Weekly Email: October 21, 2024
The mornings in Louisville are starting to feel crisp, and the leaves are changing colors. Pumpkins and fall decorations are popping up everywhere. Fall is my favorite time of year, and as a photographer I love capturing some of the beautiful landscapes in and around Louisville, which I hope to do some this week. Just as the seasons change, a small shift in how you view motivation can make a big difference for you and your studies.
Topics included in this week’s email:
Student Tip: Motivation Follows Actions
Program News: Research Assistance from the Library
Faculty Devotional: Dr. Colin McCulloch
Student Tip: Motivation Follows Action
We’ve all been there—stuck in a rut, convinced that a lack of motivation is the reason behind our stalled progress. I remember what it was like during my MDiv when motivation seemed out of reach. I used to believe that I needed to summon a burst of motivation to get my work done. What I didn’t realize then was a fundamental truth: motivation often follows action, not the other way around.
Instead of waiting for motivation to appear, what I needed was to take small, deliberate steps. Starting a task—no matter how small—often sparked the momentum I needed to see it through to completion.
If you find yourself struggling with motivation, consider shifting your mindset. Starting a paper or a book review can feel daunting. If this sounds familiar, try breaking the task into manageable pieces. Begin with something simple, like jotting down the headers for your book review.
It’s a common misconception that writing must be linear. Personally, I find introductions to be the toughest part. So, I might start by writing out the thesis statement of the book. It might seem insignificant, but these small steps can transform an unmotivated state into a motivated one.
What small step are you going to take this week if you are feeling unmotivated?
Program News: Research Assistance from the Library
Have you ever felt stuck or unsure about where to start with your research (see above!)? You’re not alone. Our library offers a great resource that might just be the solution you need: virtual research assistance.
You can easily schedule a Zoom meeting with one of our Research Experts by visiting this link: Research Assistance.
Even if you feel confident in your research skills, it can be incredibly beneficial to share your process with one of our research experts. You might uncover areas for improvement that you hadn’t considered, especially when working from a distance. It’s an opportunity to refine your skills and make your research process more efficient and effective.
Additionally, don’t forget to explore some of the resources available on our Global Campus Hub. You can find more tools and tips for conducting thorough and successful research here: Global Campus Hub.
Faculty Devotional
This week’s faculty devotional is from our newest member of the faculty, Dr. Colin McCulloch, Assistant Professor of Biblical Counseling and Practical Theology. In addition to teaching in the areas of biblical counseling and practical theology he is also leading our revamped Supervised Ministry Experience, which is required for everyone in the Master of Divinity. This requirement is now integrated into two courses: Pastoral Ministry and Discipleship Ministry.
In 2 Samuel 12:1–15, David has just committed adultery with Bathsheba, she has gotten pregnant, and David has successfully conspired to murder her husband Uriah. Now, the Lord has sent the prophet Nathan to confront the King of Israel for his lustful, murderous sin. In this brief meditation on Scripture, I want to highlight one thing about David’s response to Nathan that reveals a tendency which we all have in ourselves at times: David felt safe in the law until he applied it to himself. In verses 1–4 Nathan tells David a story about a rich man who needlessly stole the precious lamb of a poor man and slaughtered it for his guests. In verses 5–6 David responds out of his sense of justice by condemning the rich man, going so far as to declare him worthy of death. David displays no sense of conviction for his own sin in stealing Bathsheba from her husband and then having him killed. In verses 7–12, Nathan turns David’s zeal for the law of God back upon himself, and it is only then that the illusion of safety that David feels in the law is shattered. He is undone with a sense of the gravity of his own sin, pierced to the heart by God’s law. It is then that he repents and is comforted by Nathan with an assurance of pardon: “David said to Nathan, ‘I have sinned against the LORD.’ And Nathan said to David, ‘The LORD also has put away your sin; you shall not die.’” David experiences an illusion of safety when he is applying the law to others, a false sense of security in his own righteousness. But as soon as the law is incisively applied to his own heart, he is undone, his sin is exposed, and he is mercifully led to find his safety not in his own righteousness but in the gospel. As you reflect on this, do you, like David, aim the law of God at everyone else but yourself? If so, you are likely living with an illusion of safety. Dash that illusion by appropriately coming to grips with the gravity of your own sin against God, so that you can come to increasingly treasure the glorious comfort and safety of the gospel.
That’s all for this week! Thanks for reading and check in next Monday. You can find an archive of each week’s email here.
