Have you ever gotten so motivated to change your life that you made a whole new plan? You were going to get up earlier, work out consistently, eat healthier, spend more time with God, and finally follow through on those goals you’ve been putting off.
And then real life happened.
You got tired. Your schedule changed. Something unexpected came up. And suddenly, all that motivation disappeared.
Friend, if motivation is supposed to change our lives, why does it keep letting us down?
What if the problem isn’t that you need more motivation? What if you’ve been depending on the wrong source of strength?
I want to share something God showed me that completely changed how I approach my goals.
What God Taught Me About Motivation During Our Home Remodel
My husband and I recently signed the paperwork to remodel our home. We were so excited!
Then our contractor told us we had three weeks to get everything out of the house.
Three weeks!
I started thinking about every kitchen cabinet, every drawer, every closet, and everything we’d accumulated over the years.
Suddenly, the excitement turned into overwhelm.
I looked at my husband and said, “I need a minute.”
I went outside into our backyard, stood in the beautiful Arizona sunshine, and started praying.
First, I thanked God for the opportunity to remodel our home. Then I asked Him to help me because I honestly didn’t know how I was going to get everything done.
And that’s when I felt God put something on my heart:
Give away everything you don’t need or use. Make this a time to bless others.
Friend, that changed everything.
Instead of looking at the project as an enormous amount of work, I started looking at it as an opportunity to bless people.
I began sorting through our belongings, donating things to charities, scheduling pickups, organizing what we needed to keep, and making a plan to get it all done.
Was I excited to empty every cabinet every morning? Absolutely not!
But I had a reason to keep going that was bigger than how I felt.
I didn’t need motivation, because going to God first had turned this overwhelming project into a mission.
And it made me think about how often we approach our goals completely backward.
1. Stop Depending on Willpower and Start Depending on God’s Power
We live in a world that tells us we can accomplish anything if we just want it badly enough.
Try harder. Push yourself. Stay motivated. Be more disciplined.
But how many times have you tried that?
You start strong, something happens, and before you know it, you’re right back where you started.
Here’s what I want you to remember: God never intended for you to live the Christian life depending entirely on your own strength.
Philippians 2:13 reminds us that God is working in us, giving us both the desire and the ability to do what pleases Him.
Think about that.
We don’t have to manufacture all the strength, discipline, and desire ourselves. We can ask God to work in us.
And Galatians 5:22–23 reminds us that self-control is a fruit of the Holy Spirit.
That means biblical self-control isn’t just about gritting your teeth and trying harder. It’s about learning to walk with the Holy Spirit and surrender our choices to Him.
Before you make another plan, ask yourself:
Have I invited God into this goal, or am I trying to accomplish it entirely on my own?
2. Stop Chasing Motivation and Start Building Faithful Daily Habits
Motivation is a feeling.
And feelings change.
Some mornings, you’re excited to get up and spend time with God. Other mornings, your bed feels especially comfortable, your mind is already racing, and your to-do list is waiting.
The same thing happens with our health, our relationships, our work, and the things we know God is calling us to do.
If we only follow through when we feel motivated, our feelings end up making our decisions.
Ephesians 5:15–16 teaches us to walk wisely and make the most of our time.
For me, that means being intentional about the choices I make every day.
During our remodel, I didn’t wake up every morning and ask myself whether I felt like cleaning out cabinets.
I had a mission, and I had a plan.
I blocked out time, worked through one area at a time, and kept moving forward.
And I kept going to God first.
Friend, you don’t have to change your entire life today.
Start with one faithful choice.
Maybe that’s spending 10 minutes reading God’s Word before reaching for your phone. Maybe it’s taking a walk, preparing a healthy meal, or following through on something you’ve been putting off.
Small daily choices matter, especially when they’re rooted in your relationship with Jesus.
3. Stop Waiting to Feel Ready and Start Being Faithful
How often do we tell ourselves:
“I’ll start Monday.”
“I’ll do it when things settle down.”
“I just need to get motivated again.”
But what if we stopped waiting for the perfect feeling and started doing what God has already shown us to do?
James 1:22 tells us to be doers of the Word, not hearers only.
We can know what God’s Word says and still struggle to live it out.
And that’s why this matters so much to me.
I don’t want us to simply collect more Bible knowledge, listen to another encouraging podcast, or make another list of goals.
I want us to become women who know God’s Word and live it.
Not perfectly. Not in our own strength.
But faithfully, one choice at a time, with our hearts set on Jesus.
Your Next Step: Give God Your Goals
Here’s what I’d love for you to do today.
Think about one goal you’ve been struggling to follow through on.
Maybe you’ve been starting over every Monday. Maybe you’re waiting for the motivation to return. Maybe you’re overwhelmed because you don’t know where to begin.
Before you make another plan, go to God first.
Ask Him:
- Lord, is this goal aligned with what You want for my life?
- Am I depending on my own willpower instead of Your strength?
- What’s one faithful step I can take today?
Then take that step.
You don’t have to feel ready. You don’t have to have everything figured out.
You just have to be willing to follow Him.
What would change in your life if you stopped looking for motivation and started going to God for your mission?
Let’s Put God’s Word Into Practice Together
If you’re tired of starting over and want to build daily habits rooted in God’s Word, I’d love for you to join me for Holy & Healthy: The 21-Day Challenge.
This isn’t another diet, workout, or self-improvement program.
It’s a 21-day journey to help you set your mind and heart on Jesus, build daily habits that honor Him, and overcome what keeps you stuck.
You’ll get Scriptures, prayers, reflection questions, practical steps, and my private weekly teaching videos.
And it takes just 10 minutes a day.
Join Holy & Healthy: The 21-Day Challenge
You can also visit my Holy & Healthy Instagram Highlight for free Scriptures and encouragement.
Related Episodes
This is Part 4 of my five-part Holy & Healthy podcast series.
• Part 1: Introducing Holy & Healthy: The 21-Day Challenge. Is It for You?
• Part 2: You Can’t Bear Fruit If You’re Not Rooted in Jesus: Why Your Daily Habits Aren’t Changing Your Life
• Part 3: Are You Following the World or Jesus? 3 Questions Every Christian Woman Should Ask
Coming next: Part 5 — Overcoming What Keeps You Stuck.
If this series is blessing you, I’d love to know!
Remember, whatever you’re facing, go to God first.
With so much love, God bless.
