God’s motivation for the week

Daily verses of encouragement

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August 30

Matthew 15:11 – “What goes into a person’s mouth does not make him ‘unclean,’ but what comes out of his mouth that is what makes him ‘unclean.’”

Do I pollute my body with unhealthy food?  Do I pollute others with unhealthy conversation?  Are my words expressing what is in my heart?

August 31

Matthew 16:24 – Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone would come after me (Jesus), he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.”

Am I holding on to selfish desires?  Have I given my desires and dreams over to God?  Am I following God or am I asking Him to fulfill my selfish desires?

September 1

Matthew 16:25 – “For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me (Jesus) will find it.”

Am I focused on external goals that bring me honor?  Or am I focused on goals that will bring honor to God?

September 2

Matthew 16:26 – “What good would it be for a person to gain the world yet forfeit their soul?  Or what can a person give in exchange for their soul?

How do I take care of my soul?  Am I making choices that do damage to my soul?  What things do I need to change?

September 3

Matthew 17:20 – He (Jesus) replied, “Because you have so little faith.  I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there’ and it will move.  Nothing will be impossible for you.”

Do I believe and trust God?  What hinders my ability to have faith?  What “mountains” do I need to have faith in God to move?

September 4

Matthew 18:3 – And He (Jesus) said: “I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.”

How can I be more child-like in my faith?  Is my trust in God the same as a child’s trust in their parents?

September 5

Matthew 18:4 – “Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.”

Do I put others’ interests ahead of my own?  Do I recognize God as the giver of all my abilities and achievements?  Or am I caught up in myself?