Often times people do or say things and we make assumptions as to why they have said or done what they have. I suppose sometimes we will be right and sometimes (probably most times) we will be way off base.
It is only God who knows the true intentions of our hearts. He knows what motivates us to do whatever it is we do. I believe it is sometimes hard for us to figure out what our own intentions are. We can think or believe we did or A or B because so-and-so hurt us, or we reacted in this fashion because we determine it to be righteous anger. Maybe we can convince ourselves of our intentions or justify our behaviour but I think we truly are not very objective where our own hearts are concerned.
It is for this reason, I believe, David says for us to examine our own hearts:
- Psalm 26 v 2: Examine me, O Lord, and try me; Test my heart and my mind.
- Psalm 139 v 23-24: (23) Search me [thoroughly], O God, and know my heart; Test me and know my anxious thoughts; (24) And see if there is any wicked or hurtful way in me, and lead me in the everlasting way.
- 1 Corinth 11 v 31: But if we evaluated and judged ourselves honestly [recognizing our shortcomings and correcting our behaviour], we would not be judged.
Even if we do not search out the intentions of our hearts honestly, God will. Just because we can fool ourselves, we will not be able to fool God. Being real with yourself about your intentions is humbling because I think much of what we do (I know this to be true of me) is reactive and not necessarily for right reasons. My concern is primarily for my hurt feelings where I should be mature enough as a Christian for my concern to be for the other person and to consider, with grace and mercy, why that person is saying or doing what they are.
I think the solution is to ask the Lord daily to reveal the intentions of our hearts, so that we learn to not be fooled or ruled by our emotions. The ideal situation is to examine one's heart before opening one's mouth.... (my goal indeed).
So, friends, let us like David, spend some reflective time examining our hearts' true intentions and walk more freely knowing we have placed heart health over emotional reactiveness.
God bless
Tracy
#wisdom - What is the Lord teaching me here about wisdom?