Six Tips for Keeping Actions and Motives in Sync
Performing is addicting. It threatens to sabotage my intentions.
I began this blog to encourage women in the hope found in Jesus Christ. I wanted to reach women, but I didn’t think a lot about subscriber numbers or page views. Fast forward nearly two years and a couple analytic sites later, and I have to force myself not to check my statistics.
Not that stats are evil, but what they do to my motive is. I don’t want to perform, I want to serve.
Bigger subscriber numbers means I am reaching more people with the promises of Christ. This is a good thing. But let’s be honest, larger numbers is attractive and can become an end goal in itself. It is easy to switch motives from serving to performing without even realizing it.
I’ve discovered I’m prone to this silent swap. So I’ve set up checks and balances to keep my actions and motives in sync. Perhaps they will be helpful for you as you seek to serve the Lord in your life.
- Ask for God’s guidance and for Him to make it apparent when you slip into performance mode. You can’t change what you don’t realize you’re doing.
- Immerse yourself in Scripture. God’s Word is grounding and helps us stay focused on His truth.
- Limit your exposure to performance measures (Try to limit looking at site statistics to once a week.). Disclaimer: not easy!
- Put a face to who you’re serving. It’s easier to focus if you picture someone you’re trying to reach.
- Ask a close friend to let you know if they notice you stepping outside your mission statement.
- Remind yourself often of the reason you began your ministry.
Performing has its place. The danger comes when it begins to take over as the main focus.
Performing has its place. The danger comes when it begins to take over as the main focus. Click To Tweet
Ultimately, we are called to serve the Lord, in our ministry and in our lives. To Him be the glory, always!
It's easy to switch motives from serving to performing w/o even realizing it. How do you control it? Click To Tweet
“If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God. If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen.” (1 Peter 4:11).
Reflections: Do you struggle with keeping your actions and motives in sync? What do you do when performing begins to overshadow serving?
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By His grace ≈ Julie
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Find hope in your real-life struggles. We'll chase it together! I am a wife; mom of 4 (including a young adult daughter with special needs); miscarriage mom of 5; author & follower of Jesus Christ. I write, edit, speak and enjoy everything outdoors.
Wonderful post, Friend! YES to serving! Thank you for the reminder.
Glad to oblige, Rachel. I know you have a servant heart. Blessings!
I applaud your openness Julie (another reason I like your blog.. I guess I’m a good example of a reader outside your original audience being a guy and all :). I’m not big on measurements and that’s not a good thing. The Lord wants us to be aware of what’s going on and to continue to grow. But not to compromise our values and His Truth of course.
I value your thoughts, Brent, and am grateful you tag along with us women. 🙂 Tools are important for us to use, but I do think it is difficult to walk the line between using them and allowing them to control our actions. Something I need to be in constant prayer about.
Here’s a thought, Julie. (I think about the same stuff, too.)
I’ve heard pastors preach, “We’re all in ministry!” I understand their perspective. They want mothers, bankers, actors, contractors, secretaries and others to view their work as ministry. Yet, here’s where I get stuck.
As Christians, we’re supposed to do everything with excellence, like an offering to the Lord (paraphrased big time). Does that mean we’re performing if it’s done well? (It takes work to do anything well.) Perhaps it’s just a matter of the heart. (That’s where I’ve hung my hat.)
In my little head I’ve concluded that two ministries (a church for example) on the outside could be growing (numbers and all), but one could be outside of God’s will (Rev churches, yikes) and the other pure as gold. What do you think?
My point, you are a beautiful woman of God and He is keeping you in check. Stats just help us improve and reach more people for His glory. It’s a tool just like computers and Smartphones. Keep reaching! Abundant blessings sweet lady, Marisa 🙂
Sounds like you and I are struggling with the same issues, Marisa.
Actually, as Christians, I think we confuse doing everything to the glory of God with doing everything excellent. We should do our best, definitely, because we love Him and want to serve Him with our best. However, done for Him–with the right heart–even our little, our pathetic, can be transformed into something amazing in the hands of God. I like to remember the widow with the single mite.
When we are being obedient to God, that is when we are serving. It’s when we allow our flesh to get in the way (worry more about how we appear, what others might thing, the prestige, etc.) that we fall into performing. Numbers don’t mean success in God’s economy–obedience does. So yes on your questions about two ministries that are both growing.
Thank you, my friend, for your kind words. God willing, I will keep proclaiming His glory!
Well put, Julie. Obedience with a yielded heart! BTW, I’ll let you know when I add you to my blogroll. I haven’t forgotten.
Thanks! 🙂