April 30 - Reading 28: Psalms 86-88

“Give me an undivided heart, that I may fear Your name.” (Psalm 86:11)

If we need to ask God for an undivided heart, we can assume that it does not come to us naturally. We likely more easily identify with a divided heart, torn between two opposing affections such as good and evil or obedience and disobedience.

This is the same struggle Paul addressed when he said “For the good that I will to do, I do not do; but the evil I will not do, that I practice. O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me…? Only Jesus Christ, our Lord!” (Romans 7:19, 24-25). 

The truth is, we are born with a heart that is totally inclined to evil, that is “desperately wicked” (Jeremiah 17:9). Then God called us “out of darkness into His marvelous light” (1 Peter 2:9), and He created a desire in our hearts to want to please Him. But we will struggle with wanting to only please ourselves. Our hearts are torn — divided.

In contrast, an undivided heart is one that is united in its direction of affection. It turns its focus first to God’s kingdom and His righteousness, and leaves the rest to Him (Matthew 6:33). Whenever “the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth” try to choke out our faith (Matthew 13:22), an undivided heart will fight to bring its focus back to His kingdom and his righteousness. A united heart also allows us to wholeheartedly seek His face in intercession on behalf of others, and will produce an abundance of fruit for the kingdom.

As we intercede today, let’s ask Him for an undivided heart so that we can remain focused on the awesomeness and faithfulness of our Almighty God. No matter what uncertainty, fear and upheaval is going on in the temporary circumstances of our lives, our undivided heart can bring us back to a focus on this eternal truth — we have an all-powerful, all-sovereign God who is on our side (Romans 8:31).