Enjoying Your Walk With GodSample

Learn To Like What You Have to Do

God intends for us to enjoy our Christian lives. There may be disappointments, trials, and challenges. But that does not mean that God's instruction to “be joyful always” is impossible. It happens through the power of His Holy Spirit, who dwells in every Christian.

The Holy Spirit, placed within us by God, is the ultimate source of internal motivation. Ephesians 3:16 is a prayer for Christians to experience the strength of the Holy Spirit's power. God wants us to enjoy our walks with Him. He gives us the power to have joy and to live out the fruit of the Spirit. Alan Nagel talks about the Holy Spirit’s work in his life.

Listen to Alan...

How, then, do you go about enjoying what you have to do? Here are some simple steps to increase your internal motivation to do hard things. Begin with prayer, asking God to enable you to enjoy what you have to do. Remember "why" and even enlist the help of a friend. Find ways to make it more enjoyable. Change the setting or make the task a fun game or adventure. Finally, have a way to track your progress.

As you practice these ideas in the power of the Holy Spirit, your motivation will change. You will begin to see God change your attitude from dread to enjoyment for the things you have to do.

Application Questions:

• Think of a specific "have-to-do activity" in your Christian walk that you do not enjoy.
• Start by praying and asking God to give you a desire to do what you need to do. Then continue with the other points listed above.