Pause

The world seems often uninterested in things that are whole, families that are peaceful, societies that progress together. Dissension and fighting get a lot more attention.

God's desire for people of faith is that they not only get along, but that they seek to be whole.

God has that desire also for your spirit. Seek that wholeness now in these quiet moments.

Listen

I give you thanks, O Lord, with my whole heart; before the gods I sing your praise; I bow down toward your holy temple and give thanks to your name for your steadfast love and your faithfulness; for you have exalted your name and your word above everything. On the day I called, you answered me, you increased my strength of soul. All the kings of the earth shall praise you, O Lord, for they have heard the words of your mouth. They shall sing of the ways of the Lord, for great is the glory of the Lord. For though the Lord is high, he regards the lowly; but the haughty he perceives from far away. Though I walk in the midst of trouble, you preserve me against the wrath of my enemies; you stretch out your hand, and your right hand delivers me. The Lord will fulfill his purpose for me; your steadfast love, O Lord, endures forever. Do not forsake the work of your hands.

Psalm 138

Think

An email pops in my inbox. Ding. A text message arrives. Beepity beepity beep. A call comes in. Brrrrrrrring. The phone on my desk chimes then a voice speaks to me over the intercom, “There’s a call for you.”

Interruptions. Where was I? Oh yeah, reading Psalm 138. “I will praise you Lord, with my whole heart.”

At any given moment my attention is divided. My time is spread over hundreds of activities in one day. My words are directed at hosts of people and projects. Energy and ideas pass through me like electricity to a thousand circuits in every direction. Yet God asks for nothing less than all of me. This God who sees the lowly and the proud stretches out hands in different directions to pull us all in close. God’s eyes take in the East and the West, top and bottom, left and right.

God’s attention to humanity far and wide is undivided. God’s love is uninterrupted.

Valerie Burton

Pray

For your undivided love, O God, I thank you. Today, my heart is yours. Hold it tenderly as you always do. Draw me gently back to you when my way is interrupted. Amen.

Go

Allow the Lord to teach you the way of faith and truth, producing a heart undivided in its commitment to God's name.

Give thanks to God with your whole heart. Glorify God's name always, knowing that God's love for you is great and unwavering.

Inspired by Psalm 86