Time to start a new year with a bit of introspection.
Where do you look? Psalm 86:11 says, "[G]ive me an undivided heart, that I may fear your name" (NIV). Look at your heart, your affections. What thoughts dominate the landscape of your mind? Do they line up with biblical truth or are they in contradiction? What are you holding onto? Is there a pursuit or passion that overshadows devotion to Christ? Is there a sin keeping you away from fellowship and instead, in the shadows?
How do you know if you have a divided heart? Here is a key identifier in my life: A general sense of unrest. Psalm 62:1 tells us that "My soul finds rest in God..." (NIV). What about you? Are there excuses that keep you from daily, personal worship of God? Do you pray about this area of your life, but not that one? Are you free to confess this struggle, but would not speak of that one? Is there an addiction or vice which continues to overtake you? Nursing that "pet sin," muting His still, small voice with yours ("It's not that bad!") - these divide our hearts. A divided heart does not seek God easily or fully. A divided heart is not at rest.
Yet, we were created for rest for our souls and Jesus promises it to the weary, with a condition: "Come to me....you will find rest for your souls!" (Matthew 11:28-29.) He gives the rest, but we have to "come." So we have this promise with a condition and now also a command. Look at Psalm 103:1: "Bless the Lord, O my soul, ALL that is within me, bless his holy name." We are commanded to bless the Lord with our whole beings. Why? The deepest need of our hearts is to bless the Lord.
But we fall so short, and though the struggle is real, we do not lose hope! Sin's symptoms diagnose our great need for the Great Physician. We rejoice that God is a relentless pursuer, that the Spirit is an ever-present counselor and convictor. We rejoice and are humbled that our Jesus -merciful and faithful High Priest - sympathizes with our weaknesses, because he in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet was without sin! (Hebrews 4:15, ESV.) Look at that - all of God delights in uniting our hearts to his; Father, Son, Holy Spirit works to accomplish this.
There is hope for 2016. Your heart and mine can proclaim with the psalmist, "All that is within me, bless His holy name!" It will take work.
It's time to begin.
