Undivided: Finding Wholeness in Christ When Life Is Pulling You ApartSample

Am I Divided?

“You don’t treat me like I’m a priority. I know I’m not at the top of your list. Am I on your list at all?”

My husband said this to me one day, and it hurt. His statements forced me to look at my life - my calendar, schedule, time spent scrolling on social media, or talking on the phone. I had to evaluate my priorities.

I was being pulled apart by responsibilities and obligations and losing sight of the most important things. If my relationship with my husband was fractured, how was my relationship with God affected?

I understand why David asked God in Psalm 86:11, “unite my heart to fear Your name.” David had seen the destruction a divided heart could bring. He watched the chosen one, King Saul, shift his focus from pleasing God to pleasing people. He saw Saul’s heart pulled apart by focusing on his image and protecting his position. Saul’s heart became divided, and he lost the kingdom.

We aren’t struggling to hold onto the reins of a kingdom like Saul, but there may be some area in which division has crept into our hearts. Maybe our children are our whole world, or our entire focus is on our careers. Perhaps we strive for perfection - giving our all to look perfect, have perfect marriages, and live perfect lives. Over time, these things gain more territory in our hearts, and our focus on God begins to occupy less.

God desires deep, personal fellowship with us. He wants us to draw so close to Him that we carry out our daily tasks in light of our relationship. He wants us to live an undivided life.

To do that, we must acknowledge the things in our hearts that are pulling us away from Him - the things that are pulling us apart.

Here are a few questions that can help us determine the condition of our hearts:

Whose opinion do we seek first or value most?

How do we spend our time and money?

Are we holding bitterness, anger, or unforgiveness in our hearts?

What do we prioritize in our day?