An Undivided Heart

Teach me your way, Lord,
    that I may rely on your faithfulness;
give me an undivided heart,
    that I may fear your name.

Psalm 86:11

The Psalmist’s prayer above is one we could all benefit from. What does an undivided heart look like? It’s one that is focused, committed and passionate. It’s a heart that fully belongs to God. An undivided heart is actually God’s heart in us; and is for the purpose of expressing the heart of God here on earth.

We can however, have a divided heart. A divided heart causes man to be unstable. James says 1:8b says…”a double-minded man is unstable in all his ways.” The previous verses 5-7, tell us the importance of seeking God for wisdom and stability in our lives. Too many are living from their own human wisdom and following every fleshly and shifting whim. You can see this in the confusion and chaos that follows the lives of many people today as they chase after the world’s system, rather than the Kingdom’s. The world’s way is ever changing and unstable. Following the only Way…Truth…and Life, Jesus, will produce a stable and undivided heart.

A person with a divided heart will chase after many different things, looking for purpose, fulfillment, self-worth, joy, and peace. They are often discouraged and exhausted. There are many good things a person can do, but are they God things? My husband often says, “Division is the destroyer of vision.” People often put their attention on too many different things, missing out on the one thing God is calling them to focus on. If you haven’t already, you may now see how significant and powerful the prayer in Psalm 86:11 is.

First and foremost, God wants us to be undivided in our commitment to our relationship with Him. As we do, He will show us how to walk out His will for our lives. If we don’t start here first, the rest can’t follow.

But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

Matthew 6:33

God’s purpose for us is to day by day grow into the image of Christ. That’s His primary purpose for our lives, and that comes through our relationship with Him alone. Often times, a person will only run to God when they hit rock bottom or trouble arises. They seek God for deliverance, not relationship. Then, the moment they get a little bit of success, peace, or whatever it was they were looking for, they take the reins of their life back. We must ask ourselves, “Am I truly sold out to living for Jesus?  In the good and the bad? Whether it’s easy or difficult? No matter what the circumstances of my life are?” I believe this commitment to Christ, takes a constant state of humility. Our hearts can lead us astray. This is why David prayed,

Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting

Psalm 139:23-24

Sadly, I have seen too many people become prideful and slip away from devotion to Christ. Sure, they may still consider themselves a “Christian” but their lives have veered off of God’s Divine purpose for them. They are not reaching their full potential in Christ. In fact, we were never called to be Christians; we were called to be disciples – followers of Christ.

My own prayers often echo David’s prayer. I try to keep focused on humbling myself before the Lord regularly, because I never want to be deceived. Don’t ever under estimate the power of deception. There is a way that seems right to man, but in the end it leads to death (Proverbs 14:12). We need to continually abide in the Truth of God’s Word, in order to walk in Truth. I often say, “I want to fall on the Rock before the Rock falls on me. I want to be that pliable vessel in God’s hand at all times.” How about you?Let’s not allow our hearts to become prideful or allow deception to sneak in and lead us astray.  Let’s be those who are committed to walking with Christ every day and allowing His Truth to mold our heart and life.

This struggle with a divided heart is real. I believe people have good intentions, but many are trying to live for God on their own terms. There are too many lone rangers out there, without connection or accountability, doing their “own” thing in the name of God. Watchman Nee in his book, The Glorious Church, shares how our gifts, apart from the body of Christ, are just that – “our” gifts. Yet, when connected to the body of Christ, coming together in unity, they become “His” because we are fulfilling our purpose as the Bride of Christ. Our gifts, our strengths, our very lives become meet for the Master’s use (2 Timothy 2:21). They are no longer “ours” but “His” to use. I know not everyone believes this, but this is Biblical truth. My husband and I are not pastors because we have a church to oversee, but because we BELIEVE in God’s Divine plan for the church and our responsibility to be a part of that. The truth is, God loves the church – we are His Bride, and He’s coming back for a glorious bride, who will be moving together in unity and power! May we all be committed in our connection to a local body and begin to function fully as a member of the body of Christ as God intends (1 Corinthians 12:12-27). This commitment will help us to keep our heart united with His.

Finally, God is looking for our hearts to be undivided in our purpose here on earth. Each of us will express God differently in different areas of life. What is your purpose… your God-given vision? Do you know? Many either don’t or will ramble off a list of things. When our heart is committed to being in alignment with God’s purpose for us, everything begins to come together. There is a grace that we receive to do what He has called us to do. I have seen this time and time again in the lives of so many people, including mine. God opens doors and brings supernatural provision when we pursue His purpose for our lives. It’s an awe-inspiring thing to witness. An undivided heart will enable us to put our hand to the plow and not look back even in the toughest of moments. In the pain and pressure of life, we will stand and not run. I won’t lie to you – standing is not easy – but when our heart is 100% for God, God’s grace is sufficient.

Recently, Rob and I have been discussing the purpose of the fire. The fire’s purpose is to refine us. Too many, because their heart is divided, run when life gets hot! James says, “Count it all joy when you encounter fiery trials!” You might be saying “What!!! Is he crazy???” It’s because James knew that in the fiery trial, as we stood, we would encounter the Refiners Fire. The Refiner’s Fire purges us of impurities (SELF! OUR FLESH! OUR STINKING THINKING!) and brings forth the gold He has placed within us (1 Peter 1:7, Proverbs 17:3, 1 Peter 5:10). In Daniel 3, we see how Meeshach, Shadrach and Abednego were thrown into the fire. They could have denied their faith and escaped, but they stood; and in that fire, they met the fourth man, Jesus, and were delivered! They came out unharmed, and not even smelling like smoke! And most importantly, they fulfilled their purpose to glorify God with their lives! God wants us to have the same undivided heart. To be fully His. Unmovable and unshakeable no matter what comes to entice or scare us away. You better believe that the enemy will come at you to distract you, and lure you off track. You better believe satan will come to discourage you and the feelings of giving up will be strong. But know this, when you stand in your appointed place, it’s then God is able to do great things in your life. It’s then, you will soar to heights with Him you never thought possible. Why? Because your heart is undivided and fully His!

I want to encourage you to start with a prayer, just like the Psalmist did in chapter 86, verse 11. Ask God to give you an undivided heart. Begin to deal with any double-mindedness that reveals itself in your life, by casting down every vain imagination, and bringing your mind and heart into alignment with the Word of God. And finally, stand, and stand some more. Don’t allow distraction, selfish desires, the cares of this world, pride, or any other work of the flesh to make its way into your heart. Instead, consecrate your heart unto the Lord so that it is fully His! Let’s pray together, “Lord, give me an undivided heart, that I may fear Your Name.”