In Psalm 139:23 & 24 we read, “Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.”
Spiritual development almost always has to do with superficial or unworthy desires being either displaced or ordered according to the deepest desires in our lives.
The Holy Spirit gave us a new nature. And that new creation came with a whole new set of desires. Among them is the desire to be helpful, joyful, peaceful, patient, kind, good, gentle, faithful, and self-controlled.
But beyond those wonderful desires, that new nature in us is simple and ultimately desires one thing: to be motivated in all things and at all times by a desire to please God. When we choose that as our dominant motive in what we do, we are at rest — our hearts are peaceful and joyful even if the path we’re on is difficult. When we give precedence to any other motive, our new self is distressed. Why? Because any alternate motive is foreign to its nature.
So we do well to ask the Lord to examine our motives any time we feel an inner disturbance. We are likely being given a fresh chance to refocus our attention on pleasing the Lord.
