Someone asked what keeps me motivated and I’ve been thinking about this ever since.
Creating for Life Lived Beautifully is not an easy task. Whether it be a blog or Instagram post, Bible study, or any other product in the shop, I take the things God has called me to do seriously because it is my act of worship to Him. Since having a baby, creating and writing have become a daily discipline. Carving out time, or creating during nap time, is harder than I expected it to be. Most days I create with Nolan crawling at my feet. What keeps me motivated is not how “easy” it is to create. It takes a lot out of energy and vulnerability to write new content and prayerfully create new items for the shop. I create and write to point women to Christ. That is my greatest desire.
What keeps me motivated is also not followers, money, or affirmation, because we all know those things will fade away and aren’t reliable motivations. The answer is found John 3:30. Simply put, it says “more Jesus, less me.” When I live life for me, I end up in a tangled mess of pride, but when I live for Him, life is full and sweet. I want to spend all my time and energy making much of Jesus and living in the fullness of His presence. I do this by using the gifts and passions He has given me to create products and posts that will light a fire in the hearts of women to know Jesus more. Francis Chan summed it up well when he said, “Our greatest fear should not be of failure but of succeeding at things in life that don’t really matter.” I want to live for what lasts.
When I look at Jesus I see a life of mission. He came and lived on purpose. Nothing distracted Him from His mission, and through the cross, He invites us to live on mission right where we are. Though most of my days are spent living in the mundane, I want to meet with Him through it. I don’t want to waste these precious moments dreaming and wishing I was somewhere else – I want to do all that I can with what He’s given. I want to use the time, energy, talents, and dreams God has placed in my heart to bring Him glory.
When I get to the end of each day, I want to be able to say “Lord, I did all I could to share Christ.” I want my legs to be tired, my body to be spent, and my mind to be at peace knowing that I lived for Him and not the temporary. Even if it means I have to get uncomfortable, be vulnerable, or pour out, I want my hands to be His tools. More Jesus, less me, is my motivation to write, share, create, change dirty diapers, and keep up with the home. I want to live on purpose.
Your mission is not tomorrow, it’s today. Live on purpose right where you are.
living on mission,
Gretchen
Hi Gretchen,
I was just thinking about you this morning as I was finishing up my devotion time with my Give me Jesus Journal. I have always journaled, my whole life (it seems). I have also been fairly consistent with devotional time for the last year or two. But I noticed something different today. I began my GMJ journal at the new year. And typically when I do devotions, I am on my game Mon-Fri because the work week presents a routine that’s easy to keep. But Saturdays are different. Saturdays I sleep in a little bit and wake when my kids wake, so I usually put devotions aside and tell myself that Saturdays are a different kind of day. But ever since beginning my GMJ journals, Saturdays are no exception. I still wake when the kids wake… but I get them cozy with their milk watching cartoons and I eagerly find a quiet space to open up my journal and begin my sacred time with The Lord. I am HUNGRY for the word and anxiously await my quiet listening time to hear what He has for me each day. I assumed that the GMJ journal was just going to be a new outlet to record my thoughts in (as I have always done) but it really is transforming my spiritual walk. (Even on a Saturday) 🙂 I am forever grateful.