Un•di•vid•ed

When we read about the men and women in the Word of God— about their struggles, victories, and sins—it’s important to remember that our individual stories are also unfolding every day.

This morning, I opened my Bible to the 86th Psalm, authored by David, titled “devoted trust in times of deep trouble.” David asks the Lord for something invaluable: “Teach me your way, O Lord, and I will walk in your truth; give me an undivided heart, that I may fear your name.” (vs. 11)

What does it mean to have an undivided heart? 

Undivided, by definition, means “not divided, separated, or broken into parts.” Undivided also means “concentrated on or devoted completely to one object.”

David had learned from personal experience the consequences of a divided heart. He was a real person—like you and me—sometimes prone to fulfill the desires of his own heart regardless of the consequences.  However, the result of his sin led to a divided heart. 

Ouch. 

And yet, David is referenced in the Word as a man after God’s own heart “After removing Saul, he made David their king. He testified concerning him: ‘I have found David son of Jesse a man after my own heart; he will do everything I want him to do.” (Acts 13:22)

David’s desire for God led him back time and again in repentance to the heart of God—and then God was able and willing to realign David’s heart with His heart.

How interesting that the few references we read in the Word of an undivided heart share a direct correlation in the telling of David’s story. 

David had personally received undivided loyalty when thousands upon thousands of warriors joined forces with him for battle to “help David with undivided loyalty…” (I Chron. 12:33)

Besides reading in the Old Testament about the undivided loyalty of the warriors toward David and David’s prayer for an undivided heart, in the New Testament we learn that we are to “live in undivided devotion to the Lord” (I Cor. 7:35(b) and with “pure and undivided devotion to Christ.” (II Cor. 11:3(b))

Clearly, living with an undivided heart is difficult—we recognize this reality from the start in Genesis when Eve is deceived by the serpent’s cunning, which quickly leads to separation, or a divided heart, from God. 

So where does this leave us—you and me? 

I am hopeful that when we recognize the truth of our humanity, in humility, we will drop to our knees at the feet of Christ—to the same prayer of David:

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

I believe the key to an undivided heart lies in daily prayer and surrender. God’s Word fills us with hope, not defeat: 

- We are the righteousness of God (II Cor. 5:21)

- We are holy because He is holy (I Peter 1:16)

- We are God’s children (Just like David!) (I Jn. 3:1).

I pray our unfolding stories will one day be read in their entirety by our children and our grandchildren as a testimony of the goodness of God.

Until then, let’s encourage one another as we endeavor each day to live in undivided loyalty to God. 

Stay the course…

Sheila