Serving can feel like a fulfilling honor and sometimes serving can feel like yet another thing on our much too long to-do list. If we live long in the later we begin to resent and provide our service grudgingly. If we live in the former, we find that our serving fills us up rather than drains us.

So what makes the difference? I can’t speak for everyone. But, for me it’s all about my motivation to serve. When I have my priorities in place and I’m truly doing the things I know I need to do to stay fully connected to God then I find that my motivation to serve is an overflow of what I’m experiencing in my relationship with Him. I find that acts of service no longer are things I have to do but things I can’t wait to do and I gladly arrange my schedule to fit these things in even when they are impromptu.

But, I have also found that it just doesn’t work the other way around for me. I cannot do my serving to get to a closer place with God. That becomes way too much like trying to “earn” His love, which just isn’t possible and is so very unnecessary.

So, how about you? When do you find your serving truly fulfilling? When do you find it draining? Do a heart check and see if your motivation might be what makes the difference.

~ Deana Kistner