When the Pharisees got together to test Jesus, they asked him, “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” Jesus replied, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind...” (Matt 22:36-38).
From Ps 51:10, “Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.”
From Ps 86:11b, “O Lord... give me an undivided heart, that I may fear your name.”
“Blessed are they... who seek him with all their heart” (Ps 119:2 b).
In Biblical language, the heart is more than an essential bodily organ. It is from within the heart that one experiences emotion and motivation. It is within the heart that we love and receive love. The heart wishes, desires, yearns and draws us closer to God. It is where we receive God in the form of his Holy Spirit.
The apostle Paul writes, “Now it is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ. He anointed us, set his seal of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come” (2 Cor 1:21-22).
Seeking God with all our heart means we decidedly choose to reach down deep inside ourselves, with serious reverent intention and attention, seeking Him with our emotions, our intellect and with all that we are on the inside, all while being willingly subject to and obedient to His direction. It means we seek Him as we consider, make decisions and as we act. It means we seek God’s guidance when we experience feelings of desire for material, emotional or physical things.
Seeking God with all our hearts means something else too – it means seeking to be in His presence without a list of wants and needs. This is worship. As like the flowers that turn their petals up towards the sun and as the pond slider turtles climb up on a log in the summer and stretch out their necks, noses up, eyes closed, receiving the sun’s warmth so too should we strive to sit in God’s presence, ready and hopeful to receive his love, mercy, grace, peace and joy, direction and correction should He choose to bless us in that way.
Lord God, when you created the human body, when you created each one of us, you gave us a heart designed to love, worship and receive you. You planned from the beginning of time to be in relationship with us and it is within our hearts that we realize, feel and grow that relationship with you.
Help us, Lord, to open our hearts to you now, ALL our hearts, Lord, NOT holding back certain areas, NOT refusing you access to the dark spaces and corners which we have tried to conceal from your attention.
Rather, help us to want more of you and less of us. Please fill our hearts with your presence, your love, your guidance and encouragement.
In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.
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