The Great Motivator

I've heard people say that fear is a powerful motivation for change.

In the past few weeks I've been in a place where I've been made aware of how much I would love to see change both in my external and my internal world. And yet....this statement makes me laugh. For true and powerful change I cannot think of a worse motivator than fear. Fear of the lord, perhaps, but certainly not any other kind of fear.

Today, as I was processing through a bit I had a really deep revelation, one that has begun to wash over me like warm oil in the deepest parts of my heart, mind and emotions. I'm entering a season in which every single thing I'm facing is absolutely new. I am starting an internship, starting training for missions work, and I have no job with bills that pretty much I cannot pay....and yet, I realized I have no fear of what's to come.

Have you ever had crazy situations like that? Where you should be totally petrified, but yet you're not at all? Like not even an ounce of fear? For me, those are some of the most powerful moments that show me that not only is God real, but He's very near, and very kind. He is so good to us.

This made me think of a few verses that He's been pounding into me in this last season of life:
"Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord!" (Psalm 27:14)
and again,
"Be strong, and let your heart take courage, all you who wait for the Lord!" (Psalm 31:24)

Such a simple command and yet profound...at times, we have to LET our hearts take courage. If God feels the need to remind us to do this...it must mean the opposite is true. It isn't circumstances or even the forces of evil that cause us to fear...it's US allowing ourselves to fear. If we have to let our hearts take courage and be strong, we must be the ones that allow ourselves to fear and be afraid. I realize that there are powerful things that happen, but the choice is always still ours.

Could we have the strength and courage to stop worrying, to stop stressing over burdens that are not ours, over things that do not matter and just turn into Jesus? Could we just run to His refuge and actually believe that He really is enough? What would Christians talk about if we didn't pass worry and fear off as prayer points, caution or even wisdom?

But that's a whole other blog for another time...bringing this back into my journey of the day. I realized today that fear is a terrible motivator. I'd like to suggest that we readjust ourselves towards His kindness. If Romans is true and it's 'His kindness that is intended to lead us to repentance'...then surely this means that His kindness will cause us to make the best of decisions.

God's kindness is the best motivator. That's my statement today, the whole point of all of this blabbing. I hope, that for those of you who are in the midst of change, which is pretty much everyone I know, that you will find your purpose, your motivation, your courage within His kindness. If you are motivated by that, how can you choose wrong?

If you've been struggling with fear, or have fallen into a place where you have passed it off as 'normal' repeat and declare this prayer over yourself:

Father, I allow myself to feel freedom from any unnecessary load that I feel I need to bare. I extend grace, not only to others but to myself. Oh lord, keep me from passing any blame to anyone, even myself for my feelings. 

And oh lord, help me to treat myself with the kindness of heaven. The kindness that nourishes us, that makes us alive to your beauty and love. The kindness that heals even the deepest of hurts. The kindness that protects our already-secure identity that is found in your eyes. 

I choose your kindness, this day, as my motivation towards change and towards hope. I choose this day to allow my heart to take courage, knowing that you are able to take care of any mistakes I may make. 

Fear is but a shadow of what could be if you have the courage and strength to look beyond the vail. It is my prayer that we, as Christians, in this season of our lives will live in the fullness we can have for the sake of the lives we are meant to influence.

L