Quotes about Motives

Integrity largely has to do with purifying our intentions and a growing honesty about our actual motives.

what is prized by human beings is an abomination in the sight of God" (Luke 16:14—15). Here we see Jesus as an astute psychologist, who recognizes and exposes things that we only now have names for: status seeking, false motives, creation of persona, cultivating a self-image, and denial.

Your shadow is the accumulation of untamed emotions, less-than-pure motives and thoughts that, while largely unconscious, strongly influence and shape your behaviors. It is the damaged but mostly hidden version of who you are.

Don't fear His silence. Use it to examine your heart and motives. Listen expectantly for the silence to be broken by the glory of His manifested presence once again in your life.

In life's most severe tests of motives, there is a politician in each and every one of us.

It is not what you do that impresses God; He is concerned with the why behind what you do. Ask God to reveal your motives to you and to change any that are not pure.

People who have no capacity to trust suspect the motives of others. I know this is true because I had a real problem in this area. Even when other people told me they loved me, I was always waiting for them to hurt me, disappoint me, fail me, or abuse me. I figured that they must be after something; otherwise, they would not be nice to me. I just could not believe that anyone would want me just for myself. There had to be some other reason!

We must not think that action alone is successful Christ-following. In God's eyes, the motives behind our actions are of paramount importance. You can want a godly family or a successful career or a low handicap or a beautiful lawn, but if you want them for yourself and not the glory of God, it's a fail.

But to doubt God and to question His motives causes our faith to shrink until literally we cease to be believers—we are believers in name, but not in practice or in action.

That he delights in the misery of others no man will confess, and yet what other motive can make a father cruel?

When trying a case [the famous judge] L. Cassius never failed to inquire "Who gained by it?" Man's character is such that no one undertakes crimes without hope of gain.

Our Lord did not say it was wrong to pray in the corners of the street, but He did say it was wrong to have the motive to "be seen of men".