Sep 20 – With All Your Heart!

“They sought the LORD with all their heart and with all their soul.” (2 Chronicles 15:12)

When Asa was king of Israel, a great revival broke out among the people as they began to seek the Lord. The people determined to seek the Lord with all their heart and with all their soul. They also entered into a covenant that whoever would not seek the Lord should be put to death (2 Chronicles 15:13).

The command of King Asa was very clear: the Lord must not be sought half-heartedly or casually, but with the whole heart. The name Asa means “physician.” The one remedy he prescribed for the people of Israel was this: Seek the Lord with all your heart. Scripture says that the hearts of those who seek the Lord rejoice (Psalm 105:3).

If you were to visit a physician, he might explain that the physical heart is the centre of our blood circulation. It pumps blood throughout the body. Just as a motor-driven pump draws water from a well and carries it upward, the heart circulates blood throughout the body—from the crown of the head to the soles of the feet. Some practitioners of yoga even practise Sira aasanaa, standing on their heads, believing that this increases blood flow to the brain and brings freshness and clarity of thought.

But the heart spoken of in Scripture is not merely the physical organ that circulates blood. It is the dwelling place of affection, love and devotion. When Scripture tells us to seek the Lord with all our heart, it means that we must seek Him with love, affection and wholehearted devotion.

Yes, the Lord does not dwell merely in our intellect, our reasoning or any particular part of our physical body. He delights to dwell in the heart that loves Him wholeheartedly, making that heart His temple. Then that heart becomes, a most holy place for His presence.

When King Asa sought the Lord with all his heart, the Lord revealed Himself to him (2 Chronicles 15:4). When Asa sought the Lord his God, he was not troubled by the enemies surrounding him. The Lord gave him a season of complete rest (2 Chronicles 14:7).

Therefore, even when problems, struggles and opposition from the enemy arise in your life, make a firm decision to seek the Lord with all your heart. Do not allow the intensity of your circumstances to weaken the intensity of your pursuit of God.

King Jehoshaphat sought the Lord with fasting (2 Chronicles 20:3). David sought the Lord early in the morning (Psalm 63:1). Mary Magdalene sought the Lord with tears (John 20:1).

Each one sought Him in a different circumstance, but their hearts had one common desire: they wanted the Lord Himself.

Dear children of God, seek the Lord with all your heart. When you seek Him sincerely and wholeheartedly, you will surely find Him (Matthew 7:7). When He becomes the supreme desire of your heart, His presence will become your greatest joy, His Word your greatest delight, and His will your greatest pursuit.

Verse for further meditation: “If you seek Him, He will be found by you.” (2 Chronicles 15:2)