Teach me your way, O LORD; and I will walk in your truth; give me an undivided heart, that I may fear your name. PSALM 86:11 NIV
There is a story I remember from fifty years ago. I was speaking to an older British man as he told me about growing up in London. As part of that story, he mentioned a special golden heart-shaped locket his sister hung around her neck. In most of these lockets, a woman might put a picture of herself on one side and a picture of her husband or boyfriend on the other. A single girl might put a picture of her parents. Being heart-shaped, the necklace was designed to represent who the person cherished the most. The necklace kept that cherished one near to the wearer’s heart.
As this Brit spoke to me, he got a smile on his face. He told me that one day, he snuck up to his sister’s room while she slept. He found the locket on her dresser. He slowly opened it. There, to his surprise, the man found one picture of some guy he had never met and another picture of his best friend. His sister had two different men pictured in her heart locket! Seeing the discrepancy, he woke her up and demanded to know why his best friend and another guy’s pictures were both in her heart locket. She confessed that she had a crush on both guys but couldn’t figure out who was more important to her. He told her, “Having two different guys in your heart locket is just wrong! How can your heart not see that you can’t fall in love with two blokes at the same time! It just doesn’t seem right. If I were you, I’d get this straightened out pronto!”
Like this young woman, people can find themselves with a split allegiance. A young man might have a desire for two different women. A person might have romantic feelings for both men and women. A cross-dressing man might inwardly desire to be a woman. People with a Personality Disorder may desire to be two different people living two different lives. A liar may be two-faced among their friends or enemies. An old saying warns people against falling for those who can’t be trusted because they speak lies out of “both sides” of their mouth. Split allegiances in life come in many forms!
It is also possible to harbor a split allegiance when it comes to God. The Israelites in Ezekiel’s prophecies were chastised by the prophet for worshipping Yahweh and idols at the same time, though it was forbidden by the commandments. Psalm 12:2 criticized those who spoke out of both sides of their mouth, using both flattery and lies to manipulate others. James 1:7 and 4:8 roundly criticized those who were of double mind, split between doing what was right and wrong. Have you ever felt split in your mind or heart, wanting to be faithful but full of doubt, wanting to be righteous but desiring some temptation?
In a prayer of David captured in Psalm 86, David wrote: “Teach me your way, O LORD; and I will walk in your truth; give me an undivided heart…”. A heart that is undivided will not desire to do good and evil at the same time. It will not desire to be both obedient and lustful with temptations. As David knew, you need to have an undivided heart, wholly devoted to God in Christ. Otherwise, you won’t feel peace. You will feel pulled in the wrong directions and be ill-at-ease. Your mind needs the peace that comes with a solid focus on God in Christ.
In Romans 7, the apostle Paul wrote that faithfulness is a constant struggle. The world wants your mind and heart divided. God wants your focus solely on him. You can’t have it both ways. Paul wrote that, “I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do.” (Romans 7:15). Sin does that to you. It causes you to doubt, to worry, to look for where the grass is greener. Sin causes you to question what is right. It will cause your emotions, devotions, and desires to be split. When that happens, you will find it difficult to remain faithful, be obedient, and find true joy.
After cutting his neighbor’s lawn, Josiah was given $5 for his troubles. The neighbor also gave Josiah two candy bars, telling him to share one with his sister. Josiah thanked the neighbor for the work and a big smile spread across Josiah’s face as he thought about the candy bar treat. But Josiah wanted both of the candy bars. Both were his favorites. He couldn’t figure out which to eat and which to give to his sister, so he put both in his jacket pocket to decide later.
After dinner, Josiah went to get the two candy bars from his jacket pocket. To his chagrin, they melted into a gooey mess. He ate one and offered the other to his sister, who told Josiah he could keep it. Josiah found after he finished the second bar that his waiting too long to pick a favorite had wrecked his treat. In the meantime, the candy went bad in the heat. Neither tasted good any longer.
If you find yourself double minded against the will of God, things usually go bad. The results may not be as good as you envisioned. If you are enticed, tempted, or lured away from what is good, your will and attitude and commitment might all be torn in the process. Then, nothing good will come of it.
If your heart’s ultimate desires could be held in a golden locket, what would you see there? Would it be a picture of a person? An idolized singer? A heartthrob? A spouse? Your child? Would a picture of Jesus be in one side of that locket?
How divided is your heart at this moment? Do you feel drawn in two different directions? Are two forces competing for your attention? When life pulls you in two different directions, seek God’s guidance. Jesus promised that the Holy Spirit would help counsel you when you need it, directing your steps toward the right path (John 14:14ff). Keep your focus on what is godly. Use God’s Word as your Compass, directing your steps. You have ONE Lord, ONE faith, ONE way that will bring you HOME. Don’t be one of those who becomes lost on the way to eternal life!
A PRAYER FOR TODAY
How often have I come to you with mixed emotions, Dear Lord God? How many times has the world twisted my desires and altered my reasoning? Your truth is the real truth! Help me trust in Your Word, being obedient to Your gospel! May I be solely focused on being a faithful follower in Jesus' name!
On the way to the cross, Jesus taught the value of a holy life. He explained things like obedience, love, forgiveness, grace, temptation, and so much more! Though I read of Jesus, my human will falters. I question my faith. I feel doubts creeping in. I see the dangers of temptations that entice my imagination. Help me to learn true devotion, with a heart that is committed fully to my Lord, Jesus!
Our world is filled with beauty and wonder. The mountains display Your majesty. A clear night sky shows forth the awesome beauty of Your creation. Our earth is a good home, filled with plenty of food and potential. May the human race not squander its blessings, ignore its beauty, nor abuse the abundance of Your grace.
