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Haggai - Obey And God Will Help
Brian Mashburn
January 28, 2018
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Motivation To Do What Is Best
I still remember what my retreat leader said 25 years ago. "More often than not," he said, "we know what we should do and we know how to do it. It comes down to two little words that we have trouble with: "Do it."
So true. I've never met one person who doesn't have a list of things that they really want to do, that they don't really want to do.
I really want to eat healthy.
I really want to quit that habit.
I really want to exercise more.
I really want to get over this anger.
I really want to love my spouse better.
I really want to get out of debt.
I really want to have a steady prayer life.
I really want to be a good parent.
And, of course, the one that transcends them all, and that no Christian gets through life without dealing with, "I really do want to put God first. I really do want to obey God above all things."
I'm not saying that it is an outright lie when we say it while not doing it. I believe there is an aspiration that lives inside of us, but we lack motivation. When we get honest, sometimes after years of disappointment in ourselves, we finally admit, "Well, I 'want to want to' put God first."
In the book of Haggai, after the people of God were reminded and challenged to put God first, they did! And on top of that, it says that God "stirred their spirits" to do it! THAT is what we want, isn't it? What is motivation if not God stirring our spirit's to rise up?
Let's ask Haggai how they tapped into that.