My heart is so easily distracted. I have a passion for Jesus, and pursuing those things that are eternal, and I have a passion for temporal things that quickly fade away.
I start believing I can have it all. Half of my heart can belong to God, and half of my heart can belong to the world.
I get distracted by the American good life.
My heart is divided.
Psalm 86:11 & 12 says: "Teach me your way, O Lord, and I will walk in your truth; give me an undivided heart, that I may fear your name. I will praise you, O Lord my God, with all of my heart; I will glorify your name forever."
While David was walking through troubling times he realized the only way to stay focussed and strong was to reach out to God. David's plea was that God would teach him, guide him in truth, and give him a heart completely devoted to the Lord.
David's prayer is my prayer. I want to know God's truth. I want an undivided heart. I want to praise God with all of my heart.
And I do not think that God wants to share my heart with the world. I believe he wants all of my heart too.
It is so very easy to get caught up in the cares of this world. Maybe you have found yourself wrestling between complete surrender and half-hearted praise. Maybe you are like me, so quickly distracted by the superficial worries that cloud sound judgement.
The troubles that you and I face may not be poverty, or the threat of physical death. We may not think we have any troubles at all. However, our greatest troubles come, not in the form of persecution and famine, but in comfort and security. And it is mighty difficult to give God an undivided heart when the cost may be the very thing we are clinging tightly to.
God wants more. No. God wants all.
"When we fail to focus on eternity, we will choose comfort over danger, self-fulfillment over self-denial, and escaping rather than bearing our cross." - George Wood, General Superintendent of the Assemblies of God.