May 1, 2008

Editor's Note: Read Part I here.

Principle 5: Examine Your Motives

Earlier we said that the more we mature in Christ, the more we will be able to follow the desires of our heart. But we also need to critically examine our motives, because the blinding effects of sin often keep us from seeing how selfish we can be. The prophet Jeremiah put it this way:

“The heart is more deceitful than all else and is desperately sick; Who can understand it?” (17:9 nasb).

It is good to ask yourself some tough questions. Why am I doing this? Am I being selfish here? Will others benefit from my doing this? Sometimes we can become so preoccupied with finding God’s will that it becomes unhealthy. We either are presented with several options and freeze up (paralysis by overanalysis) or we walk around thinking and talking about ourselves all the time! Listen to the counsel of Dallas Willard: “My extreme preoccupation with knowing God’s will for me may only indicate, contrary to what is often thought, that I am overconcerned with myself, not a Christlike interest in the well being of others or in the glory of God.”⁶

Ask God to reveal to you the motives of your heart. One way of doing this would be to pray as David prayed in Psalm 139:23–24: “Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.”

Principle 6: Use Your Head

A mind is a terrible thing to waste. God gave us minds to think and reason with. Now we are not infallible beings or anything, but we possess the ability to think critically about life situations. It is good to wait on God’s direction and leading. However, this doesn’t mean that weighing various options or scenarios is unspiritual—far from it! It is wise to envision how a decision would not only effect next week, but also the next ten years.

Take choosing a job for example. Ask yourself, what makes good sense in this situation? Does this position fit your training, education, or passions? You will be surprised how much this line of questioning will help!

Principle 7: Believe That God Is at Work in the Circumstances of Life

God is always at work in the circumstances of life. Sometimes His providence is imperceptible to us; but other times He will reveal His thoughts and ways . . . if we are paying attention. Consider the apostle Paul. He observed an open door God had provided for ministering in Ephesus, and he chose to stay in Ephesus for a while—in spite of opposition (1 Cor.16:7–9). However, an open door doesn’t always mean we should walk through it. On another occasion, Paul recognized an open door in Troas, but he decided to move on because he didn’t have peace of mind about the circumstances (2 Cor. 2:12–13).