Matthew 5:8 – "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God."
Being intentional is the posture of the heart when seeking to grow in intimacy with God. Scripture makes it clear that only the pure in heart will see Him. As we grow closer to God, we must learn to discern the true motives of our hearts.
One of my favorite prayers, though it is a dangerous one, is: "Search my heart, O Lord." I call it dangerous because when we pray this, we are surrendering and giving God full permission to reveal what's truly in us. This requires great humility because it places us in a vulnerable position. It is easy to spot the speck in someone else's eye, but much harder to face what's within our own.
When we pursue intimacy with God, we must remember: God searches the heart. We may be able to fool others, and even ourselves, but we can never fool Him. When we come before Him in prayer, He is also looking at our motives. This is why we must approach God with intentionality, first being honest with ourselves, before going boldly to His throne.
Today, I encourage you to examine your motives.
- Why are you serving God?
- Why do you want that new job?
- Why do you desire marriage?
Impure motives often lead to disappointment. We become frustrated when prayers go unanswered, yet we never discern our intentions. God, in His love and goodness, will not grant something that would ultimately lead us toward destruction. He is more concerned with your salvation than with your request.
For prayer to be effective, I believe we must first be clear on our "why" before we even begin to pray.
Prayer for Today – Psalm 139:23-24 (NKJV):
"Search me, O God, and know my heart;
Try me, and know my anxieties;
And see if there is any wicked way in me,
And lead me in the way everlasting."
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