MOTIVATION?
- Olufunmilayo Adekusibe
- 13 minutes ago
- 3 min read
Today’s Readings:
Judges 6:11-24
Psalm 85:9,11-14
Matthew 19:23-30
It is easy to sound like a motivational speaker when we read stories from Scripture, like the story of Gideon. We should not undermine motivation because God Himself motivated Gideon. Gideon saw himself as the least person in the most insignificant clan in all of Israel. In his words, ‘My clan, you must know, is the weakest in Manasseh and I am the least important in my family’ (Judges 6:15). God saw otherwise. The angel of God called him, ‘The Lord is with you, valiant warrior!’ (Judges 6:12). So, how many dreams have died because of negative self-talk? I am not saying that you should “aspire to perspire”. I am talking about the fact that God created you and loaded you with grace. Many times, you sit on those graces. I am also guilty of this. Many times, I doubt and second-guess myself. Sometimes, I want things to be planned to perfection before I act, so that there is no problem. Yet, all God wants me to do is to show up. You heard me right, show up. Show up with the little that you have. Show up with what God has deposited in you. Don’t just minimise it.
Act out your faith. Gideon was acting out his fear. He was threshing in a winepress. People don’t thresh within a room. Threshing is an outdoor activity, to allow air circulation and prevent choking from dust and smell. Gideon chose to thresh in a room for fear of the Midianites. Before Midian ever was a threat to Gideon, he was a threat to himself. The Midianites did not know him; neither did they care about him. He probably would never have crossed paths with a Midianite. Yet, Gideon lived in fear of an imaginary enemy. May God deliver us from the imaginary enemies we create for ourselves. May God deliver us from the fear of the unknown. May God deliver us from the fear of things that have happened yet in Jesus’ name. God is stronger than your fear. Jesus warns his disciples of the danger of trusting in earthly possessions. He says, ‘It is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven’ (Matthew 19:23). But this is not the case for anyone who places their trust in God: “For men, this is impossible; for God everything is possible.” (Matthew 19:26). Are you placing your trust in God or in yourself?
"But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint." Isaiah 40:31
The biggest motivation you will ever receive is:
You are a child of God.
You have received the gift of eternal life.
Ask questions and seek answers in prayer.
Think of solutions rather than cry over problems.
God’s power has provided you with everything you need to succeed in life.
With grace, you shall do exceedingly more than you ever imagined.
You carry the spirit of God, and you shall not be put to shame.
JUDE-MARY OWOH
To surrender your life to Christ, say this prayer aloud. “Father, I acknowledge my sin against You. I repent and ask for forgiveness, in the name of Jesus. I surrender to the Lordship of Jesus. By the power of Your Holy Spirit, take control of my heart and lead me in Your path of righteousness. Thank you, Lord.”
If you said the prayer, Congratulations! You are welcome to the body of Christ. Prayerfully seek out a living church and meet the resident reverend, pastor, or priest.
Prayer:
May God help you today and always to live in the spirit of God, to walk in faith and claim your victory in Christ, and to do great things for God, for the salvation of souls and for your own salvation through the same Christ our Lord. Amen.
May God reveal to you the greatness that lies within you and give you courage to embrace it.
May the grace of holiness be upon you, and may divine providence and protection be with you through Christ our Lord. Amen.
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