In this episode, we look at various motivating forces in your life, and point to the one that should be your chief motivator.
Be sure to download the companion journal for this video from the link below:
My 12-Week Journal
Week 03#: Your Chief Motivator
Other videos in this series:
View Transcript
Many things in your life will have a motivating function, spurring you to spring into action for any given reason. The verb motivate, by definition, means to “provide (someone) with a motive for doing something,” or to “stimulate (someone’s) interest in or enthusiasm for doing something.” Motivation is the reason one has for acting or behaving in a certain way. Necessity is often a chief motivator. If you become hungry, you will be motivated to find something to eat. If you lack funds and begin to rely on others to meet your basic needs you will be motivated to find a source of steady income. This can lead to legal work or illegal activity, depending on the heart of the individual.
Fear is a common but powerful motivating force in the lives of many people. Because of fear—such as the prevailing fear of being caught for doing something dreadfully wrong—people will tell a lie as quickly and easily as they can blink their eyes. Cain is guilty of this. His fear of being caught for the murder of his brother led to him telling a lie to his Creator. Yah cursed him for his actions, and sin separated Cain from Yah. Thereafter, he became a fugitive forced to wander the earth aimlessly (Genesis 4:12 – 14). You see, when you are separated from Yah, your life either becomes aimless, or your energy will be expended in futility, even as you strive with your all to find your own sense of purpose.
Fear of giants, and all that that entailed, caused the ten spies of Numbers 13 to lie for a different reason. And because the nation of Israel largely believed their evil report and acted on it, despite the urging of Caleb and Joshua to the contrary, the fate of the nation was sealed. Almost all the adult Israelites of the day would die in the wilderness and never see the land that was being established for them. Thus, fear usually yields negative results. But the same can be said for guilt, anger, resentment, envy, lust, and greed, among many other examples.
Guilt for one thing can cause one’s past to hang over their head, blocking them from moving forward. It motivates you to continue a life of sin, causing you to think that your past sins can never be forgiven or your old self conquered. The sons of Korah, in composing a revealing psalm, said of a repentant Israel:
“Yah, you were favorable to your land; you restored the fortunes of Jacob. You forgave the iniquity of your people; you covered all their sin. Selah.”
—Psalm 85:1 – 2
Yah can cover all of your sins, if you repent, confess them to him, and turn from your sinful ways. Those very sins will not only remain covered if you continue on the path of righteousness, but will one day be blotted out entirely, when all is said and done. That should be a positive motivator for anyone seeking to find their true purpose in this life, for your purpose will not be bogged down with past misdeeds and unspeakable iniquities. Yah, in covering your sins, grants you permission to put them out of mind as well, as long as you do not continue in them. Feeling remorse for your past sins and dedicating yourself to not committing new ones is the first major step to readying for your purpose. And truth be told, having purpose is the only thing that will bring meaning to your existence. If you do not learn what your purpose is and actively fulfill it, your life will be void of meaning, and a meaningless life is a hopeless life. This often leads to depression, and depression to an abysmal darkness that will utterly consume you.
When Job was being tormented by his afflictions, his life seemed hopeless, and that hopelessness created a deep darkness that engulfed him.
“I loathe my life; I would not live forever. Leave me alone, for my days are a breath.”
—Job 7:16
Your life does not have to be lived without hope, because it will be filled with meaning once you begin to fulfill your true purpose. And purpose will allow you to simplify your life by filling it with essential activities, endeavors, pursuits, and decisions that will be rooted in Yah and directed by him. Your time will be spent wisely, and your conversations will have meaning and spiritual worth. You will limit yourself to necessary commitments and cease to be idle, frivolous, and wasteful. Many who feel overburdened by life are not yielding themselves to Yah, or submitting to his son, who said:
“Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”
—Matthew 11:28 – 30
Everything that Yah will cause you to put your hand to you will be able to accomplish, and it won’t seem overwhelming, stressful, or beyond your reach. If something you undertake does become burdensome in this way, then Yah has not guided you to such an undertaking! If he has made it your purpose to do a thing that appears complex or daunting to someone else, it will not appear complex or daunting to you, for you will be equipped to fulfill whatever purpose he assigns you. Take Bezalel for instance. In order to have him do the grand work of furnishing the tabernacle and designing its adjacent items, Yah …
“… filled him with the Spirit of Elohim, with ability and intelligence, with knowledge and craftsmanship, to devise artistic designs, to work in gold, silver, and bronze, in cutting stones for setting, and in carving wood, to work in every craft.”
—Exodus 31:3 – 5
Finding your purpose must be of primary importance to you, once you have fully repented of your sins and have turned from your evil ways. Yah has been preparing you for that purpose for many years, but being ready for it takes time and effort. You must submit yourself to Yah and his ways, and commit your life and your work to him. Then your purpose will be your chief motivator in life. It will get you up early in the morning, and fill you with a zeal for serving the Most High in a manner specific to your abilities.
WEEK 3
In the days before us, you will have to stand before Yah, and your entire life will be examined. All your decisions, actions, thoughts, and words will come into account. If you have served Yah, held a deep and abiding faith in his son, kept the commandments, and abandoned a life of sin, you will have nothing to fear. In fact, once you begin to fulfill your true purpose, Yah will steer your entire life until you are standing before his throne as an overcomer.
Over the next 10 weeks, I’m asking you to continue this journey with me; not a journey to figure out a career path, or how to busy yourself and fill your life with meaningless activities. In fact, we’ll be seeking to clear out the clutter and pare things down so you can focus on the most important aspect of your life: what it is Yah has truly called you to do in service to him.
Remember that our purpose, and our plans, must derive from Yah. This 12-week journey will involve listening to this message one week at a time, while applying its principles to your life. The 12 parts should not be binged in one go, otherwise it defeats the purpose of the journey. If you have already viewed the series one week at a time, then feel free to binge in another viewing.
THINGS TO DO OVER THE COURSE OF THE NEXT WEEK
First, listen to this message several times and review its various points.
Keep this in mind:
Many things act as motivating forces in my life, but my purpose must become my chief motivator.
Reflect on this verse of the week:
“Commit your works to Yah, and your plans will be established. Yah has made everything for a purpose, even the wicked for the day of trouble.”
—Proverbs 16:3 – 4
Ask yourself this question:
Have I truly repented of all my sins and fully turned from my old ways, so that I can be ready to fulfill my purpose to Yah’s glory?
Keywords: guilt, anger, resentment, envy, lust, greed, motivating forces, sons of Korah, sins blotted out, hopelessness, depression, suicide, depressed, hopeless, idle, frivolous, wasteful, meaningful life, motivation, kingdom preppers, finding purpose, 12-week journey, searching for purpose, kingdom prepping, kp, scripture-study
Feedback Form
