Psalm 86:11 Teach me your way, O LORD,
and I will walk in your truth;
give me an undivided heart,
that I may fear your name.

This verse has long been a significant one to me. I particularly need to pray the second half of it, more often than I would like. God has been very faithful to teach me His way, allowing me to be steeped in the Bible from childhood and guiding me through it, as well as in other ways, in the years since then. However, knowing the truth isn’t the same thing as doing it, as I know all too well. That’s where the “undivided heart” comes in. Part of me always knows what God wants me to do, but sometimes my flesh argues louder! Actually that’s a common human experience, and even Paul wrote about it in Romans 7. In English we speak of being “of two minds” on a subject, but Japanese speaks of “two hearts.” Accordingly, in this verse the Japanese phrases it as, “Give me a single heart.” It would be easy if we didn’t have such inner conflict, but that’s an important part of being human. A vital proof of Jesus’ humanity was the struggle He had in the Garden of Gethsemane. He was ultimately successful, resulting in our redemption through His sacrifice on the cross. We too can be successful, to the degree that we submit to Him and abide in Him. That is the conclusion Paul came to in Romans 7:25, and it is what we need to remember and cling to. It is only when we are in Christ that we are free from the condemnation that comes from a divided heart, which of course is what Paul said in Romans 8:1.

When I have had such a struggle with this issue over the years, I should have great empathy for those around me who are struggling with it as well. One person particularly comes to mind, but I need to remember that everyone deals with this issue. I must be careful not to be an instrument of condemnation, but rather heal and encourage so that the devil’s lies may be countered with the truth of God. As I tell people fairly frequently, the Holy Spirit convicts but He doesn’t condemn. The devil, on the other hand, condemns every chance he gets. I must not be party to his schemes! I am to be honest and straightforward about repentance, and that it is essential, but my goal must always be healing and restoration. I can also point people to the hope we have, that those who choose to be in Christ now will some day stand before God’s throne, clothed in the righteousness of Christ without any hint of division. That will be glorious indeed!

Father, when I woke up this morning I thought I was going to be preparing a message on praise, but You had a better idea. Thank You. Guide me now in laying out the notes as You desire, and guide me Sunday as I flesh those notes out with Your words, so that everyone who hears may be drawn to single-hearted devotion to You, for their blessing and Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!