Coming from the music industry, God had to do a lot of rearranging in my heart. It's a constant work. A few things that were present in my heart from a young age were self-ambition, vanity, and vainglory. The industry tells you, you have to do it this way to gain "fans" or be packaged a certain way to "sell." You have to "sell" because it's the music BUSINESS. And it created the idea that there was some sort of status to achieve—that money and success defined our importance.

Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves,

With my personal music, I was always kind of out-of-the-box but I will admit I did have a certain amount of self-ambition and desire for glory as well as money, status, and etc—things that are made out to define "success." The Word tells us as believers we should set our minds on things above instead of earthly things that will pass away (Colossians 3:2). Jesus told the disciples, “Assuredly, I say to you that it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven." (Matthew 19:23). This type of vanity and self-seeking interest is found in all industries today. We're all imperfect people who have naturally sinful natures. It takes the renewing of our minds each and every day to realign our focus on Christ and what's most important to Him.

To check my motives before doing anything, I ask myself a few questions:

* Why do I want to do this thing I desire to do?
* Am I doing this thing to ultimately glorify God?
* Does this thing that I desire to do align with God's Word?
* Does this thing that I desire to do give glory to God?

Hebrews 4:12 (NKJV) says, “For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.”

If I find my motives out of whack, I ask God to forgive me, change my heart, and remove my sinful desires and replace them with His.

What are you chasing? Does it align with God’s Word?

Prayer:
Lord, please renew my mind today. Open my eyes to see the intents of my heart. Forgive me if my motives have been wrong and if my intentions have been anything other than to give you glory. Fill me with your love today and replace my desires with yours. In Jesus' name, amen.