A divided heart

Psalm 86:11-12

At graduation time as the next generation steps out into the world and adulthood they each must ask themselves why am I here? What is my purpose?

It is also crucial for every Christian to continually ask themselves this question also!

Acknowledging that God is good and merciful, the Psalmist prays for mercy in his time of trouble so that he might again rejoice (vs 1-7).

David makes his appeal on the grounds that God is good, forgiving and faithful.

Based upon who God is he is confident God will answer his prayer.

Acknowledging that God is able to do anything, the Psalmist prays for instruction in God’s ways so that he can worship the Lord with an undivided heart and praise Him wholeheartedly for delivering him.

He prays for instruction that he might serve God and praise Him

This takes an undivided heart.

This is truly our purpose for being here on planet Earth

To Worship and Praise God by SERVING HIM.

This service can come in may forms:

Family/Parents- set a Godly example, lead children to Christ

Work- to live set apart, do a good job, with a good attitude to live/work in a way that shines the Light of Jesus Christ

School- to be set apart, to be there for peers, to build others up and encourage them. To extend and show the love of Christ

Within the Church

elderly, needy, infirm

teaching,

prayer- intercessory

day to day needs

Preaching

Evangelism

Missionaries, etc...

In this Psalm David’s prayer starts with adoration- a focus on God and who He is and what He has done

He next affirms his belief and desire to know more of God and to fully, wholeheartedly, praise/worship/serve Him.

David was well taught in the things of God, and yet was sensible enough to know he needed further instruction and he knew that many times he could not rust his own judgement.

He asked to be taught “thy way”

The way is Jesus Christ the way of Truth.

He desired not just to be taught but to be obedient to it, to live/walk in His way.

David knew that one cannot walk in His way and Truth unless He teaches us, and if we are going to be taught we must determine to walk in obedience to His teachings.

David knew the goal in life for each human: to have a heart that was fully and totally focused on God and God’s desires. No divided loyalties.

The Bible teaches that hypocrites have double hearts or divided hearts. Due to our sin nature our hearts are prone to wonder. Prone to division, like David we must ask God to unite our heart and we in obedience must allow Him!

What is a divided heart?

A divided heart heart occurs when our thoughts, focus, emotions and desires are divided. For most that means divided between God and the world!

Deut 6:5 states that: “5 And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.”

Symptoms of a divided heart:

never get stuff done

no time for God

often filled with worry and anxiety

concerned about what other people think about you,

postpone when God calls you (to Salvation or into service)

focus on the worries of life

When we look at all of these symptoms we see that the center and object of the hearts focus is upon the self.... and far from God! We cannot serve two masters. Either Jesus Christ or self, cannot have it both ways and there is no middle ground no matter how much we like to convince ourselves there is and how much Satan twists the truth and our thought to assure us that there is. This is black and white, no fence sitting and no room for compromise.

A divided heart is referred to in many places in scripture such as Mark 4:16-17 with the parable of the seeds:

some seeds fell among the thorns, you see we as Christians are among the world and the idols of this world, it is easy for us to pay attention to the things around us and get caught up in the world and in self and in doing so that chokes out connection with what our soul needs most: Jesus Christ.

James 1:8 “8 A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.”

James 4:8 “8 Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.”

Causes of a divided heart:

worldliness

self focus

flesh

pride

money

obligations

enjoyment of sin

rebellion against God

etc...

Effects of a divided heart:

Hosea 10:2 “2 Their heart is divided; now shall they be found faulty: He shall break down their altars, he shall spoil their images.”

A divided heart leads to destruction

God doesn’t get all of us

We hold back parts (reveals lack of trust and true belief)

Deliverance from a divided heart:

Ezekiel 11:19 “19 And I will give them one heart, and I will put a new spirit within you; and I will take the stony heart out of their flesh, and will give them an heart of flesh:”

Like David, a man after God’s heart, our ONLY OPTION is to Go to God

We must approach Him based off of what and who He is.

Grace

Mercy

Goodness

Love

Faithfulness

We need a single minded focus upon Jesus Christ. A truly undivided heart.

We must acknowledge God and ask God to turn to us, to hear us

We must ask God for strength

We must ask God for mercy and grace

We need a genuine

desire to know more of God! A willingness to be taught- let us cry out Teach Me!

David cried out Teach- pour into us knowledge and understanding (give by the Holy Sprit)

teach YOUR WAY- the way of Jesus Christ

and he surrendered to be obedient in it saying I will walk- follow, live act, continuous ongoing action, moving forward towards Jesus Christ

Walk in God’s Truth- jesus christ,

Uniting, becoming one heart with God

the inner man, mind, will, heart, emotions, thoughts, desires, conscience, intellect

wanted his heart united to fear his name- to be in awe, in reverence of God and who He is!

David’s goal (as ours should be) was to give thanks to God, with all (our entirety no parts kept back) and glorify his name forever!

What are we to do?

Step 1: Decide this day whom we will serve? Self, world, or Jesus Christ!

Step 2: Close the door on what is causing your heart to be divided

Step 3: Start serving