LIVING BY FAITH – STEP 8
HAVE THE RIGHT MOTIVES
James 4:2-3 NIV
You want something but don't get it. You kill and covet, but you cannot have what you want. You quarrel and fight. You do not have, because you do not ask God. When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures.
You're unemployed and you are praying for a job… why do you want a job?
You're sick and you're praying to be healed… why do you want to be healed?
You're praying for success in your career… why do you want success?
You're praying for your church to grow… why do you want it to grow?
You're praying for someone to marry… why do you want to get married?
You're praying for your marriage to be healed… why do you want it to be healed?
What are your motives? Why do you pray for the various things in your life? So that you can be rich? So that you'll feel better? So that things will start to be easier for you?
Actually, if you answered any of the questions above with anything other than “so that God may be glorified”, your motivation is not in line with God’s Word.
Each and every thing that Jesus did, He did so that the Father would be glorified. As with all things, He was giving us a living illustration of how we are to live. Through His every action and word, He showed us what our entire purpose and our entire motivation must be here on earth if we are truly to live by faith. That motivation is… to glorify the Father.
When we shift our motives, He shifts into high gear. Not only does He answer our prayers as He always does, but He will send us answers that are much better than what we thought we wanted.
Take the eighth step in learning to live by faith, and make your motive for everything in your life become a burning desire to glorify God.
So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. 1 Corinthians 10:31 NIV
