Motives are what makes us do what we do.

According to dictionary.com the word motive means:

“Something that causes a person to act in a certain way; do a certain thing; an inner drive, impulse or intention that causes a person to do something or act in a certain way.”

Motivation to a Christian is like gas in the tank of your car.  It gives you what’s desired or necessary to be a success in your Christian life.

Motivation unfortunately is not a class you take in school.

Motivation can’t be inherited.  It’s not hereditary.  It can’t be passed from parent to child no matter how hard we try.

Motivation is not circumstantial or environmental. . .it’s an inner working.

It’s also important to point out that motivation can be good or ungodly.

Here are examples of seven Biblical characters and what motivated them to accomplish their God-given goals.

It’s important to understand that when God gives us a vision, a goal or a prophetic Word, it is then up to us to see it through.

The vision, goal or Word is the calling … but it is up to us to follow the process to the end result.

Are you feeling pressure in your everyday life?  On the job. . .in your finances. . .at home either in your role as a spouse or a parent?

You want to get ahead but sometimes the pressure is almost overbearing.

Peter Marshal, a former Chaplain of the United States Senate, once told the Lord:

“When we long for life without difficulties, remind us that oaks grow strong in contrary winds and diamonds are made under pressure.”

Perhaps, we need to catch a visual of ourselves becoming like the Hope diamond. . .the most famous of all precious stones.

There seems to be four main causes of pressure. . .whether generated externally or internally.

First, we get overloaded with more to do than the hours of the day will allow us to complete.

Second, we allow our emotions to create worry, anxiety and frustration. . .which drains us emotionally and physically as well.

Never let them see you sweat.

Do you remember that the Gillette Corporation began using that tagline in their advertisements for the antiperspirants “Dry Idea” back in 1964?

Interestingly enough, the slogan was created by the same man who wrote the Navy’s slogan. . . “It’s not a job, it’s an adventure.”

In case you’ve forgotten or are too young to remember, the “never let them see you sweat” ads featured famous people from various professions.

For me, I never want to see satan, the enemy, Beelzebb or any of the hosts of hell...see me sweat over what the  try to perpetuate in my life.

Instead, I want to make the enemy and his horde from hell SWEAT because I know the Word of God.

Here are seven times you don’t want the enemy to see you sweat.

1.      When you’re disappointed

Here’s the great news. . .regardless of the intensity of the enemy’s attack. . .you will never be put to shame or disappointed.  I realize that’s a bold statement. . . but there are eight verses in the Amplified Bible translation which say exactly that and here are five of them.

Do you have “it”?  You should …

Romans 12:8 in the New International Version says:

“If it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully.”

Everybody should have the gift of encouragement.

“Well, I’m not sure God wanted me to have that gift.”  Then it’s apparent that you’ve never read Hebrews 3:13 in the Amplified Bible:

“But instead warn (admonish, urge, and encourage) one another every day, as long as it is called Today, that none of you may be hardened [into settled rebellion] by the deceitfulness of sin [by the fraudulence, the stratagem, the trickery which the delusive glamor of his sin may play on him].”

We’re to encourage one another. . .HOW OFTEN?. . .EVERY DAY.

So let’s look at what encouragement means.

According to Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary the word encouragement is defined as:

Have you ever heard the saying “you’re not getting older…you’re getting better?”

It’s a beautiful thought…flattering…bound to make the recipient feel good even if they question the sincerity.

Hopefully, we are all getting better…I mean it would be tragic to think we can live a day and not improve something in our mental thought processes or the quality of life.

However, the reality is…we’re getting older and there’s nothing we can do about it.

Yes, we can get nipped, clipped, tucked…having our face drawn tighter than someone sucking on a lemon…but we’re still getting older.

With all due respect…there’s a reason they call it plastic surgery…because many people come out looking plastic.

Let me hasten to add…there are some who look great.

But truthfully, I don’t even know why I’m talking about this…because I’m not as interested in a person altering their looks as I am…teaching them how to alter their lifestyles for the greater good.

Wow…let’s get back on track.

While I can’t help someone with how they look…I can definitely help them learn to take the worry out of getting older…which I believe is a far more effective wrinkle reducer.

1.         Simplify your life.

Simplify means:  “Remove anything that complicates your life and prevents you from freely pursuing your purpose for living. . .while enjoying the journey.”

My fine wife and I are moving from Fort Worth, TX to Goldsboro, North Carolina after twenty-two years in Texas.  On a direct order from the Lord I might add.