For the eyes of the Lord search to and fro throughout the earth that He may strongly support those whose heart is completely His.
2 Chronicles 16:9a
I love this truth about the Lord – He actively searches for people whose hearts are completely tuned to Him so that He can “strongly support” them! He has a plan and a purpose for each of our lives, but the question is “Am I seeking His plan and listening for His direction?” Can I honestly say my heart is completely His, or am I choosing my own way and seeking my own desires?
How can I be sure I’m following His will and not my own? As followers of Jesus, we can be sure that if we truly seek His will, and commit to do whatever He wants, He will show us. His guidance may come through a Scripture, some other Christian source we read, the message from a sermon, conversations with other believers. Just trust as you wait for His clear direction, and He will guide you in His time and in His way.
How sad it is to read in the Old Testament about men who “followed the Lord, did what was right in His sight, “but”… or “except”…
1 Chronicles 25:1-2
Amaziah was twenty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned twenty-nine years in Jerusalem… He did right in the sight of the Lord, yet not with a whole heart.
1 Kings 11:3-6
Solomon had 700 wives, princesses, and 300 concubines, and his wives turned his heart away. For when Solomon was old, his wives turned his heart away after other gods; and his heart was not wholly devoted to the Lord his God, as the heart of David his father had been…. He did what was evil in the sight of the Lord and did not follow the Lord fully, as David his father had done.
1 Kings 11:9-10
Now the Lord was angry with Solomon because his heart was turned away from the Lord, the God of Israel, who had appeared to him twice, and had commanded him concerning this thing, that he should not go after other gods; but he did not observe what the Lord had commanded.
1 Kings 15:5 …because David did what was right in the sight of the Lord, and had not turned aside from anything that He commanded him all the days of his life, except in the case of Uriah the Hittite.
Sometimes I choose to follow my own desires instead of following the truth I know about God’s will. I am so grateful God’s love and grace and mercy called me back to Himself. His forgiveness is available, no matter how far we stray if we repent and turn back to Him.
These scriptures challenge me to think about my own life. I desire for the Lord to look at me and see a heart completely devoted to Him, a heart willing to follow wherever He leads, no matter what.
PERSONAL REFLECTION
Is there an area in your life that the Lord would say to you, “You are doing what is right except…”
I encourage you to spend time with the Lord and ask Him to search your heart and show you what He sees.
Do you need to repent and turn back to follow Him with your whole heart? He is so ready and willing to forgive!
I had already memorized 2 Chron. 16:9a, but this devotional gave it more meaning! I am beginning to ask the Lord daily to shine His spotlight onto my heart to show me where I need to change.
Thanks Sherrilyn, Hits the nail right on the thumb!
Sh–I heard a sermon once on this very topic. And the following week he preached on “guarding your heart” after you have committed it–wise words.
That’s hysterical, Clyde!
Thank you for this reminder to giving myself whole-heartedly to my Lord!
The verse you started with is one of my favorites! Thanks for the encouragement!
So timely for me!! I think I am totally committed, but——-ouch!
Dear Sherrilyn,
This came right into my box. Thank you for all it took to set this up! This is a great devotional and so needed in this day and age. It is easy to look around us at all the political, social, and cultural chaos and lose sight of the One who is overall. Thank you so much for this great reminder from the Scriptures themselves. How important to keep our eyes fixed on Jesus, the Author and Perfector of our faith every moment of every day!
Thank you Sherrilyn for this timely reminder to ask God to search my heart to see what He sees and to seek His direction and be listening. There are so many voices today pulling in so many directions. Sometimes I start to feel torn apart by them and your reminder to seek after God narrows it down to listening to one voice.