“Teach me your way, O LORD, that I may walk in your truth; unite my heart to fear your name.” (Psalm 86:11, ESV)
Psalm 86 was a hymn written by David during a difficult time in his life. In Psalm 86, David mentioned that he was “poor and needy” (v.1), in danger (v.2), and had a life filled with troubles and tears (vv 6,7). During this trying period, David penned the words of Psalm 86:11. In this verse, David didn’t ask God to fix everything. Instead, David asked for 3 things. You might think he would have asked for money or wealth or power or that his needs or troubles would be taken away. Instead, David asked that God teach him how to be righteous and walk in truth. David knew that good and bad times come and go, but a relationship with God will help him every single day of his life. Then, in the second half of today’s scripture David goes one step further. He asks God to do one more thing. He sought for God to “unite” his heart. This wording is very unusual. Since human beings are born with only one heart, how can that heart not be one? It’s simple, really. David knew his heart was split between evil and good, between doing right and taking the easy road, between earthly pleasures and faithfulness. David knew that as long as his heart fought over such polar opposites, this inner division would eat away at his joy and peace. He could never be content.
There are many, many people today still walking around with divided hearts. Their hearts are torn between some of the very same things that David felt. Human beings naturally tend to be selfish and judgmental, emotional and sinful. God asks us to rise above these baser tendencies with a holy life. For all of us, this can be difficult. Your heart and mind and soul can be divided with competing emotions and rivaling ideas. These can even cause “splitting headaches” (see the humor there?!). As long as your mind, heart, and soul remain divided between worldly instincts and faithful desires, you will never be at ease. Usually, people either bow to their baser instincts or they rise above to a holy life. Some people drive themselves crazy listening to the angel on one shoulder and the devil on the other. I’m surprised more people don’t have split personalities!
Kenneth was diagnosed with bipolar disorder. This psychological disorder causes a person to have excessive mood swings. Kevin felt really good at times and severely depressed at others. The mood swings could happen within minutes or change from day to day. One morning, Kenneth might feel like he could take on the world. He’d work hard. He could labor on a project for hours without tiring. Then, a few days later, Kenneth would crash and barely be able to get out of bed or be depressed for days.
As a Christian, Kenneth’s spiritual life was tormented by this change in moods. He would feel close to God one day, then distant from God for the next three days. Kenneth was a kind soul who would give you the shirt off his back. But then again, his wife often became seriously angry for his spending sprees brought on during a down day. Because Kenneth suffered from bipolar disorder, he always felt that his heart was torn apart by his moods. He never felt close to God. He felt guilty that his spiritual life was so up or down. It took a long time, lots of counseling, many prayers, and some very good doctors for Kenneth to get some order back in his life. When Kenneth got better, the one thing he most enjoyed was that his heart and soul and mind felt whole again. He felt closer to God. He didn’t have all those competing emotions tearing apart his peace. He may have his bad days, but Kenneth has learned to unite his heart before the Heavenly Father.
You may not have bipolar disorder but that doesn’t mean your heart isn’t divided. Competing thoughts or emotions brought on by sinful desires or past mistakes can shake up your world. Bouncing between faith in God and doubt in God’s answering your prayers can cause ripples of fear and anxiety and insecurity to agitate your soul. Regrets can spur you to question your faith or sincerity before God. Illness may wreak havoc on your peace and sap your strength. There are many ways in which your heart can become divided.
This week, focus on helping God to heal your heart so that it may become united again. Let God show you if anything is causing division in heart and soul. Let the mercy of God wash over you. Offer up forgiveness. Feel God’s grace. Find what it takes to be united with God with a faith that won’t falter.
There are many, many people today still walking around with divided hearts. Their hearts are torn between some of the very same things that David felt. Human beings naturally tend to be selfish and judgmental, emotional and sinful. God asks us to rise above these baser tendencies with a holy life. For all of us, this can be difficult. Your heart and mind and soul can be divided with competing emotions and rivaling ideas. These can even cause “splitting headaches” (see the humor there?!). As long as your mind, heart, and soul remain divided between worldly instincts and faithful desires, you will never be at ease. Usually, people either bow to their baser instincts or they rise above to a holy life. Some people drive themselves crazy listening to the angel on one shoulder and the devil on the other. I’m surprised more people don’t have split personalities!
Kenneth was diagnosed with bipolar disorder. This psychological disorder causes a person to have excessive mood swings. Kevin felt really good at times and severely depressed at others. The mood swings could happen within minutes or change from day to day. One morning, Kenneth might feel like he could take on the world. He’d work hard. He could labor on a project for hours without tiring. Then, a few days later, Kenneth would crash and barely be able to get out of bed or be depressed for days.
As a Christian, Kenneth’s spiritual life was tormented by this change in moods. He would feel close to God one day, then distant from God for the next three days. Kenneth was a kind soul who would give you the shirt off his back. But then again, his wife often became seriously angry for his spending sprees brought on during a down day. Because Kenneth suffered from bipolar disorder, he always felt that his heart was torn apart by his moods. He never felt close to God. He felt guilty that his spiritual life was so up or down. It took a long time, lots of counseling, many prayers, and some very good doctors for Kenneth to get some order back in his life. When Kenneth got better, the one thing he most enjoyed was that his heart and soul and mind felt whole again. He felt closer to God. He didn’t have all those competing emotions tearing apart his peace. He may have his bad days, but Kenneth has learned to unite his heart before the Heavenly Father.
You may not have bipolar disorder but that doesn’t mean your heart isn’t divided. Competing thoughts or emotions brought on by sinful desires or past mistakes can shake up your world. Bouncing between faith in God and doubt in God’s answering your prayers can cause ripples of fear and anxiety and insecurity to agitate your soul. Regrets can spur you to question your faith or sincerity before God. Illness may wreak havoc on your peace and sap your strength. There are many ways in which your heart can become divided.
This week, focus on helping God to heal your heart so that it may become united again. Let God show you if anything is causing division in heart and soul. Let the mercy of God wash over you. Offer up forgiveness. Feel God’s grace. Find what it takes to be united with God with a faith that won’t falter.