Motivation

Prov. 16:2b, 24; Prov 10

No one can know the heart. The scriptures say that we do not know what is in our own heart. It warns us to look into our heart and to search out the truth. David asked God in psalms, "search my heart Lord and reveal any wicked way in me." He asked God to convict him of any sin in his life. In the verse above, it says that we all think our ways are innocent and only God knows the motives. We need to get gut level honest with God to enjoy the advantages of being a Christian. He places His life in us which draws us to the truth that sets us free from sin and death. Can we dare to face the realities in our thoughts, actions and words?

It surprised me when I read God's definition of perverse speech...words. Oh, I knew that gossip was perverse for it attacks someones character and remains akin to murder. I knew using the Lords name in vain was perverse and of course swear words fall in that category. But perversion in speech also includes fear, worry and lack of faith for these imply God is incapable of being God. In fact, these words leave such a negative wake behind they steal peace, joy, love and most of the fruits of the spirit from the one who speaks them and those who hear them.

We've been told often to think before we speak and that a person who remains silent in a group appears wiser than all the others. Sometimes we get so nervous when there is silence on the other end of the phone or during dinner or when seated in a social setting that we let our mouths run a muck and say anything that pops into our head. Too many words get us into trouble. We are warned of that often. Since feelings, words, thoughts and actions all come from motivation, maybe, we should ask God to reveal our motivations before we speak.

I went to a christian seminar once and they talked about 'walking in the spirit'. I asked the question about thoughts. Like, when does the action of 'walking in the spirit' actually come into play. The answer was 'in the thought'. Correction from God's Spirit to ours happens in the thought. Thoughts create feelings, feeling create actions. Many times we try to correct our actions. That's a Little late in the game for once a thought is conceived and believed the action takes place. Lust is a good example of this one.

I know, we are taught to ignore feelings and to just do what we should do and I agree to a point. However, those actions come as a result of the feelings created by thoughts. Correction of the thoughts and understanding the motivation behind those thoughts tells us where the heart is and how it needs to be corrected. Feelings go with the flow and they can not be trusted to lead us correctly. But feeling can tell us where our thoughts are and those thoughts, when taken to the Lord, will reveal our true motivations. Are those motivations based in the Lord or in the world?

What is the point? God lives His life through us, (covered in Teach Me, Lord) and understanding the motivations behind feelings, which are based on thoughts, will tell us who is in control. God connects us to the truth and that truth will set us free from perverse thoughts, motivations, words and actions.

Lord today please reveal my motivations that I may be set free through Your loving kindness, grace and forgiveness.