Motive Check

Why? A simple question yet complex question that keeps parents on their toes and leaders up late at night. Why? It is the question that perplexes organizations and confounds individuals, yet it is vitally important that we all ask it often.

Motivational checks are a good idea and "why" is the tool to get the job done. We have all heard stories of people who do things without a reason, but it is the reason why that truly keeps us moving forward towards the unimaginable goals of life. "Why" gives us the edge, the laser focus that keeps us committed to achieving the dreams others believe to be out of reach. Why is what keeps marriages together when it would be easy to quit. Why makes New Year's resolutions last past February 1st. Why helps you put both feet on the floor on a Monday morning to face another day at work. Why is also that tool that causes us to evaluate the motives behind what we do.

Motivational checks are a good idea and "why" is the tool to get the job done.

We often allow ourselves to ask God why when things are not going the way we expect, but we should realize that God asks why too. In Zechariah 7, the people of Bethel send so men to ask the priests to ask God if they should continue to mourn and fast as they have been doing for so many years. (You can almost feel these men patting themselves on the back.) God's answer--why? He asks, "When you were fasting and weeping for the past 70 years, were you doing it for me or for you?" "When you were feasting, were you doing that for yourselves or what?" In reality, God was asking "Why?"
I accepted Jesus as my Savior in 1984. Everything was fresh and new. Reading God's Word, praying, even witnessing were things that seemed to be easy to do back then. Somewhere though along the way what was once exciting and new became routine. It's easy to start off with good intentions and good motives and then slide off point by point, just a degree or two. Then you find yourself way off course, wondering how did I get here?

Why brings us back. It is the daily tool I need in my life to keep me on the right path. Why helps me establish character and integrity in my life. When we return to the roots of our childlike faith in Christ, we should realize that just like little children who continually as why, we should be asking our-selves why. It is the why that moves us to understanding where we are headed in life and what we should be doing. So take time today to ask yourself, "Why?" You might find out that you have drifted from your original course and need to correct a little.

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