A Divided Heart
That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. Such a person is double-minded and unstable in all they do.
James 1 7-8
In Luke 24 Jesus is tells us, Love the Lord your God with all your heart. God looks at the heart (1 Samuel 16:7) and our heart is reflected by our thoughts. Therefore we can consider having a divided heart and being double minded are the same. We will look at what it means to love the Lord with all your heart verses loving the Lord with a divided heart.
To love the Lord with all our heart implies there is nothing or no one we love more that the Lord, even our own life. A heart for God lives for the Lord always giving him priority. Our heart longs to serve the Lord and seek his will, because we know there is nothing in this world more fulfilling than serving the Lord. God changes our heart and we are motivated to seek his divine will.
How do we know if we have a divided heart? A person with a divided heart is sharing priority between God and something worldly by giving something worldly priority over God. The cause of a divided heart for all Christians is a heart divided between God and self. It is a lack of complete surrender which the Lord can see as lack of faith. And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him. (Hebrews 11:6)
Having a divided heart can be revealed by the choices we make. We attempt to make the right choice but sometimes our choice is not pleasing to the Lord, however he sees our heart is in the right place. Other times we justify our choice that is displeasing to the Lord, and we have satisfied our conscious, feeling comfortable with our choice. We may be comfortable but has our choice pleased the Lord?
How do we overcome having a divided heart? We may know we have a divided heart or we may not be aware that we have a divided heart. If we know we are giving something or someone priority over the Lord, then we should repent, ask for forgiveness, and give the Lord priority. If we are unaware we have a divided heart, then we should seek Godly counsel from a trusted friend. If we truly give God priority, we pray for God’s will and refrain from entertaining any other thought. We examine ourselves closely and make every effort to please God over pleasing self.
Today be aware of the choices you make, choices in thought, word, and actions. Ask the Lord to help you make choices that are pleasing to him. Don’t let the emotion of anger, impatience, or fear keep you from making the right choices. Remember a divided heart is not pleasing to God because we are giving self priority.
Prayer: Lord, give me a pure heart and take away any division in my heart. If there is anything in my life that I give priority above you, make it clearly aware to me and the strength to change. In Jesus name, Amen