Motivation. What do you think when you hear that word? If like most, the idea of ‘getting after it’, ‘the grind’ and other such thoughts come to mind. But what about for the Christian, and for the Christian athlete? Motivation is good, discipline is better.
Paul talked about the need for this in 1st Corinthians: “I discipline my body and keep it under control.”
Good, I like this. Probably everyone reading this would agree conceptually with the idea. If you’ve been reading my articles, you know I write a lot about discipleship of which discipline is a key concept. Great! So, you buy into it, you want to practice it. Then what are some of the critical elements? One of them is the need to get momentum and then sustain it.
What is momentum?
Momentum means, by definition, moving forward. Gaining momentum takes purpose to build the routine you work around. This should focus first on God’s call for your life which leads to a vision. You build discipline and gain momentum through executing on your purpose. Motivation will only take you so far. There are lots of days I have zero motivation. Purpose though is what helps you take action, and it’s what gives you that initial boost of motivation. But purely working off of motivation is unlikely to last very long. Got it? Great! Let’s look at how we maintain momentum once we’ve built it.
First, we need to maintain a biblical focus. We don’t make forward progress as followers of God, and we don’t grow in God either, without having a bible-focused view on life. Ultimately, we are doing this for God. That is the purpose of the work, the need for discipline, and why we are building momentum in the first place. Yes, there are blessings that come but we do it ultimately for his glory. Jesus is our ultimate example of this. I like how the writer of Hebrews put it: “fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”
Gaining momentum
Next, we need to lay aside weights. Whoa! Hold on there Chris, I’m a strength athlete! That’s not what I mean. It’s hard to reach for the finish line of life, let alone maintain momentum, when we’re carrying the baggage of life. I go back to the same passage in Hebrews: “let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.”
Do you find yourself burdened and loaded down in the race of life? Take a moment to check your heart for these weights that those who serve others easily find themselves carrying.
Finally, this is a marathon, not a sprint so maintain a hunger for God’s presence in order to keep momentum. It’s all too easy to become caught up with reaching our goals that we neglect setting our hearts to seek God. One of the greatest dangers of those seeking to serve God is apparent success in our service while our hearts grow cold toward the Lord. Remember the words of Psalm 42:1- As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, my God.” Does yours?
When you have done this, when you have gained momentum, when you have “kept on keeping on” to keep it going be sure to celebrate. When you make progress, when you get the win, when you move the sticks, take time to celebrate and also thank God for his blessing and Holy Spirit that empower it.
Finishing well
As you then celebrate and carry on remember to have a spirit of honesty and accountability, with a little bit of forgiveness: It is human nature to protect ourselves and not always be honest. We all have bad days, bad weeks, and sometimes bad months. It is important to be honest with yourself but also to forgive yourself and move on. You had a stressful day and ate too much? That is today’s screwup. It does not stop you from eating better tomorrow. You missed a workout? Today’s problem. Tomorrow you won’t miss. You’re sick and have a few bad days? As soon as you’re ready, you get back on track. Have someone, or a group, you are accountable too and can share the successes and failures with and also be kind to yourself
The final thing to remember with this is that you are never finished. You have to realize you’re building new habits for the rest of your life. IT’s not merely to pray more or read your bible, or to lose the weight or gain the strength. That’s the input, and even perhaps the byproduct, but the key is habit-building momentum that is ongoing. As the shoe company Nike says- ‘there is no finish’, that is until God calls you home.
Looking to practice discipline and maintain momentum? Use these things I have shared as we head into the last part of this year to either get back on track if you’ve fallen off or to keep going if you’re still at it. Celebrate when you win. Be honest with yourself, learn, and move on when you fail. Realize no temporary change exists. You have to commit for life, but you don’t do it alone. The God of heaven and earth, the God of creation, is on your side, cheering you on. You’ve got this.
