Friday 20 March 2015

We *must* have motivation - but where can we find it?

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Religion - that is where we find it; and there is no alternative.

So... Choose your religion, choose your denomination.

But then what? That is just to point yourself in the right direction of finding motivation - it is not taking one single step in actually becoming motivated.

Ideally, you find a denomination, find a church and ask to join that church - and be allowed to; participate as fully as you can and discover that doing so motivates you.

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But any of these steps may be blocked, or may fail to generate motivation - indeed, some find some, most or all aspects of participating in an actual church to be de-motivating.

This does not necessarily mean that person would or should leave that church - but it does mean that they must seek motivation elsewhere (and I emphasize must - because sufficient motivation is not merely an option, but a necessity for the good life).

What then?

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We will need to seek and make motivation outside the church (but in line with its teachings).

How? Here are some suggestions:


  • Meditation  and/or Prayer - These require some learning; therefore time set aside, effort made over sufficient time. 


  • Reading - scripture yes, but also (and perhaps mostly) devotional books, and in general reading which provide the right kind of motivation: novels, poetry, essays, drama. The principle can be extended to music and the visual arts.


  • Tithe or donate some of your money (or time) to religious causes, especially specific churches - what kind of causes? Evangelism is perhaps the primary one, especially evangelism in the place you live; but also all manner of support for Christians in the efforts to live Christianly.  

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What you could be aiming-at is building in yourself a lively sense of the reality of God; a real sense of the living God.

That God is not just alive, and real, and out there - but also inside you.

And, to be motivated, hope is essential. And the hope must be hopeful - hope needs to be as solid and as specific as is required to give you motivating hope. This probably requires knowing more about Heaven.

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2 comments:

David said...

Bruce, it would not be an understatement to say that your blog has changed my life. Helped me find hope and direction in an all too often hopeless and directionless world. I can't thank you enough for what you have given me. I am truely grateful and I only wish I could repay you somehow for your spiritual guidance and for making insights legitimate that the rest of the world had told me I was crazy for thinking of such things as Heaven being a real place and God being a truely loving parent. I hope to thank you in person in the next life if not in this one. God bless you and your family.

Bruce Charlton said...

@David. Thanks very much for this testimonial! Probably a case of both being in the right place at the right time, and not by accident. It may be that the fact we have met off-line a few times over the years that also facilitated this helpful outcome.