Recently, someone asked me how I do this…STAY motivated despite what life has thrown at me, before and ESPECIALLY during this time of shelter-in-place, curfews, social distancing, etc. If you listen to my podcast, The Skinny Girl Speaks, then you know that in August 2019 I was led by God into a season of preparation away from everyone and everything I’ve ever known. I miss my family. I get lonely. I miss my comfortable life. But the following practices keep me motivated and encouraged on a daily basis.
This is typically my first go-to. I communicate with God daily through prayer (usually in the spirit) and/or reading and studying the Bible in some capacity. It may be an in depth study or a devotional. During these times, there’s usually a word or phrase that just sticks out and resonates with me. I follow it – meaning I read it a few times and begin to write what comes to mind. That’s God speaking through scripture. For more info on this topic, check out my podcast episode, “Is That You God?”, where I share details on how God speaks to us.
Then, a pretty cool way I spend time with the Lord is while I’m asleep. Yes, you read that right…lol! I have several prayer videos bookmarked on YouTube that I listen to at night while sleeping. Our spirit is open and many people don’t realize this is an impressionable time. For some people, this is the only time God really gets to speak to them…because they’re finally quiet!
God never fails me in these times of intimacy with Him.
As I shared earlier, I’m literally away from all the comforts and familiarity of life but thanks to technology, God has blessed me to stay connected to strategic people in the Kingdom in a meaningful way. I have a very small group of sisters in Christ that God divinely connected me with for this season. I already knew them but the connection is different & clearly intentional for accountability, sharpening & encouragement.
The relationship I have with the sisters is divinely organic. We communicate often via text. We confess to one another. Pray. Share scriptures. Call each other out on things. Encourage each other through health challenges. Men. Family. Speak life into each other’s callings/Kingdom assignments. Pose questions for discussion. Nothing is off limits because this is a safe place.
Holy Spirit has led us to do FaceTime video chats too. We all engage as He leads us so the burden is not one just one person to keep the group active.
I went to the Bible & got examples where Jesus modeled this because I didn’t want to carelessly hop onto the self care trend. This term is often misinterpreted as self indulgence. But that’s not the case. There are scriptures where Jesus got away from the crowds from time to time. In fact, Luke 5:16 says, “But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed.” He also encouraged the disciples to do so as well. See, Jesus understood that getting away to take care of himself increased His ability to present the best version of Himself to attend to the needs of the people. So following His example, I listened to Holy Spirit as He gave me specific instructions for how to take care of my body, soul & spirit. Most people think a bubble bath and candles are the sum total of this but since we are three part beings, all areas of who we are need to be taken care of – with intentionality.
I am busy with specific tasks God has put on my plate that are SO much bigger than me and they’re out of my realm of understanding so research and study of topics I’m not familiar with are required. This differs from busy-ness in that I’m not just looking for ways to pass time. These are Kingdom related assignments that God is walking me through. My attention is not idle but directed and focused.
What are your thoughts? I’d like to hear your ways of staying motivated in tough times. Drop a comment below.
theskinnygirlspeaks.com 