“… give me an undivided heart …”
Teach me your way, O LORD,
and I will walk in your truth;
give me an undivided heart,
that I may fear your name.
12 I will praise you, O Lord my God, with all my heart;
I will glorify your name forever.
13 For great is your love toward me;
you have delivered me from the depths of the grave.
(Psalm 86:11-13; NIV. Please read Psalms 83-86.)
The Lord is my teacher. He has been trying to teach me His ways … every day of my life. He created the heavens and the earth, so that they could declare His glory to me all day and night … every day of my life. He revealed His Word by the Spirit to apostles and prophets, so that my mother (and other teachers in time) could read (or teach) His Word to me … every day of my life.
All that God has done in this world … from creation to this very day … He has used to be my teacher. Now it is up to me … to walk in His truth. How could I ignore His words … forget His promises … or resist His will?
Please forgive me, Lord.
But Lord, as you teach me, will you please give me an “undivided heart”. Every sin of my life … every shame in my heart has come when my heart was divided. I have seen the consequences of such distraction in your Word - in the lives of David, Solomon, Peter, etc … even in my own life. I want to live my life in the fear of your Name, O Lord … praise you with all my heart.
ON SECOND THOUGHT: Another stanza I would lay up in my heart is Psalm 84:10, “Better is one day in your courts than a thousand elsewhere; I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of the wicked.” Those words speak my heart. I do not deserve to be a son in the house - but I would be willing to be a servant to the house. Sing this song for me … pray this prayer for me.
April 30, 2008 at 2:27 pm
An “undivided heart” . . . my breath caught and I got that feeling you get in your stomach when your breath catches when I read these words. Sometimes, it feels as though my mind (or heart) is all over the place. So many things in life that I still want to do and get anxious that maybe I won’t get to do them, as though it’s the end of the world if I don’t. I know, that all that matters is Jesus and in the end . . . God. Nothing in this life will compare with being in the presence of Christ in heaven, I know that. For some reason, the horror of the idea of not accomplishing every possible thing in this life overwhelms me sometimes. I don’t want to worry about those things, though. I get tired of it. I want my heart to be undivided, my loyalty and love for the Lord to overwhelm the things that overwhelm me and help me live in “today” in peace.
April 30, 2008 at 2:41 pm
I was told once that undivided also meant pure or not mixed. I have spent most of my life with a divided heart … having mixed emotions … mixed feelings … which boiled down to a mixed heart. My heart is divided when God’s will and my will aren’t in agreement. When I try to make decisions there’s usually a “God’s way” or “my way” battle going on in my heart. If I am trying to do things His way my heart will experience a lot less division. Most decisions are made much easier when I already know that I’m choosing God’s way.
I like how he tells God that if God will give him an undivided heart he will praise God with it. God looks out for me and has proteted my heart from so much damage. I look back at some of the things I did and I’m humbled by God’s grace. He spared me from so much hurt and shame … now shouldn’t I praise Him. Shouldn’t I give the heart that He’s protected to Him … wholly.
“Better one day in Your house than a thousand elsewhere” … AMEN!All I ask for is one day in His court or as a doorkeeper … yet … He gives me the keys to the place … amazing.
April 30, 2008 at 2:46 pm
I would gladly sweep up crumbs … to be with Jesus.. He gives us a way to follow Him, so that we can live forever with Him and be happy forever. God’s way is so easy, if we will just listen and learn from His Word. I hope I can do just that always. ilyajf
You have always shown me - even during the toughest of times - that following the Lord is the easiest way to live in this life and to live forever! Thank you for making me “want” to be there with you … with Him. I love you and Jesus forever, too. Rex
April 30, 2008 at 10:19 pm
I tried living without letting the Lord teach me…or lead me. I stopped listening to Him. My life was miserable. It seemed like I was constantly struggling with one thing or another. Decisions, disasters, depression, despair. Now that I have turned my life and heart over to God, things seem so much better..not overwhelming.
Give me an undivided heart. Please Lord. I want my heart to be His and not distracted by the world. Because He has delivered me from my despair, how can I NOT praise His Holy Name? I hope that I will take advantage of the chances I have to tell others of His great love…how He delivered me.