A Devoted Heart

Last week Stephen spoke about having a heart that is devoted to God. Over the centuries there have been various ways people have sought God’s closeness, from the monastic, through to the active participant, and into what is more commonly understood as ‘transformative’. At its heart is the understanding that we can do nothing on our own. It is in responding to God’s call, and through the strengthening of the Spirit in us, that we are able to align ourselves with God’s will, remain wholly devoted and live our whole lives in worship of Him.

But life is increasingly busy and full of competing needs, and we have little time– as well as competing idols. Technology, success, comfort and ‘me’ are some modern examples. So how do we recapture the awe of our first love of God in our worship? In our Sunday services and beyond, into our ordinary lives? As Ruth showed us, God is at work in them and seeks to be worshipped through the ‘everyday’ expression of our character and choices.

I have found that it is an ongoing conversation with God and myself. At times I notice that I am misaligned, that things are going a bit ‘wonky’, like the wheel on the shopping cart Stephen spoke about. Those are the times I can take a deep breath, pause and lean into the practices that help me attend to God’s presence. And at other times I am grateful that when my faithfulness goes wandering, God faithfully gets my attention and turns me back towards Him and the path of righteousness.

How about you?

What captures most of your attention and affection?
What does wholehearted worship look like Monday to Saturday in your life?
How do you cultivate love for God when faith feels dry?

Colleen