree was the ultimate goal here, but sometimes our goals seem like the ultimate. Whatever is motivating us for the moment to climb our proverbial tree may pass. It’s easier to achieve if we act when we are motivated.
What if he had not acted when he was motivated? He would not have seen Jesus. Well, that is a human perspective. Jesus could have picked Zacchaeus out of the crowd. Nevertheless, my point is that you are motivated quite often by a short-term circumstance. If you don’t act on that motivation, not only can the motivation leave you, but you can also miss opportunities.
LIFE APPLICATION
Do you act when you are motivated? Sometimes the motivation comes from God. When it does, you need to make it a priority. Any time you put off doing something that you are motivated to do, you need to realize that if it is driven by a short term circumstance that you may never feel as motivated again to do it. It may be because the necessity passes, but it may also be that your desire changed because you no longer see the necessity – even if it still exists. Ask God to help you discern which things that you need to act on immediately.
Your Big Challenge
Ask yourself if you are willing to be successful. If you aren’t, perhaps you can do something about that. Ask God to give you the goal and the desire. Once you have your plan, organize your space to enable you to work efficiently, cost effectively, and more easily. Look for the necessity of succeeding with the end goal. Break it down into steps to help you see the necessity of each step. The necessity to achieve will help create the desire to achieve. From that desire, you will find motivation to keep you moving. Act when you are motivated. Remember that God can give you both the desire and the motivation. When it comes from Him, make it a priority.