Both love and pride are an indicator of motive.

Motives are the underlying reasons for the actions you take and the words you say. No one can tell you what your motives are. They may try, but you are the only one who can know your real reasons for doing what you do. These are healthy and unhealthy motives. - (Examine your Real Motives - Thrive Global)

A healthy heart motive will lift others and work in love. A unhealthy motive will tear down others and work in contempt. For this reason, we must constantly check our heart motives when doing anything in life.

Everyday we have an opportunity to lift someone or tear them apart. Floating through life and never being aware of our thoughts, words, and motives can bring destruction.

Proverbs 16:18 NLT Pride goes before destruction, and haughtiness before a fall.

As I sat across the table from a young woman, tears fell down her face. As a child she was bullied and always on her own. These destructive words had consequences that no child will ever see at an early age.

As we have had many sessions together, I see that these times had created a very sensitive spirit within her. Her motive sounds pure and from a place of love. She is able to quickly please others and making sure everyone is doing well. This is depleting her. So what is the heart motive? What is the WHY?

I believe it is to fill those hurt spots from her childhood. Then no one will have to be alone and experience the loneliness she has been feeling. Everyone can only say great things about her. This can be exhausting and you will become depleted as you cannot keep this up. This is a form of pride. Not a haughty pride, but from hurt that will not allow anyone to hurt again. This heart motive will also not end well.

Any type of pride will stop you from growing. The motive behind pride is all about self. Most actions will come from a place that is about you instead of focusing on others. You feel justified about the decisions you are making and they sound reasonable. Here is a quick check, are you feeling you're better than others? That's pride.

Happy people will not stop learning and growing. They continue to stretch, learn and in a constant state of wanting to know more. Happiness and humility go hand in hand. Humility is key to a healthy motive. The reason for this is because they are teachable.

"True humility is not thinking less of yourself, it is thinking of yourself less." - Rick Warren

God will use us for His plans and purpose, if we are willing. And when He does, what will our motives be?

1 Thessalonians 2:4 NLT For we speak as messengers approved by God to be entrusted with the Good News. Our purpose is to please God, not people. He alone examines the motives of our hearts.

Be blessed!