motivational self-reflection

if there's one thing i've grown to understand, it's that if i feel a certain way or think a certain thing, that i am probably not the only one. we're all special... just like everyone else. we are unique, but everything we are and have and appear to be has commonality with someone else. someone else is not exactly me, but we share something. and yet another shares something different. so how can i begin to think that i'm the only one who acts certain ways, says certain things, looks a certain way, or is motivated in others? for instance...

it's hard to do with the right motives. it's hard to force yourself to think of what the right motive should be and then do a thing because of it. and once you get to doing, it can become easy to justify that you are doing it for the right reason. we can begin something with the right motive, but as we go along, our hearts can change, and we can begin to do with the wrong motive. another for instance...

we can decide to volunteer for the homeless because God loves them, and we want to go where His heart is leading. but when the day arises, sometimes it's hard to roll out of bed, wishing instead to stay in the warm confines of home on a snowy day. but sometimes we can roll out of bed with a smile on our face, knowing we're sacrificing ourselves to serve His sheep. and we arrive to begin our good work and can end somewhere in the middle or at the end patting ourselves on the back. we can go into it thinking we've done a good job.

i think i can even approach God this way. it feels i pray continually for His hand guiding my life, His glory made known to my face. why? because this glorifies Him? or does it just make me feel better about my relationship with Him? am i really motivated to know Him and to serve Him because it's all about Him? or am i MUCH MUCH MUCH (times infinity) more selfish than i first realized?

God - i don't have words to explain who you are, or what you do, or how you do it. i'm not eloquent enough to do you justice. you deserve more than any of us give you, and then some. yet i spend more time thinking about me than you. take away my deep-seeded need to glorify myself. help me see my life is not for me... it's to glorify you! if it's up to me, i will wander. so i surrender, yet again, to you and ask that you force my eyes to you. help me to see people around me, my situations (both good and bad), my stuff, my attitudes, my affections, everything... as you do. i can't change me, but you can. and when i stand changed, help me to glorify you, not only in front of men, but also in my own selfish heart. - Amen.

i'm sure i've shared this before: every little prison (deliver me) - by matt maher

favorite bible verse read today: "do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell." - Jesus (Matt. 10:28)

"don't be afraid of people. the worst they can do is kill you." - david platt (radical)