The Need For Motivation - Part 2 | 12.30.12

In discussing the initial post on this topic with friends, the idea arose of faith being something deep within that brings out the best in us.  Let's also add to that faith's ability to ignite our own capabilities to take the necessary corresponding action that will manifest the potential outcomes we believe will become reality.  Faith represents the course of action we take following our receipt of inspiration; and by reason of the choices and decisions we make, it's a definite indication of what we trust will manifest our desired outcomes.  But somewhere between being inspired and walking by faith, there lies motivation.  Between us receiving the vision and carrying it out there is an engagement of our "want to" to our "will to" once we've discovered the "why do".

Often times, people look to others for motivation when, in fact, they're really just receiving encouragement.  As the previous installment established, motivation is a matter of the heart because our motives are essentially WHY we're willing to take a certain course of action.  We establish our own motives for what we do as individuals, plain and simple.  Yes, we can be encouraged by others to accomplish all manner of feats; but the responsibility for what we WILL to do chiefly falls on us.  Therefore, the difference between motivation and encouragement is simply that we motivate ourselves and are encouraged by others.  Motivation is internal, encouragement is external.

So now you may be wondering, as I did while writing the previous installment, "What then is the big deal about so-called 'motivational speakers?'"  We've all heard of them and can probably name a number of popular personalities who are referred to as such.  If we apply the truth that's been laid out thus far, we can safely conclude that these people are basically encouragers--not motivators.  The reason being is quite simple: I can be encouraged to do anything; but until I determine in my own heart WHY I'm willing to exercise my faith and pursue a course of action to produce the outcomes someone else encourages, I have no motivation to do so.  Matthew 14:25-31 records a great example of how Peter was inspired when he saw Jesus walking on the water and was encouraged by Christ verbally bidding him to come.  But Peter had to motivate himself to step out of the boat and onto the water.  It wasn't until Peter's eyes shifted from his inspiration to the atmospheric conditions of the sea that fear distracted his course of action.  With that shift in motivation, Peter went from operating in miracle mode to survival mode and quickly found himself sinking.  When we depend on OTHERS to motivate us, we also find ourselves sinking in the middle of our respective seas because OUR motives were not strong enough to support our faith walk.