I think that motivation is the root and key... how...

2008-01-30T23:11:00.000+09:30

I think that motivation is the root and key... however... I know that if I don't act on my motives, I easily get lethargic. Sometimes I have a really fun project but I keep getting distracted. By the time I have spare time, I've lost motivation to do that enjoyable project.

Biblically speaking... Matthew 7:24-27 is Jesus' illustration about the man who built his house on rock. At first I thought it was about building your faith on solid foundations... but to my surprise, it was actually about practice. "Any everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand."

James 2:18 "But someone will say, "You have faith and I have works." Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works."

Psychologically & physiologically speaking... the body obeys the mind, but the mind reacts to the state of the body. Chemically... if the body abnormally releases certain hormones or chemicals, it affects how you think and feel. Studies show that when people slouch and walk looking at the ground and act depressed, their minds slowly become fooled into becoming depressed. When those test subjects walk with confidence with their chin up, their mood is lifted psychologically and chemically.

Socially, those who spend more time in isolation and spend their time reflecting, appear to be less social or "happy" than those who spend all day talking to customers and moving around.

There is a symbiosis if you will between reflection and action (My own thoughts) Your motivations may control your actions, but your actions also sustain/influence your motivations. This may sound like "What came first, chicken or egg?" Intuitively, you think the mind has total control over the body... but the mind is influenced in more ways than you can imagine... everything from food/diet, weather/climate (yes there's been studies between races and their perception and psychology), hormones, age, gender, memories, childhood, upbringing, genetic disposition, how you walk, how you act, your job and what you do, whether someone honked or cut you in traffic one morning.

In biblical practicality, you ask how do you rely on God, or honor God as God in thought and action? The answer may be as simple as both. James 2:21 - Abraham had faith, and exercised it by obeying God through action. The answer is simple but hard to do. People who seem to have "lots of energy" are actually fueled by doing lots of things. People who seem to have lots of thinking energy are fueled by doing lots of thinking. This is what it means to be extroverted and introverted. Introverts feel that extroverts exert a lot of physical energy, and extroverts feel that introverts "think too much". This is like a see-saw. If you're attempting to balance it, you'll always be leaning towards one side a bit more. Another way of putting it is... humans favor the path of less resistance. So it comes down to one question: "Are you taking the path of less resistance, or the path of highest reward?"
i.e. Are you doing lots of Christian activities because you love organizing things and feel energized to do them? Do you like to reflect, think and feel motivated on the spot more because it seems to take less effort and you enjoy it more?
(Matthew 7:13 doesn't directly support this statement, but it does say that the way of righteousness and greatest reward is narrow, and more difficult for man to keep on.)

A challenge for the
Extroverts: Do you stop to thank God for you strength and abilities. Reflect on God's majesty more.
Introverts: Does the thought of getting out there more scare you? You love God so much? Share it then with as many people as you joyfully can.

Comments on e-Treasure: Reflections on Marshall's book - chapter 1

I think that motivation is the root and key... how...