Motivation

  I have done (or not done) said (or not said) things with a motivation that misrepresented God. 

Why you do something is more important than what you do. If you are doing something out of the wrong motivation you are misrepresenting God and in so doing hurting yourself and others. God has only ever wanted  you for no other reason other than there is nothing he wants more than you. Not out of obligation or a sense of duty, but freely because He actually wants you. 

I believe if you are enabled to know how much he wants  you, you will be more able to be motivated out of no other motivation than wanting nothing more than you want him, thereby representing Him to a greater extent.

Psalm 36:7 How priceless is your unfailing love, O God! People take refuge in the shadow of your wings.

It is far better to be unknown, broke, and physically sick yet motivated by wanting God, than be famous, rich, and healthy, yet misrepresent God in your motivations. I believe one way to help you is to help you allow God to change your motivation. One way this can occur I believe is to help you allow yourself to know God better and to turn back (repent) from wanting to misrepresent God in your heart.  God wants to help you want nothing more than Him to the same extent God wants nothing more than you.  

Exodus 25:2 Tell the Israelites to bring me an offering. You are to receive the offering for me from everyone whose heart prompts them to give.

Leviticus 19:17 Do not hate a fellow Israelite in your heart. Rebuke your neighbor frankly so you will not share in their guilt

Deuteronomy 4:29 But if from there you seek the Lord your God, you will find him if you seek him with all your heart and with all your soul.

Deuteronomy 5:29  Oh, that their hearts would be inclined to fear me and keep all my commands always, so that it might go well with them and their children forever!

Deuteronomy 6:5 Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.

Deuteronomy 6:6 These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts.

Deuteronomy 10:16 Circumcise your hearts, therefore, and do not be stiff-necked any longer.

Deuteronomy 11:13 So if you faithfully obey the commands I am giving you today—to love the Lord your God and to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul—

Deuteronomy 11:18 Fix these words of mine in your hearts and minds; tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads.

Joshua 14:8 but my fellow Israelites who went up with me made the hearts of the people melt in fear. I, however, followed the Lord my God wholeheartedly.

Joshua 24:23 Now then,” said Joshua, “throw away the foreign gods that are among you and yield your hearts to the Lord, the God of Israel.”

1 Kings 2:4 and that the Lord may keep his promise to me: ‘If your descendants watch how they live, and if they walk faithfully before me with all their heart and soul, you will never fail to have a successor on the throne of Israel.’

1 Kings 8:61 And may your hearts be fully committed to the Lord our God, to live by his decrees and obey his commands, as at this time.”

 

2 Chronicles 15:12 They entered into a covenant to seek the Lord, the God of their ancestors, with all their heart and soul.

2 Chronicles 16:9 For the eyes of the Lord range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him. You have done a foolish thing, and from now on you will be at war.”

2 Chronicles 32:26 Then Hezekiah repented of the pride of his heart, as did the people of Jerusalem; therefore the Lord’s wrath did not come on them during the days of Hezekiah.

2 Chronicles 34:27 Because your heart was responsive and you humbled yourself before God when you heard what he spoke against this place and its people, and because you humbled yourself before me and tore your robes and wept in my presence, I have heard you, declares the Lord.