With our whole heart……

When we think about doing something with our whole heart, what exactly does that mean?  Our hearts are unique, magnificent organs.  They are alive with energy as they beat within us.  The Word says in Deuteronomy 6:5 “For thou shall love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.” I don’t know about you, but I don’t see any wiggle room here.  It is clear that God wants us to love Him totally, utterly, completely, unconditionally and without reservation.

Our hearts are vulnerable. We can give them away, break them, bruise them,  expose them, share them, or divide them. The Word says in Proverbs 4:23 that we are to keep it with all diligence: for out of it are the issues of life.  Diligence means to guard, to watch over, to protect.  Jeremiah says “……but his word was in mine heart, like a burning fire, shut up in my bones…….” (20:9).  Think for a moment. How long has it been since we held the word in our heart to this extent.  Do we place great value on it, treasure it.

So many times the Lord deals with us through our children.  Through the years I would think “if only they would do this or that” and then, quietly, softly, speaking to my innermost being, that still small voice would come to me saying, “Yes, I know exactly how you feel”.  Once they are grown, we find that the most vital thing to have with them is some quality, uninterrupted time.  Time where they are really there with us and not just in the room. When there can be some substantive conversation and you can share your heart, and they theirs, and you truly hear each other.  That, my friend, is precisely what the Lord wants with us.  The Bible says He is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart and that He notices the preparation of our hearts.  Goodness. Do we enter into our time with Him with our hearts open to receive from Him as well as to praise and worship Him. Have we become rote, mechanical, routine with our devotions. Where is the fire shut up in our bones?

Let us take inventory of our hearts. Are we allowing ourselves to be content with being busy about the things of God or are we still passionate, consumed with zeal for our first love. It is critically important that we know because he does.