In reading Psalm 119 I noticed the phrase “whole heart” referenced several times.
With my whole heart have I sought thee: Oh let me not wander from thy commandments. Psalm 119:10
Give me understanding, and I shall keep thy law; Yea, I shall observe it with my whole heart. Psalm 119: 34
I entreated thy favor with my whole heart: Be merciful unto me according to thy word. Psalm 119: 58
The world around us is a powerful force that lures us away from giving God our “whole” heart. The enemy uses fear, shame, guilt and pride to keep us from having a full, whole heart toward the Lord and His statutes.
I looked up the word “whole” in Strong’s Concordance to see what it said. As usual I was stunned by the depth of the meaning of this little word ‘whole’. Below are the various descriptions of the word “whole” – as in:
“Lord, I want to seek you with my whole heart”.
- all throughout
- any or by all
- any
- complete
- completely
- continually
- entire
- entirely
- every
- every way
- perpetually
- plenty throughout
- throughout the whole
- throughout all
- throughout
- total
- totally
- utter
- whole
- whole and all
- wholehearted
- wholly
This gives new meaning to our casual use of the word whole – as in, I love UGA and Ole Miss football a whole lot. Utterly? Completely? Entirely? Perpetually?
After reading these definitions, I was stuck by how many parts of my heart are not wholly His, not utterly His, not totally His, not completely His and not perpetually His.
Today, I pray that we embrace Him and His statutes, His love, His law, His ways, His precepts and His truth with our whole heart.
Prayer
Father search my heart. Find any way in me that is not in alignment to You. Lord, I want to give you my whole heart. I desire that. Help me to want You more, to desire You more than worldly pleasures.
Lord, show me where my heart is only partial to you. What “rooms” in my heart have doors that are partially shut? It is the hobby part of my heart? Is it the work part of my heart? Is it the “old family issues” part of my heart or the “humility” room? Lord, are any of these parts of my heart shut or not wholly committed to You?
Please show me now in this quiet moment.
Lord please open these doors now. I give you permission.
In Jesus Name, Amen.
