Page 19 - Faith-Based Workbook 8-27-18

TOPUCU Adult Faith-Based Workbook Lesson 2: Part 2

LESSON 2: PART 2
at any given goal we may or may not set for scales – your left hand to your left, your right
WHAT ARE THE ODDS? ourselves. For example, let’s say someone The physical act of doing this exercise will
hand to your right. Yes, you need to do this.
offered you one hundred dollars. You would
gladly accept it right? Of course you would. help you visualize and internalize the formula.
Now, let’s say you were required to run 1 mile Now in your right hand, place two parts of
in order to get that money. Would you do the formula – the reward and the “odds of
"…the one who is unwilling to work shall not eat." — 2 Thessalonians 3:10b (NIV) it? Absolutely you would! Now, let’s say the success.” In your left hand, place the third
reward was 500 dollars, but you had to run part of the formula, the words “hard work.”
Previously in part 1 of this lesson, we isn’t that simple. Merely believing that the 5 miles to get it. Is this still something you Now, in the first scenario, the 100 dollars is
discussed that there are two types of Holy Spirit is guiding and pushing us isn’t would do? The vast majority of you would the reward component of motivation and
motivation – external motivation and internal enough. We must also have the practical answer yes. That money is motivating you the 1-mile run is the “hard work” component.
motivation. We also learned that external motivation to get up and do something. to dig down deep and do those miles. Even When you calculate your odds of success
motivation is temporary and fleeting, while The Bible confirms this notion in several if you’ve never run 5 miles at a time before, and add that component to the reward side
internal motivation is the key to becoming a passages of scripture. In fact, in his second most of you would jog, walk or even crawl of the scale it begins to tip in the direction
finisher and transforming your life. Internal letter to the Thessalonians Paul makes a to make it happen, because that 500 dollars of motivation because you believe you can
motivation is what will push you to succeed blunt declaration when he warns the church is motivating you. Now here’s where things do it. Now let’s add the 500 dollars to the
when there is no one else there to motivate against idleness. “…the one who is unwilling get interesting. Let’s say you were offered reward side. That really tips the scale, right?
you. It’s the feeling in your gut that is urging to work shall not eat.” 2 Thessalonians ten thousand dollars to run five miles. You’d But we also added five miles to the “hard
you to get off the couch and workout; it’s 3:10b (NIV) be highly motivated. But what if you have to work” side of the scale. A quick calculation
the voice in your head telling you to take do it in under 20 minutes. Literally, everyone in your brain reduces the odds of success.
the extra initiative in class or at work; it’s In the literal sense, of course, it’s easy to reading this just became very unmotivated, This weighs the scale back a little bit, but
the twinge of discomfort you feel in your stay motivated about eating. When you feel right? You’re not thinking about the ten not enough to change the fact that you are
spirit pushing you to dust of your Bible and hungry, you take it upon yourself to find thousand dollars anymore; you’re thinking still motivated to do the hard work it’s going
read a verse or two. But you already knew some food. But what about those more about the fact that there are few people in to take to get that reward. When we add
that. You wouldn’t have started this program abstract aspirations? What about those the world that can make that time and you’re the ten thousand dollars to the right side,
if the desire to change your circumstance life-changing transformations? Well today definitely not one of them. Your motivation the scales tip heavily toward motivation.
wasn’t already somewhere inside you. But we’re going to add another element to your is gone. You’re not even going to try because However, when we add the idea of running
remember, this program isn’t just about TOPUCU Toolbox and teach you a formula you did the calculation in your brain you’ve 5 miles in 20 minutes to the “hard work” side
information; it’s about transformation. that will help you act on that gut feeling come to the conclusion that the odds of
in the pit of your stomach and respond to success are absolutely zero. the scales tip drastically to the other side
Now, as believers, it is easy to say that we the urging of that voice in your head. It’s and now we find ourselves unmotivated
have the purest source of motivation that a formula that will not only help you tap How many times do we do this on a daily because we’ve already calculated that the
could ever exist in the form of the Holy into the wellspring of motivation you have basis? We literally weigh the reward and odds of success are zero and it isn’t even
Spirit living inside of us. We believe the Holy inside you, but also help you pinpoint – and odds of success against the hard work it’s worth trying. Are you starting to see it? We
Spirit guides us, leads us and helps us. The ultimately destroy – the things inside you going to take to achieve them. These three calculate this formula in our minds dozens
prophet Ezekiel, while writing on the Lord’s that make you feel unmotivated. But only things are the components of motivation: of times a day and it affects our motivations
behalf said, “…I will give you a new heart listen to this if you’re actually ready to make odds of success, reward and hard work. in pretty much every decision we make. The
and put a new spirit in you… And I will put that change. You can’t just hear the formula; And if you can understand how they relate reward and the odds of success weighed
my spirit in you and move you to follow my you’ve got to memorize it and implement it to each other then you are on your way to against the hard work it’s going to take.
decrees and be careful to keep my laws.” each day. That is what will bring change in making a change. So let’s break it down. Let’s look at another example – this one
Ezekiel 36:26-27 (NIV). This is one of many your habits and ultimately change in your life. Think about it like this – imagine the scales of from scripture. In part one of this lesson, we
passages that speak about the influence the justice. If you don’t know what they look like, briefly touched on the story from the New
Holy Spirit should have on the intentions and Are you ready? Then let’s get down to it! do a quick Internet image search and you’ll Testament when Jesus asked Peter to get out
motivations of those who follow the Word. One of the biggest things that affects our understand immediately. Now take your of the boat and walk on water to meet him.
However, we all know that many times it just motivation is our perceived “odds of success” two hands and hold them out just like the

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