DEVOTION – DAY 545

Psalm 86:11-12 “Give God Your Undivided Heart”

Psalm 86: 11-12 “Teach me your way, Lord, that I may rely on your faithfulness; give me an undivided heart, that I may fear your name. I will praise you, Lord my God, with all my heart; I will glorify your name forever.”

King David wrote this Psalm 86. King David had to depend upon God for he had many enemies. His dependence was complete because David knew that not only did he need God to protect him from his many enemies, he also needed God to protect him from his enemy within himself – his old sinful nature. That was what David meant by wanting to give his undivided heart to the Lord. David knew that there was no point in God saving him from his external enemies if God were to leave him alone to face his own internal sinful nature on his own. In the same way, God wants us to offer our undivided hearts to Him. Only then can His help be of good use to us. David knew that if he fully surrendered himself to God, God is faithful and his only response is to worship Him, praise Him and glorify His name forever. We should also do the same.

We know a couple who loved their eldest son. They showered him with their love and protection and gave him the best of everything. They sent him to the best schools, they shielded him from all harm. But they also overindulged in their son. They allowed their son to do as he pleased. They never disciplined him. In the end, their son grew up to be spoilt and lacking in moral strength. They had failed to guide their son and ground him in the right values and morals. In the end, he became a selfish man who was unable to keep a steady job because every job he had were unsuitable. He did not realize that he was the problem. He was an example of someone whose parents did their best to give him the best environment but they failed to shape his character and give him good parenting. 

But that was not the case with King David. He knew that his own heart was capable of evil if he was left unchecked. So, he gave God his undivided heart expecting God to guard him from his external enemies, and also against his own sinful self. Let us all learn from King David’s example to also fully surrender ourselves to the Lord. Let us worship Him and glorify His name as a result.

Let us pray: Heavenly Father, we praise your Holy Name. We want to glorify your name all the days of our lives. Please help us to offer up our undivided hearts to you. Please take over as you lead and guide us. We pray in the gracious name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.

Questions

  1. Is there any part of you that you are holding back and not surrendering to God? Is there any secret sin, or areas in your life that you tell God it is off-limits to Him? 
  2. Will you surrender it all to the Lord and offer Him your undivided heart? What does offering God your undivided heart mean to you?
  3. How have you experienced God’s goodness and guidance for you when you surrender fully to Him? Share.