What Motivates You?

Ps 91:14-16
“Because he loves me,” says the LORD, “I will rescue him;
I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name.
He will call upon me, and I will answer him;
I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him. With long life will I satisfy him and show him my salvation.”NIV

There’s an old story I heard when I was a little girl, about a woman who was in a car accident. The car rolled over twice and her child was stuck underneath. The mom saw that her child was about to be crushed under the car and without thinking she miraculously lifted up the car high enough to set her child free. Some people believe this is just another Urban Myth, but most people believe this story to be true.

It’s a well known fact that people can do amazing things when they are scared or in a life or death situation. Why is this? They are motivated….some may not even realize what they are doing but for the most part they are driven by a motivation whether it is fear, anger, bitterness or love. With this woman she was motivated by the pure love of a mother.

Let’s take a look back at Psalm 91;14-16 and see what motivates God and look at the list of promises that God will give to us:

1. I will Rescue him
2. I will protect him
3. I will answer him
4. I will be with him in trouble
5. I will deliver him
6. I will honor him
7. I will give him long life
8. I will satisfy him
9. I will show him my salvation

I don’t know about you but every time I read this passage I’m blessed to be reminded that He is our rescuer, our protector, our deliverer, our provider, the one who gives us life, and His salvation. He lists nine amazing promises that He will do for us. How comforting is this to read?

Now let’s look at what He asks of us in return:

1. We love Him
2. We acknowledge His name
3. We call upon Him

There’s no comparison. We cannot even come close to doing what God is willing to do for us. Let’s now look at His motivation, the first part of verse 14 says it is “because he loves me”. He gives us His answer right at the very beginning of this particular passage, that His motivation is love. It appears that His motivation is our love for Him but in reality it is His love for us. The bible says that He loves us as our Heavenly Father. The bible also says that He has drawn us with cords of loving kindness (Hosea 11:4) and also that we love because He loved us first (1 John 4;19). God’s sole motivation in everything He does is love.

My question for you is what is your motivation for all that you do? Are you motivated by love, God’s love? If it isn’t love, then what is it? Take a moment to ponder these questions and also ponder this list of promises that God proves His love over and over again by first dying for us, and now living for us.

The apostle Paul wrote that Christ love compels us (2 Cor. 5;14). What compels you? What moves you to do what you do? I encourage you today to be compelled by God’s love and allow his love for you to motivate you to love Him, acknowledge His name and call upon Him.

Call upon Him while He is near, today is the day of salvation for tomorrow is not promised. Let love motivate you to love Him today and move you to draw near to Him and seek Him with your whole heart. Last question: What obstacle or hindrance is so great that would keep you from a God and love like this?

Personal Prayer

Dear Heavenly Father,
Thank you for loving me the way that you do and all the precious promises you provide for me. Please help me to receive and comprehend the depth and the width of your love for me that I may be compelled and motivated to love you more and live for you. I love you Lord. In Jesus name I pray, Amen.

by Filoiann Wiedenhoff, pastor’s wife, mother, writer and women’s counselor.  You can visit her website at www.filoiannwiedenhoff.com and sign-up for her monthly newsletter.