Seeking God with a Whole Heart

Matterofprayer: A Year of Everyday Prayers – Sunday, November 26, 2017

Seeking God with a Whole Heart

This verse in Psalm 119 and its accompanying commentary by Dietrich Bonhoeffer really made me think. Of course, many of these from this Psalm strike home, and challenge me to strive to follow God more nearly and love God more dearly. However, this particular verse talks of following God “with my whole heart.” Here’s the whole of Psalm 119:10.

With my whole heart I seek You;

let me not stray from Your commandments.

When I think about following God with my whole heart, then I am striving to commit my life truly to the following of God. As Bonhoeffer says, “For with half a heart we might be seeking an idol, but never God Himself.” [1] If I only give half of myself—or even less of my attention, love, or service—to God, that is an extremely poor excuse of a gift to give to my Creator, my Shepherd, and my Savior. How could I even think to give a shoddy gift like that to my God?

Sadly, I am afraid I give that kind of gift to God on a regular basis…

I am surprised God doesn’t strike me down with a thunderbolt from heaven, for the really awful gifts I do end up giving to God. When I even think of giving gifts at all…

Dear Lord, I am sorry. I know I owe You so much more. As Bonhoeffer says, “If we are responding to God’s Word we will say ‘I seek You with my whole heart.’” [2] Gracious God, help me to seek You every day in such a way. You want nothing else from me but to seek You, to be in Your presence, and to rest in You. Help me to be constant and consistent in seeking You, Lord. So help me, God.

@chaplaineliza

 

Like what you read? Disagree? Share your thoughts with your loved ones and continue the conversation.

Why not visit my companion blogs, “the best of” A Year of Being Kind.  #PursuePEACE. My Facebook page, Pursuing Peace – Thanks! And, read my sermons from Pastor, Preacher Pray-er

[1] Meditating on the Word, Dietrich Bonhöffer, edited by David McI. Gracie. (Cambridge, Massachusetts: Cowley Publications, 2000, 116.

[2] Ibid.

Seek After God with Psalm 119

Matterofprayer: A Year of Everyday Prayers – Tuesday, September 19, 2017

Seek After God with Psalm 119

Over the years, I have loved reading Psalm 119. Sometimes more than others. I was moved especially with Dietrich Bonhoeffer’s commentary on Psalm 119:2, when he went further in depth to discuss seeking God with all one’s heart.  Here’s the translation of Psalm 119:2.

Happy are they who observe his decrees

and seek him with all their hearts!

A number of references in the Hebrew Scriptures (in Exodus and Nehemiah) concerning decrees, or testimonies, of God are coupled with the “tent” or the “tables” of the testimonies. The tablets speak of the Lord. Yet, the tent and the tablets are not to be worshiped. It is God alone who deserves worship, and we must seek after God. Bonhoeffer suggests that the whole, undivided heart needs to be involved in the seeking of God.

“In the commandments, in acts of worship and prayers, the heart seeks after the One who has given them all….Blessed is the person who keeps the testimonies of God…who seeks God from her whole heart.” [1]

I don’t know who wrote Psalm 119, but the author expressed a wish several times to seek after God (and God’s decrees, statutes and testimonies). I realize that King David was also striving to seek after God. Here’s a verse of his, from Psalm 27:4. “One thing I have asked from the LORD, that I shall seek: That I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, To behold the beauty of the LORD And to meditate in His temple.”

Regardless of who wrote it, or who suggested it, or in what century the advice was given, it’s still a good idea. Dear Lord, help me—help us—in the seeking of You, beholding Your beauty, and meditating in Your temple. Thank You for Your caring and encouragement.

@chaplaineliza

 

Like what you read? Disagree? Share your thoughts with your loved ones and continue the conversation.

Why not visit my companion blogs, “the best of” A Year of Being Kind.  #PursuePEACE. My Facebook page, Pursuing Peace – Thanks! And, read my sermons from Pastor, Preacher Pray-er

[1] Meditating on the Word, Dietrich Bonhöffer, edited by David McI. Gracie. (Cambridge, Massachusetts: Cowley Publications, 2000, 103-04.

O Lord, Who art Thou? Where art Thou?

Matterofprayer: A Year of Everyday Prayers – Friday, October 9, 2015

O Lord, Who art Thou? Where art Thou?

Seeking God with all my heart? I wish I could. Lord, forgive me, but I do not seek You all the time. Or, even most of the time. The best I can do is some of the time.

Today’s prayer is about Seeking. The prayer I chose for today from The Oxford Book of Prayer concerns “Thy Kingdom Come” (Prayer 187, page 68) [1]

Today’s prayer is brief. Only one line. It arrested me, as I read through several prayers, slowly. Here it is: “O great God. Who art Thou? Where art Thou? Show Thyself to me.”

To give my readers some idea about the Book of Prayer, the editor George Appleton usually presents the prayers to his readers without comment. Or, periodically, with short or spare comments. This particular prayer was shorter than the comment accompanying it.

The editor, Mr. Appleton, wrote concerning this prayer as follows: “Vendayya [the author], first outcaste convert in the Church of South India; prayer offered every day for three years.”

I am not certain which arrested me more; the brief prayer, or the accompanying explanation. The first touched my heart deeply. The second made me want to bow my head in both sincere grief and shame at his treatment from being Dalit, or outcaste; and heartfelt praise for his persistence and perseverance for praying such a moving prayer every day. The Dalits are still looked down upon in India today … I cannot even imagine what the highly stratified Indian society was like in the nineteenth century, when Vendayya lived.

Dear God, I know I treat people as if they are “less-than” or “not-as-good-as.” It’s not as often now, but I still do. I realized this as soon as I read this editorial comment. Dear Lord, forgive me for wishing to separate myself or think myself “better-than.” (Parenthetical note: in retrospect, I realize that in my immature twenties, I used to treat certain others as “less-than” more often, to my shame and discredit. It is better now. I have continued to grow, mature and develop. Dear Lord, forgive me! And gracious God, thank You for progress!)

As for the second part? The accompanying explanation by Mr. Appleton? Again, I am painfully aware of how far I have to go. How shockingly little persistence I have, in prayer. Now, in certain other areas, I know I am persistent. (Some might even say stubborn.) Give me the ability and the heart to be persistent, persevering, and constant in prayer. Please, oh, please.

Dear Lord, gracious God, in Your loving and divine mercy, hear my sincere prayers.

@chaplaineliza

Like what you read? Disagree? Share your thoughts with your loved ones and continue the conversation.

Why not visit my sister blogs, “the best of” A Year of Being Kind.   @chaplaineliza And, read my sermons from Pastor, Preacher Pray-er

[1] The Oxford Book of Prayer, edited by George Appleton. (New York: Oxford University Press, reissued 2009), 68.