"So be careful to obey them [decrees and regulations of the Lord] wholeheartedly." (Deuteronomy 26:16b-[emphasis] mine)
What do I do wholeheartedly? Stop and ponder that question.
What does wholeheartedly mean? Dictionary.com defines wholeheartedly as marked by unconditional commitment, unstinting devotion, or unreserved enthusiasm. Knowing the full definition really makes me think. Unconditional commitment. Unstinting devotion. Unreserved enthusiasm. Those are heavy words. My answer to the question? I do what I am most passionate about wholeheartedly.
The Lord also includes the word careful in His instruction. Careful translates as the word keep in the original Hebrew. This translation is used 65 times in Deuteronomy. If the Lord uses this word 65 times I thought it might be important to know what it means. The word is shamar. It means guard, keep watch and ward, protect, watch for, wait for, retain, treasure up, (in memory) observe and celebrate.
Let's put it all together now. Do I have an unconditional commitment with an unstinting devotion, and unreserved enthusiasm for the Lord's decrees? Do I guard, protect, watch and wait for, retain, treasure up, observe and celebrate them?
My answer to those questions? Not always. My heart's desire is to is to say yes. Do you know what God says about the desires of your heart? He says He will give them to you when you delight Him.
What does delight mean? That lesson is for another day.
P.S. You all are the greatest! Thanks for staying with me on the journey. I am crazy (good crazy) about this assignment God has given me. It is an incredible blessing to serve Him and you.
Let's put it all together now. Do I have an unconditional commitment with an unstinting devotion, and unreserved enthusiasm for the Lord's decrees? Do I guard, protect, watch and wait for, retain, treasure up, observe and celebrate them?
My answer to those questions? Not always. My heart's desire is to is to say yes. Do you know what God says about the desires of your heart? He says He will give them to you when you delight Him.
"Delight yourself also in the Lord and He will give you the desires and secret petitions of your heart." (Proverbs 3:4)
What does delight mean? That lesson is for another day.
P.S. You all are the greatest! Thanks for staying with me on the journey. I am crazy (good crazy) about this assignment God has given me. It is an incredible blessing to serve Him and you.
8 Comments:
Well Wendy, you just helped me make a decision :o)
There were two verses from our reading that I was debating writing about on my blog today, and very undecided. But, your excellent thoughts on one of them here has encouraged me to ponder the other one later.
As I read the word "wholeheartedly" I thought immediately of King David. He was a man after God's own heart. I also think of Joshua and Caleb who followed wholeheartedly and obeyed the Lord.
2 Chronicles 25:2 warns concerning a King in Jerusalem, "He did what was right in the eyes of the LORD, but not wholeheartedly."
We can be obedient outwardly, yet have a heart far from God (Is.29:13). Jeremiah 12:2 says, "You are always on their lips but far from their hearts."
May my outward action match my heart attitude. Lord, help me follow You and keep Your commands with an undivided heart,
Joy
Thanks again for the accountability, ladies. I must say that this morning I am feeling discouraged. Not understanding and having a difficult time reconciling the God of the Old Testament and the God of the New Testament. I know that they are one in the same--and that He is unchanging--my Rock, but had a hard time with the 1 page of blessings and over 3 pages of curses.
I am just laying my struggles at His feet this morning--KNOWING He is God, who loves me (and YOU!) with an unending love.
Thanks for letting me be transparent!
Luanne
Melissa Taylor and I were just talking about the same thing. Questioning and pondering. Placing our concerns at His feet is all we can do and in faith trust God.
Abraham did this and it was counted as righteousness to Him. And Abraham is the reason we are a blessed today to be called children of God...He believed God.
Thanks for being honest with us. I am sure many are feeling the same way as you and me.
Today, Moses is giving his last request to the Israelites; to be safe and secure in Canaan they needed to be obedient to God.
I read in my Study Bible that one definition of Deuteronomy is "repetition of the law." God so loved this special group of Israelites. He has spent many days givng them His law, rules, regulations and responsibiliteis. Now, he is even going over and over them as a review. A good teacher presents the new information, and then reviews for understanding. God is the best teacher! He's going over every little detail to make sure they know how to be blessed. He's making sure they they do not have any questions.
