an undivided heart

Psalm 86 is as much a prayer to God as it is David speaking to his own soul. David is reminding himself of who god is and calls his soul to persevere. He speaks to his soul, because he knows that emotions can lead him astray. Instead he calls on the truth of the Lord to be his guide. The Lord is the God who is good and who forgives, the one who pours out his love and covenant loyalty. The God who deals with evil uncompromisingly, yet is full of mercy and grace. So David clings to the Lord:

"Teach me your way, O Lord, because I do not trust my own and I know of the wondrous glorious ways of You, God. I will walk in Your truth, your faithfulness and sureness and reliability. Because my own heart is fickle, my own ways are weak and lead nowhere. Your way is the only way that leads to true stability in life, no matter how unpredictable they may seem or how often they lead me into the unknown."

Isn't that what faith is? Trusting that God's ways lead to life, especially when you cannot see the end of the road.

"Unite my heart to fear You name. Let all my hearts affection, everything I am concerned with, be completely focussed on You."

David knows of the inconsistency of the human heart and knows that it only finds rest and fulfilment when it is tethered to the heart of God. An undivided heart. Unafraid of the unknown and completely surrendered to God. Full of trust. Full of hope.

For this is what God does. He is all-consuming, uncompromising and abundant. His perfect way for us is an undivided heart. One heart and one way, only fearing Him and nothing else (Jeremiah 32:39). Because only the fear of the Lord will keep us from turning away from Him. Not because of fear, intimidation or oppression, but because we see Him for who He really is and we don't want to turn away anymore (Jeremiah 32:40). On the other hand God faithfully upholds the covenant He made with us and leads us into the promise, with all His heart and His soul (Jeremiah 32:41). He does not only require an undivided heart from us, but He is all in too! There is nothing He asks from us that He hasn't done before. He is so committed.

The ways of the God are not some crazy mystery, because the Bible gives us full disclosure. He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God? (Micah 6:8). And if we let Him, God teaches us daily what that looks like practically. There is no unknown, no uncertainty. Your emotions may tell you you are unsettled, your heart may question if you are fully accepted or qualified, but you are not following your heart! You are following the living God. The God who does not lie and does not change His mind (Numbers 23:19). The God who knows all and who intentions are kind and just (Ephesians 1:5). The one who made a covenant of love with humanity and has set us free from sin and death. He is the beginning and the end. Steadfast. Eternal. He is love Himself. He is the one you follow.

Teach me Your way, O Lord;

I will walk in Your truth;

Unite my heart to fear Your name.

- Psalm 86:11