Category: Boot Camp for Creators & Dreamers

Last session we began discussing the need for creators and dreamers to stay motivated.

What motivates you? Ultimately, your worldview — your beliefs and core values, how these affect your view of life, God (the Creator of the Universe), and the part you play in the world — will shape your outlook and define your sense of purpose. These factors in turn will determine your level of motivation.

The first sentence of the Bible, the bestselling book of all time, states, “In the beginning God created heaven and earth.” (Genesis 1:1 GW) The first sentence of the Gospel of John makes a similar statement: “In the beginning the Word already existed. The Word was with God, and the Word was God.” (John 1:1, 14 GW) The gospel then explains, “The Word became human and lived among us. We saw His glory. It was the glory that the Father shares with his only Son, a glory full of kindness and truth.” (John 1:1,14 GW)

With these opening sentences, the Word of God is proclaiming (as we stated last session) that everything, including our hopes, goals, and creative pursuits, starts with God (and originates from Him). He birthed each of us, as well as the dreams we hold — and the gifts and talents necessary to achieve them.

What’s your worldview? Are you here by accident — or by divine choice? What do you truly believe? Are you simply part of the matter forming the Universe — or a unique individual who matters to your Heavenly Father? Remember, you are what you think. According to King Solomon, the wisest man who ever lived, “As [a man] thinks within himself, so is he.” (Proverbs 23:7 KJV)

An individual with a Judeo-Christian (Biblically-based) Worldview will have an awareness of God  in every area, situation and circumstance. That person will know that he or she is not alone; that the Lord is with them and for them. Such a person also realizes that God is not some impersonal “force”; but rather a loving Heavenly Father who is personally interested and actively involved in every aspect of their life; who proclaims “I can never forget you! I have written your name on the palms of My hands” (Isaiah 49:16 GNT) a God who “even knows [numbers; counts] how many hairs are on your head.” (Matthew 10:30 EXB)

Hence, a person with a Judeo-Christian (Biblically-based) Worldview sees him- or herself, as well as others, as highly valued because all people are created in the image of God. (Genesis 1:27) In fact, for those who place their trust in the Lord, “He has by his own action given us everything that is necessary for living the truly good life, in allowing us to know the One who has called us to Him, through His own glorious goodness. It is through Him that God’s greatest and most precious promises have become available to us … making it possible … to share in God’s essential nature.” (2 Peter 1:4 PHILLIPS)

Whether you realize it or not, you are a one-of-a-kind masterpiece created by God. There’s a spark of the divine within you; and you share God’s creative DNA. We want you to be aware of these things — not so you can get cocky; but because these are the facts of life. These are the wonderful truths God reveals about you in His Word. Now, why would you (or anyone) want to dispute such things with your maker? Simply put, God doesn’t make junk.

King David, the great psalmist, writes “Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high; I cannot attain it. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are Your works; my soul knows it very well.” (Psalm 139:6,14 ESV) With this statement, David is expressing what he believes, his worldview.

Fellow dreamers and creators, we’re not part of a cosmic accident; nor are we descendants of primordial slime. The Creature from the Black Lagoon is not your daddy! Again, we were created in the image of God and placed here by divine appointment. We have a destiny to fulfill within God’s grand plan for humankind. He wants us to fulfill that destiny; to reach our full potential; to become everything He designed us to be.

WE MATTER! We have purpose and meaning. We’re here to glorify God, to be a blessing to others, to touch lives with His love and to make a difference … within our homes and communities, both now and for eternity. We accomplish this “mission” — at least in part — by seriously pursuing the dreams God’s given each of us. How’s that for a motivating force?

An individual with a Judeo-Christian Worldview must develop and maintain an orderly, focused, and God-centered life. This is the “one thing” the Apostle Paul spoke of (and which we discussed several sessions back). Make this your “one thing” and everything else will quickly fall into place. Why? Because a life with meaning this deep, with purpose this intense, produces people who are highly motivated; people who pursue their dreams all the way to the end, who create lasting works and achieve great things. People who live by the motto: “With humans, this is impossible. But with God, all things are possible.” (Matthew 19:26 DLNT)

Got dreams? What do you really believe? Here’s what we believe. It’s something Jesus Christ promised us: “The person who trusts Me will not only do what I’m doing but even greater things … You can count on it.” (John 14:12-14 MSG)

“We, of course, have plenty of wisdom to pass on to you once you get your feet on firm spiritual ground, but it’s not popular wisdom, the fashionable wisdom of high-priced experts that will be out-of-date in a year or so. God’s wisdom is something mysterious that goes deep into the interior of his purposes. You don’t find it lying around on the surface. It’s not the latest message, but more like the oldest—what God determined as the way to bring out His best in us, long before we ever arrived on the scene. The experts of our day haven’t a clue about what this eternal plan is. …That’s why we have this Scripture text: No one’s ever seen or heard anything like this, Never so much as imagined anything quite like it— What God has arranged for those who love him.” (1 Corinthians 2:8-10 MSG)

Let’s play a word game. What’s our motive? Funny you asked.

