Dear children, keep away from anything that might take God’s place in your hearts. 1 John 5:21
“My son (my daughter), give me your heart…” Prov. 23:26
Heavenly Father, the battle for our heart’s affection and preoccupation is a non-stop, overt, and covert operation. We are greatly encouraged by your tenacious pursuit of more of our hearts. Wonder of wonders, you want us, delight in us, and enjoy us.
What vies for your place in our hearts, Father? On any given day, it varies. Sometimes we want the attention and love of mere people, more than we want intimacy with you. Other days we think more money or a different body; a higher place in the org-chart or a lower-stress life would be enough to “fill us up.”
During some stretches, our fear(s) pushes you out of our conscious life and enjoyment. The paradox about that is, only your love can shrink and expel our fears. Certainly, unforgiveness and resentment can chill our love for you, and send you into the dusty attic of our heart-home.
Over the next few months in the USA, our political idols, tribe-love, and other-party-disdain will loom so large, we’ll swear you’d vote the way we do, given the chance. Father, forgive us and free us from such nonsense.
During this last week of August 2020, fill our hearts with yourself, your grace, your peace, your “enough-ness.” Expose, shrink and topple our idols. So very Amen we pray, in Jesus’ big and beautiful name.