“There is none like you among the gods, O Lord,
nor are there any works like yours.
All the nations you have made shall come
and worship before you, O Lord,
and shall glorify your name.
For you are great and do wondrous things;
you alone are God.
Teach me your way, O Lord,
that I may walk in your truth;
unite my heart to fear your name.
I give thanks to you, O Lord my God, with my whole heart,
and I will glorify your name forever.
For great is your steadfast love toward me;
you have delivered my soul from the depths of Sheol.” Psalm 86:8-13
David asks for an undivided heart, whole and united in and under his Lord. His desire is the outflow from a full heart that knows his God is unique, omnipotent, all-wise, worthy of worship, trust, and thanks. With sights filled with adoration of his Savior, why would he want to share his affection or devotion with idols, why would he seek any other wisdom? He’d been captivated by his Sovereign’s irresistible love, and so his heart belonged to Him. If one could poke David’s divinely-shaped heart, it would express the heart of God. (1 Samuel 13:14; Acts 13:22)
We are so fickle in the flesh. The human heart swells with pride and lust, shrinks in greed, and hardens toward compassion. It is sucked in by exaggerated emotions and warped by perverted values. When we put our importance or agenda or passions on life’s pedestal, our view of the true God is dimmed. In our divided heart His supremacy is distorted, He gets demoted by lesser lovers. To gaze at the Lord, to recount His deeds, to lift high His name and seek His truths all guard the heart and keep it whole.
Where have we allowed a breach? Have we smugly assumed we can share our heart’s throne with idols, or grown lukewarm in our love for Christ? Are we more intent on counting our achievements than the deeds of the Lord? What needs be reordered, set aside, redirected, in order for us to offer undivided, fiery devotion to the worthy Lord of Lords? (Revelation 3:15-16)
How might a whole heart be expressed anew toward the Lord in adoration and thanksgiving? Toward the needy in benevolence and generosity? Within the fellowship of church in encouragement and mutual edification? The more we fill the cracks with right effort and affection, the fuller it will be.
“There have been days when I would die for You
And days when I would not die to me
There have been nights when I would cry with You
For the sins of the world and the pain in the city
But some nights I cried only tears of self-pity
I need a love that will always endure
Give me a love that is simple and pure
“Give me an undivided heart
Place a new spirit in me
Give me an undivided heart
That I may fear Your name.” ~Twila Paris (1990)
Worthy Lord, receive my soul, my life, my all in thanksgiving and praise. May my heart beat wholly for Your glory.
As the rain and snow 