According to one of our favorite reference works, Noah Webster’s American Dictionary of the English Language, the 1828 Edition, the word motive means: “that which incites to action; that which determines the choice, or moves the will.” Hey, times change, but why should the basic definitions of words? So Webster’s classic original version works just fine for us.

Of course, new words have a knack for finding their way into our lexicon, and for those we must resort to later editions of Webster’s. Such is the case with the term motivate, which means “to provide with a motive; or to impel“ (to urge or drive forward). Neat, huh?

Motive (and motivation) is the inner drive, impulse, or intention that leads a person to respond or act in a certain manner. It’s the goal, stimulus, or incentive (often a reward) that inspires and encourages one to action. Motive is also the inducement that spurs one to increased activity and endurance.

Other words associated with motive and motivate include “drive” (the urge or force that moves people to greater heights of achievement) and “push” (as in “a good kick in the pants”). In the Disney movie Marvel’s The Avengers, super-spy and fabulous facilitator Nick Fury assembles the world’s greatest heroes to defend the earth against an alien attack; however, his would-be team is fragmented by colossal egos and conflicting viewpoints. One of the Avengers comments: “What are we, a team? No. We’re a chemical mixture that makes chaos. We’re … we’re a time-bomb.”

But then something terrible happens: S.H.I.E.L.D. Agent Phil Coulson, the ultimate “nice guy” and everyone’s best friend, is killed in action. Saddened and in despair, Nick Fury gathers his Avengers and tells them, “There was an idea … to bring together a group of remarkable people to see if they could become something more. To see if they could work together when we needed them to, to fight the battles that we never could. Phil Coulson died, still believing in that idea — in heroes. Well, it’s an old-fashioned notion.”

Fury didn’t despair for long, though, because the Avengers found, in the death of their lost friend Phil Coulson, a reason to put aside their differences, and arise to meet the challenges they faced. Agent Maria Hill, Fury’s right-hand woman, asks her boss, Why the change? And Fury softly responds, “They needed a push.”

We creators and dreamers usually need a similar push to keep us motivated and moving forward. Call it a “great cause” or a “higher purpose,” but it’s often a reason or an objective that’s bigger than ourselves. Perhaps it’s a vision so fabulous, so fantastic, that we’ll never be able to pull it off without God’s help. Perhaps it’s the idea that what we’re trying to accomplish will bless the people we love, our families, our communities, and our brothers and sisters in the Lord; a divine assignment God has chosen us to complete.

Everyone, in fact, needs a sense of purpose. But where does one turn to discover purpose? The search begins with the Creator of the Universe: God.

“It’s not about you.” That’s how pastor and author Rick Warren begins his best-selling book The Purpose-Driven Life. “The purpose of your life,” Warren writes, “is far greater than your own personal fulfillment, your peace of mind, or even your happiness. It’s far greater than your family, your career, or even your wildest dreams and ambitions. If you want to know why you were placed on this planet, you must begin with God. You were born by His purpose and for His purpose.”

The Apostle Paul writes, “God is always at work in you to make you willing and able to obey His own purpose.” (Philippians 2:13 GNT)

So how do I find my purpose?

“The search for the purpose of life has puzzled people for thousands of years,” Warren states. “That’s because we typically begin at the wrong starting point — ourselves. We ask self-centered questions like … What are my goals, my ambitions, my dreams for my future? But focusing on ourselves will never reveal our life’s purpose. The Bible says, “It is God who directs the lives of his creatures; everyone’s life is in his power.” [Job 12:10 GNT]

Rest assured, however, that a significant part of God’s purpose is for each of us to become all we can be. “God has made us what we are [ For we are his handiwork/workmanship/work of art]. In Christ Jesus, God made [created] us to do good works, which God planned in advance for us to live our lives doing.” (Ephesians 2:10 EXB) Part of those good works are the creativity, hopes, and dreams we cherish.

But it all starts with God. He’s the One who grants us the vision; who puts the dream into our hearts; and He’s the One who bestows the gifts and talents necessary to achieve great things. “‘For in Him we live and move and have our being. As some of your own poets have said, ‘We are His offspring.'” (Acts 17:28 MEV) Therefore, “Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men….” (Colossians 3:23 ESV)

Got purpose? Pursue God. Then pursue your dreams with the help of God. “But first, be concerned about His kingdom and what has His approval. Then all these things will be provided for you.” (Matthew 6:33 GW)

Your Heavenly Father will become your personal “dream coach.” Knowing He’s on your side will keep you motivated … so you can achieve great things. “I am convinced and confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will [continue to] perfect and complete it until the day of Christ Jesus [the time of His return]. (Philippians 1:6 AMP) “For God’s gifts and his call are irrevocable.” (Romans 11:29 NIV)

We’ll discuss a few more aspects of staying motivated in our next session.