Give Me an Undivided Heart

Teach me your way O Lord

and I will walk in your truth;

Give me an undivided heart,

that I may fear your name. (Ps 86:11)

Spurgeon once said to pray is to pray with an argument before God.  In this psalm of David, he prays from beginning to end and his prayers always have arguments.  Do XX so that I can do YY.  In the case of the YY, it isn't out of self-interest but out of bringing glory to God.

This particular part of the prayer has always caught my eye.  Give me an undivided heart?  My whole life has been an undivided heart.  I have always been caught up in self-interest.  I am fond of saying that the things we think of when we stand in the shower show our priorities.  Most times, that is not aligned with God.  Sometime during the course of the day, God gets my attention and I am snapped back to the reality that God has a plan for my life and it is a real journey to know what it is.  For the longest time, I thought I would do XX and he would bless it.  Now, I have finally realized that my plans are not His plans and I get to really find out what his plan is.  My prayer is truly for an undivided heart and I know that may be painful.  I now pray just about every day that God would remove the obstacles that get in my way of true allegiance to Him.  

David says the reason is to fear your name.  That's a weird one.  David didn't consult me, but if I wrote the psalm, I might say to glorify your name, to exalt your name, or to call on your name.  But to fear your name?  Fear in this sense is a healthy reverential fear showing an awe for the living God.  When you have an undivided heart, you really realize how mighty and awesome the living God really is.  Further, He gives you an incredible sense of peace and joy, the peace that surpasses all understanding. 

So pray this way - Lord, I willingly submit all under your authority.  You know me better than I know myself.  Take all away that would needlessly entangle me so that I can run with endurance the race that is set before me fixing my eyes on Jesus, who is the author and perfecter of my faith.  I know it may be painful, but I know that discipline brings true joy and true allegiance.  Help me to realize in my weakness how mighty and awesome you are.  

Are you willing to pray this prayer?  I assure you it is worth it.