Page 54 - Biblical Counseling II

That is to be the motive of our life. The enemy of your soul is ever challenging, seeking to misdirect,
discourage, and distort the motive of your life. He will send offenses your way in an effort to discourage your
heart of love through distrust. He will bring difficult people around you who will question your motive and
will seek to distort your motive. The cares of life, traumatic experiences, or health issues can misdirect one's
motives.

The Holy Spirit will always be at work seeking to keep your heart focused upon the highest motive of life:
loving God with all your heart and loving others as Jesus Christ loves you. How do you maintain the highest
motivation in everyday living, earning a paycheck, changing diapers and cooking dinner, disciplining children,
or keeping the car clean and the lawn mowed?

It all starts with the “first and great commandment.” When you love God with all your heart, soul, and
strength, obeying His commandments is no longer legalism but a love motivation.

Jesus said, “If you love me, keep my commandments” (John 14:15).

The Apostle John wrote, “Now by this we know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments. He who
says, ‘I know Him’ and does not keep His commandments, is a liar and the truth is not in him. But whoever
keeps His word, truly the love of God is perfected in him. By this we know that we are in Him” (1 John 2:3-5
NKJV (my emphasis)) (Hackett, p. 1-2, 2018).

Let’s Practice…

1. List the six needs on Maslow’s hierarchy.

2-4. Write out three scripture passages that describe Biblical motivation.

Let’s get Personal…

Think about what motivates you. Perhaps you connect with a need on Maslow’s list. How does your
understanding of Biblical motivation connect with the motivation you identified? Are they the same, or
different? Take some time to pray about this and consider what God might be asking you to do regarding
motivation.

OR

Think of something you did recently that caused you to feel either pride or shame. Can you identify what
may have motivated that action? Is it something on Maslow’s list? Something from scripture? Take time to
pray about the source of this motivation. Perhaps it is a prayer of confession, or a prayer of thanks. Ask God

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