Tendencies: The Wrong Motive

Dear Believer, 

We're on the fifth tendency, sixth episode - The wrong motive.

 Thank you for staying put. I implore you to read this episode with an open heart so you can be blessed.

If you have missed reading any one, get to see all links here.

Cheers to your testimony!

God's creative vessel,

Olúwalayòmi, Bẹẹni. ❤️

More than a year now, one of my obsessions was looking at my limbs. 

I loved to adore my feet and fingers early in the morning because they're so fine even without polish.

I went visiting my older sister and I had to use her transparent polish for my nails because I loved showing them off.

I remember at one fellowship meeting, I could feel the Holy Spirit asking me to take everything off. 

I struggled to do this but at last, I scraped everything.

I am not an advocate of whether polishing nails is wrong or right in this episode. I'm only talking about the motive behind this.

P.S: If you're willing to know my own view about this, polishing nails is never evil. It depends on what the Holy Spirit is saying to you about it.

I loved to raise up my hands in Church because I have fine fingers, especially when the choir raises songs that require you to raise up holy hands to the Lord.

Now, I do it understanding the essence of Worship.

Polishing it will make it glitter and beautiful, but my motive was not right. 

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Your motive is the reason behind your reason. 

It is the real reason you want something and want to have it.

Many times, your motives are not so visible until you access yourself well.

Sometimes, the things you want/want to do are not evil, but your motives for wanting (to do) them are not right. 

Wrong motives behind your request may cause delayed answers. James 4:3

It can even cause unanswered prayers and hinder His abundance.

Remember, rain in abundance to you may be in finance, health, academics, relationship etc.

If God finally answers, wrong motives can actually bring down God's punishment to you in disguise.

If you don't believe me, ask the Children of Israel.

In 1 Samuel 8, they wanted a king because other nations had one plus, they had been threatened.

What a wrong motive! God gave them a king as a punishment, 1 Sam 12: 17-20.

You must understand that God loves you and He knows the right time to give answers to your request considering all factors.

If you have a wrong motive (which you may not even know), towards receiving something, God cannot trust you with it. Why?

He does not look at activity, stature or people's opinions, but He looks at (and judges) the intent of the heart. 

He knows your motive and He won't give you anything that will bring harm your way.

Why do you want that house, that grade, that car, that phone? 

Deep down, do you want that job so the Church & community can respect you more? 

If He gives you access to that anointed (wo)man of God, will you honor him like you said or bluff about your access to her?

How do you know if your motive(s) are wrong? 

When your motive for wanting something can be traced to selfishness, greed, parasitism and doesn't direct the Glory to God, it is a wrong motive.

Check the motive behind all you've asked and not received and all you have received that did not last. Is/Are your motive(s) God-glorifying?

Going forward, before asking God anything, check your motives thoroughly with the help of the Holy Spirit.

 I pray that even as you ask for mercy and check your motives, God opens the windows of rain to you in abundance. Amen.

Suggested scripture: 1 Sam. 8:1-22; 12:1-25

I trust you have been blessed today. Share with someone else who needs to be blessed too.

As we conclude the tendency series next week, it'd be a great opportunity to review and work on the ones that apply to you. 

Share with me your testimony in the comment section too. Bye!

Did you miss reading any episode in this series - Tendencies in the Believer? 

Or you know someone who needs to be blessed by anyone of them? 

These are the links to the 5 episodes in this series

Nailing Old Errors: Click here

Keeping Malice: Click here

Pride: Click here

Impatience: Click here

Impatience Pt 2: Click here

Follow us on Instagram @Layo_writesyou here.