Lord’s Day, Vol. 6 No. 49

Give Me Thine Heart

Proverbs 23:26 My son, give me thine heart, and let thine eyes observe my ways.

 “Give, my son, your heart to me” is the loving entreaty of our heavenly Father to His children. The emphasis is on the active verb placed at the beginning of the sentence in the literal translation. Offer, present, surrender your heart to me.

The Apostle Paul provided a similar entreaty with an exhortation to prayer when he said in Romans 12:1-2 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

Indeed, not by our own power but by the mercies of God, a prayer that God will bestow His unmerited favour when we deserve punishment for our waywardness.

One late pastor said well to this effect, “So many people are missing out of the joys and privileges of the Christian life because they are not living a “tuned in” life to Jesus. To experience the abundant life that Jesus died to give you, all you have to do is tune in. Christians march to a different beat. They whistle a different tune. And that is where our blessings lie – where the world cannot see. Finding God’s frequency takes discipline.”

We are not connected with Him because our hearts have wondered. We have not sought Him as we ought. Love Him as we should. Follow Him when we could. The Lord is seeking a renewal, a re-consecration of the heart from His son and daughter. An undivided heart is where God’s blessings lie – peace, joy and fruitfulness.

Let us make a holy resolve as we close the year that we may walk closer to Him in the New Year.

… and let thine eyes observe my ways.

Taking time to be with the Lord in the quiet meditation of His Word with prayer help attune our heart to our heavenly Father. When our heart is attuned to Him, we will not only walk but is strengthened to run after following God’s way. This is the testimony of the psalmist.

Psalm 119:32 I will run the way of thy commandments, when thou shalt enlarge my heart.

His prayer is that God will teach him His ways and let him have understanding so that he will choose to walk the godly way as opposed to the vain and covetous way. He shall be established because his fear is in the Lord. There is that tarrying with God in prayer that gives him the victory in overcoming and refraining from every crooked way.

In times of affliction, God’s Word gives new life. For every impasse in life, God’s Word strengths the frail hearted. The “heaviness” of his soul is made light as we give our heart to our God.

We are exhorted to see with spiritual eyes God’s will and His ways. Eyes which are consecrated to focus upon our God and His glory.

From the heart, to the eyes to the hands and the feet. As our minds are renewed, sanctified by God’s Word, we find strength and meaning for life. We know what we ought to do and find strength daily for life. How happy and fulfilling life is when we give our hearts to God. How can that be achieved? Through the means of grace, worship, fellowship, sacraments of the baptism and the Lord’s Supper, prayer (Acts 2:46). This was the testimony of the early church.

Acts 2:46-47 And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart, Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.

May the Lord strengthen you. Amen.

Yours lovingly,

Pastor Lek Aik Wee