Psalm 19:1 says, “The heavens proclaim the glory of God. The skies display his craftsmanship.”
They say your willpower is the strongest in the mornings. Studies show if you are going to break any bad habit or start any good one, the chances of you doing so are WAY higher in the morning.
In fact, the way to recharge your willpower is to sleep. The reason our willpower, brain function, and motivation go down throughout the day is because of decision fatigue. We are constantly making decisions even if we are unaware.
If you find your willpower is running low, you are not alone! So many of us are not well-rested, and it shows. And although many of us need stronger willpower, sadly, we cannot nap throughout the day, so could there be an alternative to re-charging our brains?
The answer is yes! Resting with God is not only done through dreaming but also done through being in his presence.
When I know I have a long day ahead and cannot run out of steam, here are the three actions I take to help me stay motivated.
Pray: I know this sounds obvious, but a healthy prayer life is harder to maintain the less you do it. Our days get busy, we get distracted, and prayer is the first thing to go. I started implementing 10 minutes of prayer, where I put down my phone, close my computer, take a few deep breaths, and pray. Afterwards, I feel patient and ready for what’s next because I took time to talk with the source of life.
Romans 8:26 - Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words.
MOVE: If you start to feel like your motivation is running away, run after it literally! Go for a walk (even if it is around your office). Do something to get moving again, as Newton would say, an object in motion stays in motion. While you’re at it, drink a cup or two of water-most of us are dehydrated, and we don’t even realize it.
Go outside: During your next lunch break soak in the sun, even if it is just to walk to your car. Sit there, breathe in, and close your eyes. You do not have to have the most beautiful views (although it helps) to really feel God. He made all things and, therefore, is in all things. When you doubt, look up. The sky, no matter how gray it may be, is a sign that no matter how far humans fall, the heavens remain untouched by sin. There is a sunrise and sunset every day, there are more stars in the sky than we can count, and the sky shows the power of God.
Psalm 19:1 says, “The heavens proclaim the glory of God. The skies display his craftsmanship.”
If it is the weekend, then you will have far more control over what you can do, but don’t let your work life stop you from feeling motivated throughout the day. While we wait for God to act, we can build up healthy habits that will help us for whatever is next, but you need to start today, tomorrow will be too late!