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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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.
ReplyDelete@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.
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