Motive Check

Gathering At the Well


Today's Gathering at the Well is all about our motives.
Our discussion question is:
Are my motives pleasing to God?


This is something that I've been mulling over for awhile now, and something I've been really keeping an eye on in my life. Why? Because there are times when I do the things I do in an effort to draw attention to myself. I see that cropping up in me, and I hate it. BUT there are also times when the only reason I do what I do is out of obedience to God.

The times my eyes are focused on me, when things are selfishly all about me—those are NOT pleasing to God. Those are also the times that the only reward I receive is here and now.

The times my eyes are focused on pleasing and serving God, and focused on obeying God, those are the times that please God. Those are the times my motives are right. When I'm acting out of obedience, my motives fall in line because my eyes aren't on me—they're on God and what He wants me to do. Many times I've been asked to be released from things that I do—Lord, please send someone else to work with the kids at church. You know I'm not a kid-person...Lord, can I quit writing long fiction, please? It's about to do me in...Lord, how about blogging? Can I quit blogging? It's so constant and I expose so much of myself, can't I just fade into the woodwork? Please? ...Can I just send the kids to public school? How about...

The list of my requests goes on and on, and the answer I get back is to keep doing what I'm doing. Carefully doing what I'm doing. So I have a choice. Ignore God's direction, which I know from first hand experience is a direct path to misery not only for myself, but for my family as well, OR I can obey out of love of my Savior. I hate misery. I spent too many years there to want to go back, so I'm obeying.

Now the choice comes in of HOW I obey. Joyfully or grudgingly? To be honest, it depends on the day and the moment. But that's a choice I make. I do not have to let my emotions rule me. Even on days like today when it's all I can do to keep from crawling onto my bed and pulling the covers over my head.

I truly believe that God has given us each things to do and we need to be faithful and do those things—whatever they may be.
“Take heed to the ministry which you have received in the Lord, that you may fulfill it.” ~Colossians 4:17 NAS

The cry of my heart today is this:
Let the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart be acceptable in Thy sight, O Lord, my rock and my Redeemer. ~Psalm 19:14 NAS


For me, this is a good way to check my motives. What about you? How do you keep a check on your motives?

9 comments:

  1. ooooh so excellent. And so true. And what an important question to ask!

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  2. That's my favorite verse. I didn't even know about today's theme when I posted my blog... but it fits. I guess we all needed to think about our motives today.

    Thanks, Peej

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  3. I find myself having to constantly do a check on my motives. Many times I surprise myself when I realize that I am not doing things for the Glory of God but rather doing them for my own selfish reasons.

    This is a great post, Patty. This is something that we all need to think about and take a look at. If we are not doing what we do for the right reasons then now is the time to reverse that.

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  4. Hi Patty! I posted on this as well.

    "Now the choice comes in of HOW I obey. Joyfully or grudgingly?" is a great point! It is a heart matter for sure.

    Thank you for sharing your heart.

    God bless you dear!
    Beth

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  5. Patty, I had to comment on this one because this is something I struggle with. I recently was posed the question, "Is God an end to you or a means?" Meaning, even living by the Spirit and doing right things "for Him" can be actually USING Him for my own glory and purposes. Wow.

    How evil.

    I have been praying that my primary motivation would be to glorify Him. That is scary because it could mean absolutley anything. Yet if this is my chief motive in life, even above being and doing "good", then I will rejoice regardless of what happens to me, my family, the economy, etc etc.

    This is a great question and I appreciate the thoughts it provokes.

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  6. Patty,
    So glad that you joined in on the discussion over at the well. Loved the scriptures you shared and what you had to say...

    "Now the choice comes in of HOW I obey. Joyfully or grudgingly?"

    I pray my motives for obedience is pleasing to my Father.

    -Blessings, Laurie

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  7. You are painfully honest here, Peej. Thank you for that. I think we all struggle with this. Every day. Keep on blogging for the Lord and all the other stuff you do. Maybe we need a bumper sticker - blogging for the Lord:) NOT!

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  8. An issue for me my whole life. I'm wired as a performer, so it's constant sanctification. Often times I don't even know my motive was wrong until the deed is done and gone. For me, it boils down to self-sacrifice and denying myself each second of the day. when I'm doin that, His motives are my own. When I'm not, well, my motives are all over the place. I have a feelin' I'll be dealing with this spiritual message my whole life through.

    Excellent post, dear Patty.

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  9. A very real issue for me as well. I'm so thankful He is patient!

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