1 Kings 3:3 And Solomon loved the LORD, walking in the statutes of David his father: only he sacrificed and burnt incense in high places  5 In Gibeon the LORD appeared to Solomon in a dream by night: and God said, Ask what I shall give you.

Solomon sacrificed because he loved God.  Because of that, God rewarded him.  Do we sacrifice our flesh because we love God, or do we sacrifice because we know He rewards those that diligently seek Him (Hebrews 11:6)?

Acts 16:25 And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises to God: and the prisoners heard them.26 And suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken: and immediately all the doors were opened, and every one’s bands were loosed.

Paul and Silas prayed and praised in the midst of a trying situation because they loved God.  Do we pray and praise because we love God, or because we want the breakthrough?

We must evaluate our motives.  Yes the righteous are blessed (Psalm 112:2), and God provides the needs of those who seek Him first (Matthew 6:33), and there is power in praise, but God searches the heart.  At the heart of all of our giving, sacrificing, praying, and praising, is there an earnest love for God that says, even if He wouldn’t manifest what I desire, I would not cease because I love Him that much?

Remember, He causes all things to work to the good of those who love Him (Romans 8:28).

Inspired by Dr. Creflo Dollar