Motivation

Some days, I have such a hard time getting motivated to do anything.

Today was one such day.

I'm going to blame it on the fact that we just got back from camping yesterday...and that I was still super tired and worn out. But, I'm not sure that's a valid excuse...

One of the things we did on our camping trip was read through the book of Philippians. We were instructed to read each chapter on our own, so we could go over it altogether in the mornings and evenings. Since we arrived on the camping trip a day and a half later than everyone else, we were a little behind on our reading. I got to spend some quality time reading through chapter 3 with some wonderful women on Saturday afternoon while most of the others on the trip went hiking or rock climbing.

I've read Philippians more than once in my life...but every time I read it, I get more out of it (as is the case when I read anything in the Bible more than once). This section really struck me:

If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.
(Philippians 2:1-4, NIV)

It makes me feel like a failure when I have these days where I'm just not motivated to do anything. I'm supposed to be looking out for others and considering them better than myself. How am I going to do that if I am barely functioning?

I want to figure out a way to recoup from things, while also giving myself the opportunity to be there for someone if they need me. I don't want to be so wiped out from something that I can't even focus on other people.

This is the prayer I want to be praying for those in my life:

And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ—to the glory and praise of God.
(Philippians 1:9-11, NIV)

And, how am I going to start thinking like that? By doing this:

Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.
(Philippians 4:8, NIV)

I hope I start having more motivation for doing the things that are right and noble.


(Oh, and I kind of failed in the photo department this weekend. I did not pull out my camera once to take a pic. So, sorry for the lack of pictures. I really do need to get better at this)