Is there a formula for utmost motivation and passion? Who will create the formula? Who should be responsible in stirring the motivation and passion of a person?
I’ve asked myself a couple of times how much of me should be dedicated in motivating myself. Sometimes, I think that a great part of my passion depends on my superiors, sometimes I think that it is solely dependent on my being.
While I find it very hard to comprehend at times, I pretty much get the gist that most of the time, I am very passionate with my idea of motivating myself to be on fire with my passion. I later realized that it’s not the way how it works. No matter how hard it is to deal with every single day, I (should) have control over my thoughts and emotions.
Often times, we are so over ourselves that we forget to give the Lord His due respect. We prefer to choose the best for us instead of giving priority to God. At the end of the day, what can we offer Him?
These are some basic questions we can ponder on before having the discussion about motivation, passion and discipleship:
• Do you believe in the same thing and are headed to the same direction?
• Do you feel safe to talk amongst your peers and can open up your struggles?
• When you need help, would we be top of mind in the list of people you’ll run to?
• Would you submit to the plans and teaching?
Malachi 1: 7-9 states:
You are offering improper sacrifices on my altar, yet you ask, ‘How have we offended you?’ By treating the table of the Lord as if it is of no importance! For when you offer blind animals as a sacrifice, is that not wrong? And when you offer the lame and sick, is that not wrong as well? Indeed, try offering them to your governor! Will he be pleased with you or show you favor?” asks the Lord who rules over all. But now plead for God’s favor that he might be gracious to us. “With this kind of offering in your hands, how can he be pleased with you?” asks the Lord who rules over all.
In photography, the most important element is light and there are 3 characteristics of light that we look for: the size, the direction and intensity. These determine the outcome of your picture.
In your life, what can be the light? I believe it is passion. What direction is God asking you to go? How big is the vision and how fast does he want you to go?
I would love to share to you the wonderful story of Sir John Ong just this week about passion:
“Lately, There’s been a lot of talk about the movie Heneral Luna. I honestly didn’t get to watch it, but I remember during my days as a member of the NDF under the group Bayan. We were very idealistic, taking the streets, braving tear gases and water canons just to get our advocacy heard. From US bases, to Tuition fee increase, to operation of Bataan Nuclear power plant, we were so passionate about what we believed in that I remember wanting to go up in the mountains to take arms. But I was given the assignment of penetrating the communities in San Andres Bukid and Malabon to make the masses join our cause. I was watching Sakay the other night and I was thinking about "What would it be like to be living during those times? Out gunned, out numbered, out witted, out resourced, but never out passioned.”
Listening to his story, I was able to reflect on my own fights in life. Some are selfless, some are selfish. I’m really blessed that I have great mentors such as Mr. John Ong, together with Ms. Monique Ong, his wife. They have wonderful stories to share and lessons to impart. Because of them, I am now learning to be more selfless for the Lord. It’s such an encompassing feeling.
I gain so much from the experience of sharing my talent and time for my God. In sharing, I’m gaining.
How many of us can say that we are truly passionate about the mission God has given for us to do? And what does being passionate mean in the first place?
a. You are sure about your calling
Just this week, I was assigned to accomplish a newsletter for our church. I was very scared because I thought that I wouldn’t be able to accomplish it in due time. I’m not really good when it comes to writing news. I later on realized that I was tasked to do creative writing, which is what I am better at.
Sometimes we worry too much about our capabilities, but when we are called to do something, it’s best to heed it and obey.
b. You do it with gladness
I am definitely sure that we can’t be consistent in being happy. Just like the movie Inside Out, we can never be happy if we do not experience sadness. In other words, no matter what we do, we need to experience sadness to fully embrace the feeling of happiness.
To better serve we God, we should everything with overflowing joy and love.
c. It’s actually an upper for you. It adds on to you rather than take from it.
If your situation now was a bit closer to the situation the Katipuneros had back then, or probably like the ones the disciples were experiencing, would you still have the same passion? As I was contemplating on this, if after years of doing your passion, nothing is happening, but you were still certain this was still what God wanted you to do, would you go on? How strongly do you believe in the passion?
What would you give up in exchange? Our transformation should always leads to action. If an engine of a car doesn't produce heat then it’s not on.
We should hold on to what we gain rather than grip to the loss of serving. In serving, we should feel blessed, not devastated.
Our faith should fire up a passion.
At the least - hate what Jesus hates and love what Jesus loves.
If you feel burnt out right now, not only in work but even in ministry or relationships, you should owe to yourself the needed change either on what your doing or your attitude, your way of thinking or your core perspective about life. It absolutely hurts God to see half hearted offerings.
In order to fire up your passion, check your heart. Check your priorities. Is God your top priority? Are you passionate about what you are doing? If no, what are you doing about it?
