Jeremiah 29:13
You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.
You’ve heard the sayings “giving something your whole heart” or “making a wholehearted effort,” but have you given thought to what those actually mean? I was recently watching a show called Ancient Jewish Wisdom, which features Rabbi Daniel Lapin and his wife Susan Lapin. This particular show was discussing the distinction between something being emotional/physical versus spiritual. In particular the discussion made the distinction between something being “of the heart” and “in your heart.”
God has directed that we write His Word on our hearts. With His Word in your heart, then you can act “from your heart” and have an outcome pleasing to God. But if we act from our own hearts then we are frequently in trouble; because we aren’t “wholehearted” we are often pulled toward things that are not good for us, or good at all.
For me when I read Jeremiah 29:13 I think about making sure that God and pleasing Him is first and foremost in my mind and spirit. I focus my attention on discerning what God would have me do. I know that I am willing to take the steps to have my heart committed to God in the midst of all the things that can distract me or get in the way of being “wholehearted” in my pursuit of God.
Are you more passionate about a sport or a sports team than in following God?
Are you more disciplined about working out consistently (daily) to strengthen your body than you are about reading your Bible to strengthen your relationship with God?
Where your heart is, is where you time and effort is spent. Where your heart is you will find where you spend your money. Where your heart is the rest of your life goes. Where does your heart go: Toward God or physical/material things?
Today you can grow nearer to God by examining where your heart is and then refocusing your heart toward God.
Deuteronomy 6:5 (NKJV)
You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength.
Author: Lea A. Strickland, MBA CMA CFM CBM GMC
Copyright ©2012 Lea A. Strickland
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