Intents of the Heart

Proverbs 16:2 AMP

“All the ways of a man are clean and innocent in his own eyes [and he may see nothing wrong with his actions], But the Lord weighs and examines the motives and intents [of the heart and knows the truth].”

God weighs our inward intent that guides our outward actions. We often rationalize our words and actions but if we are children of God, and we are listening to Him, we know that God will instruct us or correct us. I have found over the years that all people, including Christians, rarely will heed correction from a person. I pray for myself that God will correct me before I have to be corrected, God has never failed me in that prayer, my conscious bears me witness. Often my correction comes from God’s words as I read them. Other times I hear His voice in my spirt correcting me. Then often my wife guides me if I do or say something that is not in character with God, that is the blessing of having a godly wife. God sees the true, deeper motivations of the spirit behind our actions, and He reveals hidden pride and selfishness.

Prayer:

Lord, it is hard for some of us to admit it, but our words and actions may not always be to Your liking. We often justify ourselves by saying to ourselves that we have the right to say what we said or the right to act like we did. Judge our intents Lord, reveal to us if we are wrong, vindicate us if we are right. Before we say a word, before we commit to action, let us seek Your will and Your ways and not leave our words and actions to our own judgment. In Your name Lord Jesus we ask, Amen!