Surely, God would want me to take good care of my house and my body. Those are two biggies for me right now. So, I have to clean, exercise, and eat right, but my motivation must not become pride or vanity. I easily get so caught up in worrying about what other people think of what my house looks like or what I look like. Forgive me for stating the obvious, but my motivation needs to be bringing honor to God.
How does one practically bring honor to God in everyday things? Well, I was just riding my bike and thanking Him for the ability to do so, for my health, and for giving me a body to take care of. (Yes, I ended a sentence in a preposition, but "of which to take care" sounded dumb.) I know that keeping my body in relatively good shape allows me to go on walks, bike rides, runs, and hikes with my husband. Anything that builds our marriage brings glory to God.
I could also thank God for my cute little house and use it to show others hospitality and love.
Bottom line: I need to take care of my house and body because I am thankful for them and want God to be able to use them.
So, to piggy-back on my last post, keeping God as our top priority or thought priority is not always about changing our actions, but many times about changing our motivations, our thoughts, our hearts.
I bump into the idea that motivation is important to God so very, very often.
1 Samuel 16:7b says, "People look at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart."
Jordon
I think you bring up a very important perspective here... I had a very similar thought process in yoga the other day. While I was in class practicing, which means I'm already doing something good for my body and spirit, I felt a paradox growing during practice. I was in class with a couple climbing friends who seemed to me to be pros at yoga and in climbing. I felt my focus shift from paying attention to myself and my depth of practice to what my friends were thinking of my yoga abilities. It felt wrong, viewing myself from others perspective, but that view still left its impact. In a very similar way, I feel myself challenged to soundly do the activities that allow me to be the kind, healthy, giving person I want to be. I have now been thinking that what benefit can I actually receive from doing these healthy things if they are not inherently being practiced for the right reasons. Thank you for your thoughtful post about the meaning and truth behind our intentions vs. our actions. love to you!!
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