How are things with your heart?

You show me the path of life. In your presence there is fullness of joy; in your right hand are pleasures forevermore. Psalm 16:11

How are things with your heart? This question is not original to me. However, it is a question that speaks volumes to me and hopefully to you as you think about it. I think we all can agree that it is too easy to let busy happen, causing us to forget to focus on our hearts.

An often-neglected part of the Great Commandment in Matthew 22:36-40 is yourself. There is no question that our priority is to love God with all our hearts, soul and mind. This is the only way to really get to the second part of the commandment, to love your neighbor in the same way you love yourself. As you love yourself, it is not a self-centered, ego-focused love, but a love that seeks to grow in faith, care for our souls and seek to live a life centered on Christ.

David, the major contributor to the Book of Psalms, understood the depth of caring for his soul. Growing in his love for himself and others could only be possible as he focused on God. The collection of 150 Psalms are inspired and honest prayers; containing songs of praise and prayers of lament, hymns celebrating God’s steadfast love and prayers for vindication against enemies. The Psalms cover the full range of emotions of our ups and downs on our spiritual journey

“The psalms are more than language. They contain within themselves the silence of high mountains and the silence of heaven…and become the Tabernacle of God in which we are protected forever from the rage of the city of business, from the racket of human opinions.”—Thomas Merton

How do you answer this simple question, how are things with your heart?  It forces us to stop and reflect on our inner soul. Reflecting on the question requires us to slow down enough to meditate upon our relationship with God. It may be a time when we ask, how we can grow in our love for Him?  The Psalms provide words that go beyond our superficial responses, especially as we encounter the major recurring theme in the Psalms that God’s path is a way of life.

I don’t hesitate to follow the Google map when I am driving, trusting that the voice on my phone knows the best route to take.  I know for the most part I will be on the right path if I listen and respond to the directions. Occasionally, I will fail to follow directions and Google has to re-route me to get back on the right path. The same is true in our life when we let God ask us the question, how are things with your heart?

“The life of prayer, like life itself, is not always happy and peaceful. Into prayer we take our anxieties, loneliness and discouragement along with our joy, awe and celebration. In order to deepen any intimate relationship, we must be honest about our feelings.” — author unknown

To truly love God requires us to answer the question, how are things with your heart? Has our focus shifted from God to other things? If we are to relate well to others it will require us to answer this question from our relationship with God. If we are to relate well to ourselves it will require us to answer this question from a daily encounter with God.

“Daily problems that are common to life can be just as formidable as the literal opposition of an adversary. They create self-doubts and a feeling of futility that there is no solution or way of deliverance. Writing assignments, school lessons, or travel schedules may pile up, eliminating balance and margin in life, imposing frustration and robbing us of a sense of peace and well-being. But the psalmist gives assurance that when we cry to the Lord, He hears us and saves us, not just in the sense of redeeming us from sin but from situations and attitudes that would rob Him of His glory.”—Jerry Rankin

Maybe today you feel vulnerable: God says, take refuge in me. Psalm 16:1

Maybe today you feel abandoned: God says, let your heart rejoice in your salvation. Psalm 13:5

Maybe today you feel overwhelmed: God says, I am your stronghold, a stronghold in times of trouble. Psalm 9:9

Maybe today you feel lonely: God says, I am near to all who call on me. Psalm 145:18

Maybe today you feel hopeless: God says, my steadfast love will hold you. Psalm 94:18

Maybe today is a good day to ask the question of yourself, how are things with your heart?

Lord, I may be struggling but I trust you today as I have done yesterday and will do tomorrow. Regardless of my current situation, I know you are the Giver of Life, the Strong Foundation on which to stand, and the Beacon of Light to guide me on this path of life. In your presence there is fullness of joy; in your right hand are pleasures forevermore.

God is great,