John 14:22
"Whoever has my commands and obeys them, he is the one who lives me. He who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too wil love him and show myself to him." NIV
I'm so happy that today we have the Holy Spirit living right inside us! Dear Lord, Help me be submissive to you today...I want to obey you and keep your commandments. I want to listen to You and persevere today to pay close attention to your voice, in my heart, that speaks to me. I love you Jesus with all of my heart! Amen.
Sisters enjoy today!
Seeking Him through his precious Word, Lori - Mesa, AZ
Hi Luanne,
I was thinking about what you wrote...thank you for your open feelings as we all have quesitons at different times. I really believe that the enemy comes in to try to get us to concentrate sometimes on our questions, rather than the nuggets we get from God and each other. Satan, must be fit to be tied, watching all of us seek God daily. To me, that's the beauty of God's Word...we just keep reading with an open heart and (like Wendy said) putting our concerns at His feet...he lets us know in His time.
My thinking in today's reading was that God really wanted to make sure his rules were understood with no questions left unanswered.
It made me think about the opening of the school year (before kids I was a school teacher)...I always spent the first two weeks going over and over each clasrrom procedure...covering every little detail. I wanted the students to know exactly what my expectations were. I'd teach the rules, review, review, review...Basically, it took a lot of time to go over them...and the reward...an A on their report card. Yes, there were other bonuses...but, it took a lot more time probably to go over the rules...Deuteronomy is coving all the bases. But, in these powerful chapters...God lets them know through Moses that by keeping His Commandments...blessings will come upon them. That's big!
I don't know if this helps at all...but just wanted to let you know what I was thinking.
Thank you again for your honesty!
I love our group!
Lori - Mesa, AZ
Luanne, thank you for your comments! I read the passage today and looked up some of the parts where I really struggled. Then I came here, but first I said a prayer for Wendy, and all of you, that you could shed some light and some wisdom. You Did! Thank you Wendy, Joy and Lori for your words today.
I am still churning over the prophetic portions of today's readings. I still see these prophesies being carried out in today's world. I sometimes find myself desperately praying for God to turn the people's heart to Him. Yesterday this post was brought to my attention:
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/community/news/bocaraton/sfl-flphospice0318pnmar18,0,5601993.story
Please join me in my prayer for this nation that we come back to a position of fearing and revering God.
Diane,
I agree with Lori's response to your question yesterday. Recognizing that you are a blessed child of God, present your needs to Him in prayer and He will guide you on paths of righteousness. After a few years, He blessed me with a second marriage that has been full of love and mutual respect and fulfillment. I will keep you in my prayers dear one.
Karen, CA
Hi all. I'm still with ya....just been busy the last couple of days...
I too struggle with a God who looks "different" from the Old to New Testament. He seems "mean" in the Old, and "loving" in the New.
But I trust He is the same. Because we have Jesus, we know what grace looks like; did the Isrealites recognize God's grace for what it was? Did the Isrealites need more immediate discipline for their sin? Today we look around and see so many people continue their sinful lifestyles, and it seems that they never get "disciplined" for it. Well we also know that if they fail to repent and turn to Jesus that the ultimate discipline awaits them. God is patiently waiting for them... Lord...THANK YOU for Jesus!
Karen - I felt the same way about the prophetic portions of today's reading. When God was the center of America, look how it prospered; now look what's happening. I join you in fervent prayer for our nation.
Hopefully I didn't ramble too much..
Morgen - MN
Good Evening Ladies,
When I was reading in Curses for Disobedience 28:25-29, I felt like a little girl again. Remember when your Daddy would tell you things that would happen to you if you didn’t play by the rules. My eyes got a bit fuzzy but I think I counted over 70 times that the word “will” was used in these verses. “Will” was used as a promise of things that to take place as a result of disobedience. Like Wendy said I am not always 100% wholeheartedly there. But if I keep striving to be there, I believe God see’s that. I love that He won’t give us the desires of our hearts until we delight Him.
I am sorry about the late posting, but this seems to be the quietest time in my house.
Luanne, I am praying for you as you lay things at the Father’s feet.
Thank you for the support on divorce stuff ladies.
We had our Gather and Grow group last night. If you don’t have one, maybe you could start one. It has been such a blessing to the ladies of our group. For me I can’t explain how many ways God has shown Himself.
Good night friends,
Diane
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