Prayer Target: Heart Motives

Time for a Spiritual Checkup (AKA Deleting Inappropriate Expectations)

One of the devil's most potent strategies, is lulling believers into deceiving themselves concerning their heart motives, by promoting the "We Deserve To Receive When We Give," theory.

Let's see how this snare works ... Sister Suzie sings a beautiful solo "expecting" the worship leader to choose her for the traveling ministry team. Brother Ben places a generous donation in the offering plate "expecting" to have a say in where the donation is applied. Sister Sarah spends countless hours ministering to the children, "expecting" to be chosen youth leader. Brother Bart gives hours of his time promoting the new pastor, "expecting" to be pastor's best friend. Sister Sophie donates church decorations, "expecting" to receive an invitation to join the ladies league. Brother Bob preaches fiery sermons, "expecting" to become a big name. Etc... etc...

Each person has inappropriate expectations. Each person has fallen into the trap of "Doing Good Things, For The Wrong Reasons."

Bottom line: Their outward appearance, does "not" match their inward heart motive. Their expectations are inappropriate.

God is, and always has been, vitally concerned with the motives of our hearts. He knows exactly, "why" we do, what we do. Nothing is hidden from Him.

Jeremiah 17:9-10 "The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it? "I the LORD search the heart and examine the mind, to reward a man according to his conduct, according to what his deeds deserve." (NIV)

We also know, God judges us based upon our motives, not just based upon our actions. He fully expects our inner heart motives to "match" our outward appearance.

Jeremiah 11:20 "But, O LORD Almighty, you who judge righteously and test the heart and mind, let me see your vengeance upon them, for to you I have committed my cause." (NIV)

The unbeliever gives "expecting," and often times demanding, a payback. Believers give freely expecting "nothing" in return.

Matthew 10:8 "Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons. Freely you have received, freely give." (NIV)

In closing, I'd like to share with you what God told me when I asked him about this practicum.

He said,

"Tell them love is the greatest gift, It cannot be given with strings attached, for if strings are attached, love will be tainted with selfishness, and thus become a parody of my intentions."

Brothers and sisters, if we truly desire to promote God's purposes and plans, we must possess Godly motives within our hearts.

Heavenly Father, We come to you in the precious name of your Son, Jesus Christ. We come to you knowing your Word is never void, nor empty. Father, your Word says you will "search our hearts, and examine our minds, to reward us according to our conduct."

Lord, it's our prayer, that all we say and do, be accomplished with pure hearts. We pray that each "inward" motive we possess lines up with your Word. We pray, "we not only talk the talk" but also that we "walk the walk."

We know love is the greatest gift, so we choose to give it, by loving all, just as you Lord, have chosen to love us all.

Thank you Lord for revealing inappropriate heart motives separating us from your presence. Thank you for the opportunity to cleanse our hearts.

Lord we ask you to continue to draw us closer, and continue to show us more. ... Amen

Please feel free to pray into this topic during the week, to build on one another's prayers and also to discuss insights you have on the week's prayer target. Post your prayers and /or discussion to the prayer-school list by emailing them to this address: prayer-school@xc.org

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