Motivation Morsel - July 9, 2026

Jeremiah 17:9-10: ⁹ “The heart is more deceitful than anything else and mortally sick. Who can fathom it?

¹⁰ I, Adonai, search the heart; I test inner motivations; in order to give to everyone what his actions and conduct deserve.”

Psalm 139:23-24: 23 Examine me, God, and know my heart; test me, and know my thoughts.

24 See if there is in me any hurtful way, and lead me along the eternal way.

1 John 1:8-10: ⁸ If we claim not to have sin, we are deceiving ourselves, and the truth is not in us.

⁹ If we acknowledge our sins, then, since he is trustworthy and just, he will forgive them and purify us from all wrongdoing.

¹⁰ If we claim we have not been sinning, we are making him out to be a liar, and his Word is not in us.

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The fourth spiritual checkpoint deals with the topic “Examine Your Heart.” Jeremiah tells us that knowing the full extent of our heart is hard to understand or comprehend, and only Adonai knows how to test our heart. David gives the model posture for all of us; each of us like David needs to ask the Most High, “Examine me and know my heart; test me, and know my thoughts, see if there is any hurtful way in me, and lead me along the eternal way.” (another prayer point)

Once we pray/ask for the searching, we need to be open to hear what the LORD is saying. It may be painful or hard to hear the truth, but that is the exact posture required. We have to hear Holy Spirit speak to us, then acknowledge the sin(s) and ask the Most High to forgive and purify us from all wrongdoing.

Why is this important? Romans 3:23-24 tells us the “all have sinned and come short of earning God’s praise, and when the Messiah redeems us, we can ask for forgiveness.” The goal is to spend eternity with G-d, and living in sin, having evil in our heart, or holding a grudge or aught in our heart separates us from the Most High and threatens our eternal habitation with Him. And, G-d forgives us of our sin when we confess, so there is no need to continue in sin.

Study some of the dangers of continuing in sin:

• Spiritual Numbness: 1 Timothy 4:1-2

• The Deceitfulness of Sin: Hebrews 3:12-19

• Dull Hearing: Matthew 13:14-16

• Spiritual Death: Ezekiel 18:20-24; Revelation 21:7-8

Romans 6 helps to understand the joy of not continuing in sin and what the Messiah has done for us so that sin will not rule in our mortal bodies.

So today, ask the Father, “Examine my heart Lord. Please reveal anything in me that does not please You. Cleanse my heart and help me walk upright before You. Amen.”

As long as we are physically alive, it is never too late to ask Him for forgiveness.

Shalom Ephraim🙏🏽🔥