The beauty of being in a relationship with Jesus Christ lies not only in the peace, love, and joy that He brings into our lives, but also in the deep and life-transforming journey that accompanies this connection. But how do we give our heart more completely to Him? Let’s dive into scripture for profound insight and guidance.
- Faith and Trust (Proverbs 3:5-6)
- “Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.” This passage calls us to trust God completely, not relying solely on our understanding. Trust signifies total surrender, which leads to divine guidance. In historical context, the early Jewish community would often need to trust God amidst trying circumstances. Today, this verse is a timeless reminder that our faith and trust in God should be complete, acknowledging Him in all our undertakings.
- Wholehearted Devotion (Matthew 22:37-38)
- “Jesus replied: ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment.” In this verse, Jesus outlines the level of devotion God seeks from us. The context is a conversation between Jesus and a Pharisee, wherein Jesus clarifies the utmost importance of loving God wholeheartedly. For us, it means that devoting our heart to Jesus should not be a half-hearted affair but an all-encompassing commitment involving our all – heart, soul, and mind.
- Submission and Obedience (James 4:7)
- “Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” James writes to the early Christian community encouraging complete submission to God and resistance to evil. Similarly, we are called to submit our hearts willingly to Jesus and actively resist earthly temptations – in doing so, we draw closer to God and push sin further away.
- Humility and Openness (Psalm 51:17)
- “The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.” King David composed this Psalm after he was confronted about his sin with Bathsheba. He acknowledges that God values a humble and repentant heart more than ritual sacrifices. For us, it means that to give our hearts more fully to Jesus, we need to approach Him with humility, openness, and genuine repentance.
In conclusion, giving our heart more completely to Jesus involves leaning on Him with absolute trust, loving Him with all our heart, soul, and mind, submitting ourselves wholly to Him, and approaching Him with humility and contrition. It’s a lifelong journey and there will be challenges, yet the peace and joy that come from a deeper relationship with Jesus make all efforts worthwhile. Let’s take a step forward today by embracing these scriptural insights into our daily lives.