I recently “lost” my keys. I was ready to go somewhere and I could find my keys nowhere. From one to another, I checked all my usual hiding places to see if I could find them. Nothing. On to the recently changed clothes, I checked in the pockets. Still nothing. I asked a few people in the house with me, “Have you seen my keys?” Nothing. I stopped to think when I was in the truck last, where I was going, what I was doing, and what else was going on when I got out of the truck. I remembered. My brother had asked me to move my truck so I drove it home and then walked back to his house. I vaguely remembered sitting them down in his kitchen. (I have a spot there too!) Since I had walked home, I did not need them. They must be there. Off I walked to Craig’s house and, sure enough, that is where I found them.
With my whole heart… If you were to watch me for those few minutes looking for my keys, you would say, “He was searching for them with his whole heart.” For those few moments, the only thing on my mind was finding the keys that I needed to move on to the next project. I looked high and low, searched out my memory, and asked my family.
Sometimes when something is lost, we engage our whole heart on the search and rescue mission. At other times, maybe there is something we want (like ice cream) and we stop at nothing until we get that particular desire. In fact, that may happen often over many good and some nefarious desires. With my whole heart…
The Psalmist Uses These Words
In one of the beautiful portions of Scripture in the Bible, the psalmist describes his effort with his whole heart. Notice what he explains:
With my whole heart I have sought You;
Oh, let me not wander from Your commandments!
Your word I have hidden in my heart,
That I might not sin against You. (Psalm 119:10-11, emphasis mine)
The psalmist describes his seeking God as “with my whole heart.”
What an incredible challenge for each one of us! With his whole heart, he sought the Lord.
He left nothing unturned. He sought after God.
Where? He continues by describing “in God’s Word.” Of course this psalmist refers to the Pentateuch; however, we enjoy the entire Bible today.
Allen Ross describes it this way: “The use of the perfect tense here stresses that this is the characteristic activity of the devout; and the expression ‘with all my heart’ means that this pursuit is carried out with the utmost sincerity and diligence.”[1]
What Was His Intended Goal after Seeking?
The psalmist makes it very clear what his hope and goals are with his seeking.
Oh, let me not wander from your commandments.
That I might not sin against you.
The psalmist sought God with his whole heart so that he did not inadvertently sin against Him. He wanted to know God so thoroughly that He would be able to honor God in all his actions. His relationship with God drove him to want to know God even more so that he would do those things that pleased and honored God.
With My Whole Heart – and Your Whole Heart
Oh friend, I can’t help but wonder about your my whole heart and your whole heart!
Wonder what it is that we search after with our whole heart?
I also wonder what the intended end is when I search for something with my whole heart?
For what am I living my life? To what or whom have I sold out my heart?
Am I living to please God most or to please myself?
Great questions to consider today as I seek to give my whole heart.
[1] Allen P. Ross, A Commentary on the Psalms (90–150), 477.
Image Credit Aaron Burden
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