Don't Look Back

"Teach me Your way, O Lord, that I may rely on Your faithfulness.

Give me an undivided heart, so that I may honor You."

~Psalm 86:11

This week's Wild at Heart podcast was called "No Divided Allegiances." 

They read about Lot's wife.  His whole family was warned by angels to flee for their lives without stopping or looking behind them, but she looked back with longing at her homeland as it was being destroyed, and she became a pillar of salt... 

STASI:  "So she looks back with a divided heart."

JOHN:  "It's the divided heart - that's the issue there is that she (Lot's wife) was doubleminded.  Jesus says, 'Please don't.  Please don't look back.  Don't have a divided heart in this hour.  Look at Me.  Look to Me.  I'm the comfort you seek, I'm the love you seek, I'm the help you seek... even if it doesn't feel like it right now, cling to Me.  Hold to Me.'"

"Singleheartedness.  Because the eyes of the Lord range throughout the earth to strengthen you who will be wholehearted!  The enemy is trying so hard to desecrate the temple right now, which is the hearts of God's people.  The pull of the hour is to seek relief and joy and stability without God.  It's not hating Jesus; it's a subtle turn of the heart.  But God is ready to offer His help.  He is ready to strengthen those whose hearts are fully given over to Him!  God says: Draw near to Me, and I will draw near to you."

STASI:  "And the more we press into God, the more we see Him as He really is, the more we love Him!"

God really spoke to my heart here today about looking forward and pressing into His love right now and the future He has for me.  *Wholeheartedly.*  I'm realizing some of the recent disappointment and/or dread I've been feeling is coming from bittersweet nostalgia that has led to double-mindedness.

We all know I love to reminisce and look back at old photos, but all the "remember when..." can sometimes pull my heart down into wishing I could get those days back again or feeling low-level despair or loneliness over where I am today.  Then feeling double-minded and confused about the path ahead, putting hope in recreating the past rather than pressing forward into the future with God.  It's obviously not a bad thing to have treasured memories, but we have to remember that the core longing of our hearts is for God.  He is the source of the connection, belonging, beauty, and intimacy we crave.  What I need most is not a  lovely vacation or a great body or a single circle of friends or a wonderful church home or a devoted best friend or a book contract or a husband or child.  What I need most was, is, and always will be God -- His presence and His love.  And  this was a powerful reminder that I have a responsibility to shepherd my heart in this difficult and crazy global season, to seek God and place my HOPE in Him above everything else!

"Teach me Your way, O Lord, that I may rely on Your faithfulness.  Give me and UNDIVIDED HEART so that I may honor You!" ❤

John also quoted part of this writing by Thomas à Kempis, and I wanted to include it here, as well:

“ABOVE all things and in all things, O my soul, rest always in God, for He is the everlasting rest of the saints. 

Grant, most sweet and loving Jesus, that I may seek my [comfort and restoration] in You above every creature; above all health and beauty; above every honor and glory; every power and dignity; above all knowledge and cleverness, all riches and arts, all joy and gladness; above all fame and praise, all sweetness and consolation; above every hope and promise, every merit and desire; above all the gifts and favors that You can give or pour down upon me; above all the joy and exultation that the mind can receive and feel; and finally, above the angels and archangels and all the heavenly host; above all things visible and invisible; and may I seek my [comfort and restoration] in You above everything that is not You, my God.

For You, O Lord my God, are above all things the best. You alone are most high, You alone most powerful. You alone are most sufficient and most satisfying, You alone most sweet and consoling. You alone are most beautiful and loving, You alone most noble and glorious above all things. In You is every perfection that has been or ever will be. Therefore, whatever You give me besides Yourself, whatever You reveal to me concerning Yourself, and whatever You promise, is too small and insufficient when I do not see and fully enjoy You alone. For my heart cannot rest or be fully content until, rising above all gifts and every created thing, it rests in You.”

–Thomas à Kempis, Imitation of Christ