He is my Delight

“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 NIV

“Teach me your ways, O LORD, that I may live according to your truth! Grant me purity of heart, that I may honor you.” Psalm 86:11 NLT

This verse makes my heart soar!  Yes God!  This is what I want!  Many times I have prayed something very similar in my time with God.  I desperately desire these things – a pure and undivided heart, knowing His ways, the fear of the Lord, walking in His truth.  Who of His children would not desire such wonderful things?

It is easy to feel quite holy when praying such a thing.  But when the day comes that He begins answering this prayer with His refining fire, in that day the seriousness of our desire to walk with Him will be tested.  When He requires those dearly loved Isaacs to be placed upon the altar, then the battle begins.  And it is then that we see how divided our heart truly is.

What can cause more sorrow to a follower of Jesus than to see Judas lurking within their own heart?  I cannot afford to pity Judas, but must ruthlessly drive him out of my heart. 

Just like Jesus said to the rich, young ruler “sell all…and come, follow Me”, He says the same to me.  He wants all of my heart.  What soldier can be trusted in battle who has divided loyalty?  What husband can be trusted who has a roving eye?  We expect loyalty from others, and do we think Jesus requires anything less?

The purifying of a heart is painful.  If we don’t have a burning desire to walk closely with God, we will not endure the process.  But if we continue with God, He will grant us more grace, and more grace, and still more grace, to be able to endure the refining.  It will still be painful, but we will be able to see past the pain, looking to the joy that lies before us of a closer fellowship with Him.

“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.”