Motive and Intent: How Does God See You?

By Dee Davis | Divine Inspirations

Scripture readings:📖 1 Samuel 18:17-30 (Main text)📖 Psalm 26:2📖 Psalm 16:2📖 James 4:3📖 Jeremiah 17:9📖 Hebrews 4:12

Devotional:

Have you ever stopped to ask yourself, Why do I do the things I do?  Or ponder what drives your actions—is it love, faithfulness, or humility? Or maybe have considered whether pride, ambition, jealousy, or selfish gain have played a role? You see, no one I know, ever, intentionally, wants to see themselves in a negative light!

However, the Bible speaks extensively about the heart’s motives. We might convince ourselves and others that our actions are noble, but God sees deeper than appearances. Psalm 26:2 says, “Test me, Lord, and try me, examine my heart and my mind.” This means that no matter how much we attempt to dress up or justify our choices, God discerns the true intent behind them.

Intent vs. Motive: The "Why" and the "What"

In life, intent and motive often determine the meaning and consequences of our actions. Intent is the conscious goal—the "why" behind what we do. Motive, on the other hand, is the driving force—the "what" in our hearts that pushes us forward, whether we are aware of it or not.

In 1 Samuel 18, King Saul’s intent was clear: to eliminate David. But his underlying motives—jealousy, insecurity, and pride—fueled his actions. Instead of trusting God’s plan, Saul sought to manipulate others to carry out his will. This caused his heart to stray far from the Lord.

The Deceptive Nature of the Heart

Jeremiah 17:9 warns, “The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it?” We often assume our hearts are in the right place, but if we are not aligned with God’s truth, we may just be deceiving ourselves.

Consider the words of James 4:3, that even our prayers can be misguided when our motives are impure: "When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures."

So How Does God See You?

Hebrews 4:12 tells us that God’s Word is alive and active, cutting through our pretenses and exposing our true selves. You cannot hide your motives from Him!

But the good news is that God can and will transform your heart when you surrender it to Him! Like David, who constantly sought God’s examination (Psalm 16:2), you should pray for God to purify your desires so that your actions align with His will and proceed to walk out what He reveals to you through His Word and in prayer!

Something to think about:

1. What drives your daily decisions— is it love, fear, pride, or faith?

2. Have you ever justified an action without examining your true motives?

3. How can you invite God to search and purify your heart?

   
   

Prayer:

Lord, I come before You with an open heart. Search me and reveal any motives that are not aligned with Your will. Remove pride, jealousy, and selfish ambition from my spirit. I declare that I will walk in truth, love, and humility, and that my actions will reflect Your goodness and bring You glory. In Jesus' name, Amen.

Believer, today's devotion challenges you to reflect deeply on your actions and motives, and ensure they aligning with God’s truth. May you always seek His guidance in all you do!

Be blessed.