Are you struggling with motivation this time of year? Is it taking all you’ve got to just face what’s on your to-do list?

We can so easily miss the true reason for the season when we are so caught up with all we have to DO. But let me help you today focus on who you can BE and who He IS as your strength, motivation, and reason for doing all you do.

I, too, remember waking up one morning this time of year and thinking, I don’t feel like getting out of bed. I don’t feel like doing all that I have to do today. I feel like I’m running on empty.

So, I went to the Psalms that morning and what I found there in the Songs of Scripture was a pattern that I needed to follow every day of the year. The psalmists often sang—in their songs of frustration and desperation—the words “I will” when it came to getting out of their slump.

When Asaph was disillusioned with the circumstances in his life, he sang: “I will meditate on all Thy works…I will remember your deeds” (Psalm 77:12).

When David was wondering if God heard his cries for help, he said “I will come into your house; in reverence I will bow down” (Psalm 5:7). And when he felt like he was being defeated, he sang “I will know that God is for me…I will not be afraid” (Psalm 56:9-11).

The psalmists didn’t say “I think” or “I feel” or “I should.” It was “I will”–-a sense of determination–-a determined course of action. In fact, in all 150 of the Psalms, the phrase I will was sung 140 times. That told me something. It made me realize there were some things I needed to say “I will” about whether I felt like it or not.

So I began to say “I will start my day in prayer” and “I will get into God’s Word” so I could stay focused in my mind.

I began to say “I will eat sensibly today” and “I will make it a priority to exercise” so I could keep fit in my body.

And I began to say “I will” appreciate what God has made.” “I will take time to reflect and worship” in order to keep my soul fresh.

As I began saying “I will” about the things I didn’t feel like doing, God met me where I was and infused that fuel and energy and motivation back into my life.

What do you need to say “I will” about today in order to have the God-infused energy you need to get through this month?

“I will tackle this to-do list with enthusiasm”?

“I will prioritize my family today”?

“I will live in a way that honors my God”?

“I will do all that is required of me to the best of my ability”?

Say those two words “I will” and see what you end up accomplishing today.

For more on staying focused in your mind, fit in your body, and fresh in your soul, see my book, When You’re Running on Empty, now on sale in my website store.