Motivation (by Cathe Laurie)

“So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God” (1 Corinthians 10:31 ESV).

Alright, friends . . . we’re well into February, so I have to ask: How are your New Year’s Resolutions going?

The truth is, most New Year’s Resolutions don’t survive this long. We all have the best intentions, but when it comes to it, we just can’t (or won’t) stick with them.

So, as believers, how do we stay motivated to follow God’s Law? After all, the world will tell us it’s outdated and out of touch. It’s an uphill battle to keep His commands when the world is screaming the opposite.

Well, there are a few factors I have found that can help keep us on track:

The Best Way

I wasn’t always a rule-follower, but if you were, you probably know that little twinge of discomfort in the pit of your stomach when there’s a chance something bad will happen.

As followers of Christ, the Holy Spirit guides us like that twinge of discomfort, a nudge to keep us moving in the right direction. God’s laws are not to contain us; they’re to protect us from the consequences He knows we’ll face if we stray.

Getting drunk can lead to bad decisions and poor health. “Sleeping around” can cause heartache, illness, and disintegration of God-intended intimacy. Worshipping false idols can distract us from our purpose and leave years wasted behind us. Just to name a few!

God doesn’t call us, as His children, to follow the rules “because He says so.” He calls us to live a better, healthier life because He loves us and wants us to thrive. When we remember that His ways are better than any short-term thrill, the choice is clear!

“The law of the Lord is perfect, refreshing the soul. The statutes of the Lord are trustworthy, making wise the simple” (Psalm 19:7 NIV).

Laws of Love

When you love someone, you don’t want to hurt them. In fact, if you truly love someone, you’ll do everything in your power to try to avoid them being hurt, ever! It’s a motivator that extends beyond ourselves. And in our Christian faith, it extends to the Lord.

Sin acts against God, but living the way the Lord intends honors Him and brings Him glory. So in each action, I hope we are excited about making Him proud and proclaiming His goodness to others!

“If you love me, you will keep my commandments” (John 14:15 ESV).

Rewards

Yes, a nice warm cup of coffee or a lovely candle can be great rewards during your Bible study or prayer time and can get you out of bed in the morning to spend time with the Lord. But God promises rewards far beyond just a little pick-me-up on a dreary day.

When we work for His kingdom and follow what God’s called us to do, we deposit funds into our eternal bank account. The seeds we sow here on earth will be reaped in Heaven.

“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal” (Matthew 6:19-20 ESV).

So, friends, whatever your motivation may be, press on! Keep on living as God has called you to.

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Cathe Laurie is the founder and director of the Virtue women’s ministry. She is also a featured speaker on The Virtue Podcast, at Harvest events, and the author of As I See It. You can find her weekly articles here on harvest.org.