Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and
with all your strength. Deuteronomy 6:5
Wait. Stop. I know what
you’re thinking. I’ve heard this verse a
million times. And you’re tempted to skip this devotion because there can’t
be anything new to say about it. I know, because that’s what I thought every
time I skimmed over it.
But, look! These commandments that I give you today are
to be upon your hearts (v. 6).
Hearts are emphasized over everything else. The heart as described in Scripture
describes the true inner self. With the heart we feel, perceive, and make moral
choices. It’s the wellspring of our thoughts, values, and motives.
We seek and respond to
God with our hearts.
I wish it wasn’t so
because it’s easier for me to love God with my mind and strength. I’m pretty
good at keeping rules, but matters of the heart terrify me.
I avoid and bury
matters of the heart. Risky. Unsafe. All of
my heart? No way. And all means
“all.”
God wants my whole
heart. Instead I ration Him pieces.
I knew my heart was
softening when as a young woman my resolve not to have children melted and gave
way to a strong desire for a family. Isn’t
that enough, God? No.
Surrender makes me
uncomfortable. I thought it meant to give up, as in defeat, or simply go
through the motions. Could surrender mean to wave the white banner of God’s
love over me in victory and allow Him to love me as He sees fit?
He pursues us and
fights for our hearts. Will we not joyfully yield to His extravagant love?
God is our All and deserves our
all—devoted love, not in word and tongue only, but inwardly in truth.
My dear heavenly
Father, I thank You for Your heart which You lavish on me. May I respond by
giving You all of mine.
Karen Sims
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