All Your Heart

“Samuel told them, "If you are returning to the LORD with all your heart, get rid of the foreign gods and the Ashtoreths that are among you, dedicate yourselves to the LORD, and worship only Him. Then He will rescue you from the hand of the Philistines." ~1 Samuel 7:3 HCSB

The people of Israel had lost the Ark of the Covenant to the Philistines.  While the Ark was being held by the enemy God inflicted them with terror and tumors.  So it was only a matter of time before they gladly handed the Ark back.   Meanwhile the people of Israel were defeated in their hearts over losing Ark and desperately wanted it back.  With the Ark being returned the people wanted to get right with the Lord.  They began to seek the Lord in fasting and praying.  Samuel tells them if you’re serious about this do with all your heart.  Get rid of all the things that separate you from God.  Get rid for false gods, get rid of the sex goddess and all that goes along with her and dedicate yourselves to the Lord.     

Man hasn’t changed in the 3000 years in which this was written.  The same principles apply today as they did then.  To return to the Lord, to know the Lord you have to do so from the heart.  It cannot be a half hearted effort.  It has to be with all of our hearts.  To be wholehearted we need to rid ourselves of all the ‘things’ that will hinder or ensnare us.  False gods need to be removed.  What does this mean?  People in Samuel’s time worshiped many others god’s to help them succeed in life, or better yet survive.  Ashtoreths were the goddess of fertility, love and war and were worshiped by many. 

People worshiped false god’s to meet needs and desires.  Israel had the one true God who could actually care for them.  They choose to turn to things made of wood and bronze to meet their needs.  By doing so God handed them over to their enemies.  We do the same thing today, we turn to other people and ‘things’ or idols to meet needs in our lives only God can fulfill. When we turn from God he hands us over to the very desires (the enemy) that made us turn.  If we want victory in our lives over our enemies we need to turn to God wholehearted and with His help rid our lives of the false god’s that hinder us.  

I know that sound so easy and in reality it seems impossible.  The only way you can overcome sin is by the power of God working in your life.  God has to do the work of changing your desires, by giving you a new heart.  It is truly the only way.  I want to encourage you to seek the Lord and to ask God to give you His desires for your life.  To give you a heart tender for His will, for what He wants for you.  He can and will meet your needs and give you desires that will exceed all your expectations.  Trust Him today! 

Lord help us to seek you with all of our hearts.  Lord please meet our needs and give us a heart that desires you and you alone.  Lord help me to repent of the idols I have in my life, help me to turn from them and to turn to you.  Lord help me to live the life you desire for me.  May you use me to bring glory to your name!  Amen.