I am thankful for Your love. I do not deserve Your complete devotion to my salvation. I am not worthy of Your protective hand. I only wish I could give back more in honor of Your many blessings. Still, I praise Your actions on my behalf! I celebrate all those lives You have redeemed in grace!
In honor of Jesus, I raise this pray to You, Heavenly Father! With these words come my adoration! Amen.
As this Brit spoke to me, he got a smile on his face. He told me that one day, he snuck up to his sister’s room while she slept. He found the locket on her dresser. He slowly opened it. There, to his surprise, the man found one picture of some guy he had never met and another picture of his best friend. His sister had two different men pictured in her heart locket! Seeing the discrepancy, he woke her up and demanded to know why his best friend and another guy’s pictures were both in her heart locket. She confessed that she had a crush on both guys but couldn’t figure out who was more important to her. He told her, “Having two different guys in your heart locket is just wrong! How can your heart not see that you can’t fall in love with two blokes at the same time! It just doesn’t seem right. If I were you, I’d get this straightened out pronto!”
Like this young woman, people can find themselves with a split allegiance. A young man might have a desire for two different women. A person might have romantic feelings for both men and women. A cross-dressing man might inwardly desire to be a woman. People with a Personality Disorder may desire to be two different people living two different lives. A liar may be two-faced among their friends or enemies. An old saying warns people against falling for those who can’t be trusted because they speak lies out of “both sides” of their mouth. Split allegiances in life come in many forms!
It is also possible to harbor a split allegiance when it comes to God. The Israelites in Ezekiel’s prophecies were chastised by the prophet for worshipping Yahweh and idols at the same time, though it was forbidden by the commandments. Psalm 12:2 criticized those who spoke out of both sides of their mouth, using both flattery and lies to manipulate others. James 1:7 and 4:8 roundly criticized those who were of double mind, split between doing what was right and wrong. Have you ever felt split in your mind or heart, wanting to be faithful but full of doubt, wanting to be righteous but desiring some temptation?
In a prayer of David captured in Psalm 86, David wrote: “Teach me your way, O LORD; and I will walk in your truth; give me an undivided heart…”. A heart that is undivided will not desire to do good and evil at the same time. It will not desire to be both obedient and lustful with temptations. As David knew, you need to have an undivided heart, wholly devoted to God in Christ. Otherwise, you won’t feel peace. You will feel pulled in the wrong directions and be ill-at-ease. Your mind needs the peace that comes with a solid focus on God in Christ.
In Romans 7, the apostle Paul wrote that faithfulness is a constant struggle. The world wants your mind and heart divided. God wants your focus solely on him. You can’t have it both ways. Paul wrote that, “I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do.” (Romans 7:15). Sin does that to you. It causes you to doubt, to worry, to look for where the grass is greener. Sin causes you to question what is right. It will cause your emotions, devotions, and desires to be split. When that happens, you will find it difficult to remain faithful, be obedient, and find true joy.
After cutting his neighbor’s lawn, Josiah was given $5 for his troubles. The neighbor also gave Josiah two candy bars, telling him to share one with his sister. Josiah thanked the neighbor for the work and a big smile spread across Josiah’s face as he thought about the candy bar treat. But Josiah wanted both of the candy bars. Both were his favorites. He couldn’t figure out which to eat and which to give to his sister, so he put both in his jacket pocket to decide later.
After dinner, Josiah went to get the two candy bars from his jacket pocket. To his chagrin, they melted into a gooey mess. He ate one and offered the other to his sister, who told Josiah he could keep it. Josiah found after he finished the second bar that his waiting too long to pick a favorite had wrecked his treat. In the meantime, the candy went bad in the heat. Neither tasted good any longer.
If you find yourself double minded against the will of God, things usually go bad. The results may not be as good as you envisioned. If you are enticed, tempted, or lured away from what is good, your will and attitude and commitment might all be torn in the process. Then, nothing good will come of it.
If your heart’s ultimate desires could be held in a golden locket, what would you see there? Would it be a picture of a person? An idolized singer? A heartthrob? A spouse? Your child? Would a picture of Jesus be in one side of that locket?
How divided is your heart at this moment? Do you feel drawn in two different directions? Are two forces competing for your attention? When life pulls you in two different directions, seek God’s guidance. Jesus promised that the Holy Spirit would help counsel you when you need it, directing your steps toward the right path (John 14:14ff). Keep your focus on what is godly. Use God’s Word as your Compass, directing your steps. You have ONE Lord, ONE faith, ONE way that will bring you HOME. Don’t be one of those who becomes lost on the way to eternal life!
A PRAYER FOR TODAY
How often have I come to you with mixed emotions, Dear Lord God? How many times has the world twisted my desires and altered my reasoning? Your truth is the real truth! Help me trust in Your Word, being obedient to Your gospel! May I be solely focused on being a faithful follower in Jesus' name!
On the way to the cross, Jesus taught the value of a holy life. He explained things like obedience, love, forgiveness, grace, temptation, and so much more! Though I read of Jesus, my human will falters. I question my faith. I feel doubts creeping in. I see the dangers of temptations that entice my imagination. Help me to learn true devotion, with a heart that is committed fully to my Lord, Jesus!
Our world is filled with beauty and wonder. The mountains display Your majesty. A clear night sky shows forth the awesome beauty of Your creation. Our earth is a good home, filled with plenty of food and potential. May the human race not squander its blessings, ignore its beauty, nor abuse the abundance of Your grace.
I am thankful for Your love. I do not deserve Your complete devotion to my salvation. I am not worthy of Your protective hand. I only wish I could give back more in honor of Your many blessings. Still, I praise Your actions on my behalf! I celebrate all those lives You have redeemed in grace!
In honor of Jesus, I raise this pray to You, Heavenly Father! With these words come my adoration! Amen.