The Force Of Life

“And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them”. Romans 8:28 (NLT)

Human beings are born with an inner energy that stirs and motivates us to keep moving in a certain direction. The fuel for this motivation is known as the driving force of life. This driving force uses our feelings to move us to action either negatively or positively in life. Love, ambition, faith, passion, desire, anger, fear and hurt are common angles our driving force uses to spur us to action. Everyone’s life is motivated and driven by something. It can either be a God or self-driven motivation. Listed below are common examples of SELF-DRIVEN MOTIVATION:

1. People driven by guilt: Guilt driven people spend their entire lives running from regrets and hiding from their shame. They allow their past to control their future and often unconsciously punish themselves by sabotaging their own success. They are just wandering through life driven by guilt. We are products of our past, but we don’t have to be prisoners of it. Psalms 32:1 (LB)

2. People driven by resentment and anger: These people hold onto hurts and never get over them. Instead of releasing their pain through forgiveness, they rehearse it over and over in their minds. While their offender has probably forgotten the offense and gone on with their lives, they continue to live in their pain, ruminating the past. Listen: those who have hurt you in the past cannot continue to hurt you unless you hold on to the pain through resentment. Don’t allow anger and resentment determines the quality of your life. It’s better to learn from pain and let it go. Job 5:2 (NIV)

3. People driven by fear: Their fear may be a result of past experience of trauma, failure or rejection. Regardless of the cause, fear-driven people often miss great opportunities because they’re afraid to venture out. Fear is a self imposed prison that will keep you from becoming what God intends for you to be. You must move against it with weapons of faith and love. 1 john 4:17-18.

4. People driven by materialism: These people are driven by the misconception that having more will make them happier, important and secure. The desire to acquire more becomes the goal that drives their life. Ecclesiastes 5:10, Luke 12:15. Possessions without only provide temporary happiness, real security can only be found in that which can never be taken from you – your relationship with God.

5. People driven by the need for approval: These people allow the expectations of parents or spouse or children or teacher or friends to control their lives. They are driven by peer pressure, always worried by what others might think. Unfortunately, those who follow the crowd usually get lost in it because one of the key to failure is trying to please everybody. Being controlled by the opinions of others is a guaranteed way to Miss God’s purpose for your life. John 12:42-43, Galatians 1:10.

The driving force of life keeps us moving either in desperation or enthusiasm in whatever direction it is taking us. This force is often the answer to the question like •Why did I react like that? •Why can’t I get that off my mind? •Why don’t I quit?

Jesus said “No one can serve two masters.” You are either driven by God or driven by self. So, WHAT IS THE DRIVING FORCE IN YOUR LIFE?

Self-driven motivation is not a good force in life-but is a powerful force that can lead to unused potential, unnecessary stress and unfulfilled life. Let’s be vigilant and take care to examine our emotions from time to time, because they can either motivate us positively or negatively.

But let us not despair; because half of winning a battle is knowing your enemy, and the other half is having the necessary help and weapon to fight the enemy (Hebrews 4:15).