Being willing to disappoint others to follow God can seem a scary position as we wonder how such a decision might wreck our social, political, or relational standing with mankind. Do we make decisions based on the leading of the Holy Spirit or how we think our fellow man might view us? Do we give for others to see – such as for the leaders of a certain organization to see how generous we are – or do we give out of a pure heart our money, time, and talents? The Lord can reveal our motives for these and every other situation in our life as a flash of light.
When we discover, through Divine revelation, that certain of our motives, attitudes, or behaviors are not pure, selfish, or rise from a compulsion to please man then let us be still and action not until He moves us. Let us thank God for testing our ways and revealing even the hidden parts of our motives. Oh to make decisions out of a transparent heart to please God and not man!
Let us be so aware of His promptings that we pay attention and listen to His voice behind us saying, “This is the way, walk ye in it” (Isaiah 30:21). Discernment can help us test our motives and know what is of God, what is of our flesh, and what is of the world/devil. When we know it is God’s prompting let us cast off every restraint and go the thing immediately, for He is God and ours is to follow and love Him with all that is in us – heart, soul, mind, and strength.
Prayer: Oh God, search my heart and see if there is any wicked way within me. Purify my motives and let me live and move and have my being with a pure heart and right before Thee. Thank you for being relentless in revealing every wrong motive, attitude, and behavior and being faithful for working into Me to will and do of Your good pleasure.
Psalm 139:1-12
“You have searched me, Lord, and you know me. You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar. You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways. Before a word is on my tongue you, Lord, know it completely. You hem me in behind and before, and you lay your hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too lofty for me to attain. Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast. If I say, ‘Surely the darkness will hide me and the light become night around me,’ even the darkness will not be dark to you; the night will shine like the day, for darkness is as light to you.”