Restoring Your Soul - Living a Limitless LifeSample

What’s on the Inside?

Countless objects contain something different inside of them than what is observable. We don’t know the flavor awaiting us on the inside of a Bismarck until we take that first luscious bite. Geodes: “nodules of stone having a cavity lined with crystals or mineral matter,”look like ordinary rocks. Surprisingly, when you break them open, stunning colors and patterns are revealed. Even brightly colored plastic eggs at an Easter egg hunt can hold jellybeans, stickers, or money, but no one knows until the egg is cracked open.

Those are somewhat trivial examples, but here is a more relevant concept to consider: what’s inside of you? Although not visible, our motives lie deep within us and impact our mental health and the quality of our relationships.

The definition of motive is “something (such as a need or desire) that causes a person to act.” How often do we have mixed reasons for what we say or do? How often are our motives driven by gaining something we want instead of loving people (giving others something they need)? Other people may think they know what is inside us. However, we may be skilled at keeping our motives hidden and camouflaged to be manipulative or to avoid embarrassment or shame.

Unlike our hidden intentions, our feelings can become observable to others if we wear our hearts on our sleeves or are under stress. For example, when life experiences squish us, jealousy or anger may ooze out. Even though our feelings may be observable, our motives are less apparent. They lie deep within and aren’t easily detectable. No one really knows the motives of our hearts.

Identifying what we value can be very beneficial in discovering our true motives. Often, our values are what influence our motives. If our values don’t align with God’s heart, we may need to seek God for a heart change and renewal of our minds. We may need to examine our beliefs and adjust our values to align with the things that are important to God.

Understanding our motives and re-evaluating them if necessary is an essential part of restoring our souls to their original design. The more we align our values and motivations with those of Jesus, the more wholeness we will experience in every area of our lives.

I Invite You to Ask Yourself:

1. Am I doing this to honor God, or to be seen/approved by people?
2. Would I still do this if no one ever noticed or thanked me?
3. Am I being driven by comparison, competition, or jealousy?
4. Am I willing to let go of this if God asks me to?
5. Am I being honest with myself and God about what’s in my heart?

I Invite You to Pray:

Lord, I come to You with a willing heart to hear what You want to say about my motives for doing the things I do. I ask that Your Spirit would speak into my spirit and reveal truth to me where I may be blinded. I want to honor You in all my ways, so help me see if I am trying to accomplish anything because of my woundedness or for my own selfish reasons. Please make me aware of any values that may be driving me that don't align with Your heart for me. Thank You for always showing me the way of Light and life. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.