FMF: Motivate

~ Lisa Brittain

New Year – 2018 and a whole new set of Five Minute Friday free writes with Kate Motaung.  Thanks, Kate, for getting us motivated with a great first word of the year.fmf logo

{Motivate}  Set the timer for 5:00 and here we go!

When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I gave up childish ways. 1 Corinthians 13:11 ESV

This scripture describes me as a physical child, absolutely.  It also describes me as a spiritual child.

When I was a younger woman I had so much to say and I wanted to be heard.  I was known as a woman of many words.  People who had little time and/or patience avoided me in the grocery store.  They pretended not to see me 10 feet away though I was looking straight into their gaze.

I was motivated by wanting people to hear what I had learned.  I was new to the Bible and digging into truth.  One of the most exciting aspects of life for me was sharing with anyone who would listen, the really overwhelming Good News which had come alive to me.

However, I was motivated incorrectly.  I wanted to be heard.  I wanted to be right.  I wanted to have a platform, and make a difference.  I wanted to do something important.  None of these activities or desires or passions are wrong when motivated by the plans and desires of God.

As I began to sense a need to be trained and matured by my Father, the verse which struck a deep place…  Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart.  Psalm 37:4 ESV (paraphrase)

My one-word for 2018 is obedience.  I have learned and pray I will continue to learn my greatest freedom comes within the boundaries of my Father’s making.  It is in obedience because of my delight in my Creator Father that I find the desires of my heart fulfilled.motivate

If that sounds like fluff to you?  Maybe you’re thinking that’s nice for you, but my life isn’t like that.  Know I used to think that too.  So, don’t take my word for it.  Rather take God at His Word.  Ask Him to teach you.  Taste and see the Lord is good, and His Word is true.  He is faithful to grow us up when we ask and desire to grow under His instruction.

Bless you to know Him better in 2018!

Eyes on Jesus… you’re Shining!

Lisa

 

 

Published by Lisa Brittain

I am an avid follower of Jesus. I have been since my early twenties when I met Him personally and received dramatic healing in my body and mind. After many years of marriage and raising sons into the teen years, I was challenged to explore the duplicity of my spoken faith followed up by fearful actions. I received the challenge presented by both of my sons. They love me and so they dared to confront me with the truth. Chips off my proverbial block! I determined then {more than a decade ago} to overcome fear with faith that was more than words. In my late 40's I made a decision to leave the desert wandering behind and set out to pursue the abundant life Jesus promised His disciples. I am a tentmaker {actually a reupholsterer} by day, which helps to support the call God has on my life to serve Him in my community. I thoroughly enjoy my work. Repairing and restoring throw-away furniture is a fulfilling creative outlet. More so, my Cheer House Repair and Restore business opens the door for me to interact with my community. My passion is to walk so closely to Jesus that others want to know Him too. I love to introduce women to Him as we walk, talk, and work together hand in hand through everyday life. Nothing thrills me more than to watch someone fall so in love with Jesus through His word and conversation; learning to trust His heart and receive His great love! I have been married to my dear man for over 30 rollercoaster years. We're simply thrilled that our latter days are more joyful and purposeful than our first. Together we have two - grown young men on their own journeys. Additionally, we share our home with 3 lively rescue pups. I look forward to having you join me on this journey of faith... Bold feet, humble heart Psalm 131 ~ Lisa

15 thoughts on “FMF: Motivate”

  1. Love your post. My word this year is ‘purpose’, but fits nicely with yours as my focus is to live God’s purpose for my life. Thank you for sharing on the fmf fb community. 🙂

    1. Thanks for spending some of your precious time with me today! I appreciate your encouragement. Your word is fantastic and meant especially for you! I bless you to find the fullness of it’s meaning for your life!

  2. “Taste and see the Lord is good…”

    Someone said these words to me yesterday and they made my soul hurt. I believe that God is calling me, drawing me, to a place of deeper trust and intimacy in the coming months. Even though I have walked with Him for years and even though I’ve got a theology degree, there are many days when I struggle to believe that He is truly good and loving. So much of my life is marked by fear and I hate that that fear tinges my relationship with Him.

  3. Hi Lisa! Visiting you from FMF today. Thanks for being so transparent in your former failures. I think it’s really hard to be reflective and listen to God’s voice when He’s asking us to be molded and made into something new. Obedience sounds like a great word for the new year.

  4. Obedience – wonderful word for 2018…for every year. Every day! So thankful that the Lord patiently and tenderly continues to mature us every year! Ah, the ideas I had has “a child”:)

    1. Thanks so much for joining in the conversation. I appreciate your encouragement as I seek to keep my eyes on Jesus and shine for Him.💝💝
      #knittedhearts

  5. Obedience is a great word for the year, though I’m sure challenging! It is so important to check our motivation though and to do what we do out of obedience to God rather than to impress others.

    1. I’m sure it will be great and challenging. I’m counting on it for growth. It’s the times I have not obeyed God that have scraped me raw. 💔
      Thanks for spending some of your precious time here with me. 💝💝 #knittedhearts

  6. Stopping by from FMF….obedience, such a strong word. May you be challenged in the best ways to grow your faith in Christ.

    1. Yes. I love the freedom I’ve felt in staying in His boundaries. The Shepherd’s had to break a leg to get me to stay but it’s worth it.💔👑👧

  7. Walking with you, my friend, in obedience, knowing we will stumble. Let’s walk together in His light with Jesus as the Cornerstone leaving behind the old pride.

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