My grandson and I were discussing the difficulty of running five miles every day.  I mentioned that it isn’t the running; it is “why” are you running?  Every year many make New Year’s resolutions but fail to keep them.  I stated it is not setting goals that are the problem, it is setting goals and never defining “why” they were making the resolution.  For example every older male in our family died at an early age because of heart disease.  We would not be running to get in shape.  Our “why” is to give us a better chance of living longer.  That is a good motivator to get up early mornings to run.

When I was a store manager and had 450 employees I never went home at night without having made a “to-do list” for the next day.  Having played sports from grade school thru college you learn to be competitive.   It was very important that the next day at work I got to cross off everything, as they were completed, that had been listed the night before.  As I would make my daily priority list I tried to make sure I had a good “why” it had to be done.  Otherwise, I put it on another list to do when I had the time.  You also must realize that each day you had to have some flexibility.  Sometimes interruptions, a customer complaint or an unplanned meeting, etc. happened that made it necessary to make the list secondary.  Those items that were not completed were first on the list for the next day.

My grandson gives drum lessons.  I asked if he ever asks his students if they have a “why” they want to be a drummer?  If the answer is because it looks like it would be fun, chances are they would never take the needed time practicing to be exceptionally good.  If they said they would like to play in a band that toured the world, chances are they would be motivated to spend a lot of time practicing.  Setting goals without a good “why” could keep you from succeeding.

Having spent two years as a high school coach I learned that those who had set a goal and knew what they wanted, practiced more and prepared harder.  It surprised me how few had any goals and did no more than what we as coaches required.  It confirmed what I had always believed.  Almost anything we do depends more on our attitude than on our physical or mental capabilities.  Most never seemed to have a good “why” they were turning out.  If you had an athlete who wanted to play professionally you never needed to motivate them.  They were self-motivated and extremely involved in becoming better every day no matter what it took.   However, you would rarely have someone that believed they could play professionally.  Therefore, I learned the importance of believing you can do something, then making sure you are prepared and motivated to do so.

Sports kept me in high school as I had considered dropping out after my junior year.  That summer I had worked for Weyerhaeuser as an electrician’s assistant.  The pay was good and it looked like a life-time job.  I completed my final year as a “C” student.  I spent four years in the navy.  I then decided to go to college.  My “why” was I did not want to go back as an enlisted person.  If called back, in case of war, I wanted to go back as an officer.  There was a tremendous difference in how they lived and were treated.  My “why” motivated me to graduate cum laude, with honors.

Fear of failing cause many to not set high goals.  No matter “why” you want to be or do something you must believe it is possible.  Joshua 1:7 – 9 – “Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go.  Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.  Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.”

In the New Testament Christ is telling his followers the same thing.  Christ said to obey the principles and day and night live by them as He taught His disciples. Read and study daily your Bible and pray so that you can develop the mind of Christ.  Be strong and courageous and do not fear.  Never become discouraged because I have given you the Holy Spirit to go with you wherever you go.   You will then become prosperous and successful.  It seems so few Christians can accept this promise.

May I suggest that you set a goal, determine “why” it is important for you to make that goal and then ask the Holy Spirit if this goal is acceptable to the “will” of God.  If you get a confirmation that it is, then accept that you have God’s Spirit to guide and help you make it.   Philippians 4:13 – “I can do everything through him who gives me strength.”  Why wouldn’t God want you to be successful in anything that you would like to do that is morally acceptable?  If we believed it was something the Holy Spirit was going to help us do, shouldn’t that be a motivator?

Luke 17:20 – 21 – “Once Jesus was asked when God’s kingdom would come.  He replied, “The coming of God’s kingdom is not something you can see just by watching for it carefully.  People will not say, ‘Here it is.’ Or, ‘There it is.’ God’s kingdom is within you.”

Is it time to ask yourself “why” did you become a Christian or “why” haven’t you?  Your “why” could determine how you live your life!  Once God’s Spirit is within you He changes a person’s hearts.  Is this your “Why”, to repent and have a changed heart?