Day 18: Undivided Heart.

Art by Karenee-art

Today we are reading Proverbs 18 and Psalm chapters 86-90. Before reading, pray that God reveals something new to you today!

-Read Scripture-

We've all heard that David was "a man after God's own heart." But was does that mean? I've grown up my whole life hearing that and wishing I could have that kind of heart, but never understanding how. About a year or so ago, I was reading about David in the message version of the bible and it read "...my servant David who did what I told him and lived from his undivided heart, pleasing me." 1 Kings 14:8. That is when it clicked for me! I want an undivided heart! A heart that is not divided between heaven and earth, but solely focused on God, 100%. That is what is a "man after God's own heart" looks like. Now that is something I understand and can strive for!

Since then, I've received confirmation after confirmation of this idea and principle. Let's look at Psalm 86:11 in ALL different translations.

"Teach me your way, O LORD; I will walk in your truth; Unite my heart to fear your name." NKJ

"Teach me your way, LORD, that I may rely on your faithfulness, give me an undivided heart, that I may fear your name." TNIV

"Train me, GOD, to walk straight; then I'll follow your true path. Put me together, one heart and mind; then, undivided, I'll worship in joyful fear." The Message

"O Eternal One, guide me along your path so that I will live in your truth. Unite my divided heart so that I will fear Your great name." The Voice

We live divided. My heart is all over the place, divided between my children, husband, family, friends, work, money, and God. It is possible to live with an undivided heart. David did it, even with all the baggage and screw-ups. We just need to take all the things that divide us and look at them through the lens of God. How can I glorify him in all these areas? See the need to seek his guidance in these different areas. Be willing to surrender all of them to him.

I try to pray everyday for God to unite my divided heart, to make it 100% focused on him. The truth is, even though I'm not sure how to accomplish this, he knows how to. And very slowly I'm seeing my focuses change. I'm able to let go of the things that divided me and my attention. I am able now to focus on the things that I know he has called me to. It's been a very rewarding journey thus far.

We all have hundreds of things that divide our hearts. Today, think about how that looks for you. Are there things that need to be cut out? Are there important issues that need to be addressed through God's filter rather than the world's? Is there something you need to surrender? Or perhaps you just need to ask God to help you maintain your life but put him front and center. Whatever this looks like for you, I pray that God gives you the next steps.

Abba, I pray you unite our hearts today. Allow us to see our lives as they truly are, divided between heaven and earth. Thank you for Christ bridging the gap and the Holy Spirit that helps us accomplish what you have for us. Show us how to refocus our hearts and minds so that we can focus on you. 100%. Show us how to work, be in school, and live our lives with you at the center. Unite our hearts with yours so that they may beat together. Make your will our will, your cause our cause, and your desires our desires.
Seriously, I mean it. :)
Amen.

Day 13: Keeping up with the Jones

Today we are reading Proverbs 13 and Psalm chapters 61-65. Ask God to open your heart and mind today to receive his truths!

-Read Scripture-

The idea of appearances, image, and reputation play a huge role in our society. We dress, make purchases, and drive cars to impress those around us. We want people around us to think we have it all together. Most people spend finances way beyond their means to "keep up with the Jones". (Must be other Jones! ;) If you look past the car they drive, house they live in, and clothes they wear, their bank account is empty. Even worse, their hearts and minds are full of stress, frustration, and depression.

God invites us into another different life, one without the stress and anxiety that comes with living beyond your means. One of peace and contentment, free of trying to impress your friends, family, or neighbors.

I believe the first thing we need to realize to fully embrace this free way of living is realizing this: That this life, our lives on this Earth is not our finale. It's only Act 1. Everything of this earth is not real, not permanent. It doesn't carry on with us. Psalm 63:9 says, "Human beings disappear like a breath; even people of rank live artificial lives. Their weight is that of a breath in a balance-nothing. Added together, they're still lighter than air." The Voice

I love that this verse says, "even people with rank live artificial lives." Even the people we think have it all, movie stars, sports heros, and politicians live artificial lives. Not lasting, and perhaps, not real.

Secondly, we must let go of appearances. Its funny, we know they mean nothing anyway, we know that things are never what they seem. But we still strive to maintain them! We need to let them go, and only focus on what our heavenly father thinks of us and our lives, not our friends and neighbors. Don't look to the right or left, only up. Two of my favorite verses are:

"A pretentious, showy life is an empty life; a plain and simple life is a full life." Proverbs 13:7 The Message

"Better to be a nobody and yet have a servant than pretend to be somebody and have no food." Proverbs 12: 9 TNIV

Plain and simple.

Plain and simple, huh. I really really like the sound of that. Talk about going against the grain of culture. One of my favorite books is "The Irresistible Revolution" by Shane Claiborne. I highly recommend this read. It a book about how a young man from Philadelphia who came to this same conclusion. If you want to learn more about him and The Simple Way, his organization, go to www.thesimpleway.org.

After realizing that the tangible "treasures" of this world won't last and that they don't matter, it is time to focus on the treasures that WILL last, the things we do for eternity. Our service for others, helping others grow in their relationship with Christ, spreading love to the unlovable, giving of our time and resources to support those people doing these things. Being Christ's hands and his feet to his fellow followers and those he is pursuing!

My challenge for us today and for the rest of this month. Let us let go of the desire to impress those around us. Let's choose to serve God with our willingness to give, rather than our friend who just bought a new car. May culture and the world around look at us like we are crazy because of our reckless pursuit of all things ETERNAL!

Abba, give us eternity goggles! Let us see everything through that lens. Today, that is my only prayer for us. Amen!