We all have those days when we want to pull the covers back up over our heads and hit the snooze button one more time. There is the occasional day that we wake up motivated and ready to conquer the day, but it’s easier said than done. We know God’s Word gives us everything we need, but sometimes we forget.
Life can be difficult and sometimes all it takes is one little bump in the road to knock us off our feet and make us feel less than motivated. Don’t stay stuck, but rather cling to God’s Word and let it help you shift your thinking. Even the most motivated people need the nudge to remember the truth. Start the day with Scripture and let it sink in and catapult us into the right frame of heart and mind.
Let’s take a look at Scripture for a few words of motivation to get the day started on the right foot. Print these and put them in a visible place or save them and come back to them regularly to give yourself the boost you need to get moving on the days when you would rather stay in bed.
1. “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind” (2 Timothy 1:7).
Fear is gripping. It takes hold of the throat and makes us feel like we cannot move. Fear of failure, fear of the unknown, fear of what other people think or fear of what might happen or not happen. It grips us. But remembering the truth of God’s Word gives us fresh eyes and perspective to remember that fear is not from God. What God does offer is power, love, and a sound mind. Those things are worth clinging to and claiming. Rather than wonder what could possibly go wrong today, let’s consider what could possibly go right. Choose power, love and a sound mind over fear today.
2. “For the Holy Spirit will teach you in that very hour what you ought to say” (Luke 12:12).
Have you ever laid awake at night rehearsing what you might say or how you might respond? Or maybe you’ve rehearsed your conversation in the mirror as you get ready for the day. The Bible reminds us that the Holy Spirit gives us the right words when we need them. We can rest well both in mind and spirit knowing that God will offer us wisdom to answer. Don’t worry about conversations you might have. Instead give it over to the Lord and let Him do the talking. This will get your day started on the right foot rather than started by worrying about putting your foot in your mouth.
3. “For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek” (Romans 1:16).
We know our mission in life is to share the good news of the gospel. It’s clear from the words of Jesus in Matthew 28:19-20. But sometimes it’s not the first thought on my mind when I wake up. However, if we can put this scripture before us first thing in the morning, we are more apt to live out the calling we each have to share the gospel with the people we interact with throughout our day. Be bold in proclaiming the truth you know and share about the salvation you have received.
4. “Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God” (Romans 5:1-2).
One thing that challenges many of us each day is peace. We want it and we know we need it. But as soon as something bad happens, we go back to asking God all the hard questions and wondering why He is allowing so much to go wrong. Even though we know the truth, we still revert back to struggling with resting in the peace that passes understanding. These verses from Romans give us so many things to cling to as we press forward on the more difficult days. First, we need to remember we are justified! Jesus paid our debt! Second, we are given peace. What a gift! Third, Paul reminds us that we have access to God through Jesus. And lastly, this gives us so much to celebrate. When we wake up struggling to put one foot in front of the other, remembering the hope we have in Jesus gives us a fresh perspective for the day.
5. “Such is the confidence that we have through Christ toward God. Not that we are sufficient in ourselves to claim anything as coming from us, but our sufficiency is from God, who has made us sufficient to be ministers of a new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit. For the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life” (2 Corinthians 3:4-6).
Sometimes we think everything depends on us. As if we are responsible for the well-being of the world. Shame on us for being so bold and prideful in our thinking. Anything good in us comes from God. This motivates me to stay close to God, listen to His voice, and lean in close to the heart of God. It makes me want to hear what He has to say. It gives me a renewed desire to live with His will as my will. Knowing I am not sufficient gives me relief to know I need to depend on God alone. He is enough! He is sufficient! He is sufficient in and through me. And He is sufficient in and through you too. No matter how inadequate you feel or how hard life may seem, God has exactly what you need for today.
Photo credit: Unsplash/Kyle Glenn