An Undivided Heart

by Jane Josephs

“Give me an undivided heart, that I may fear Your name.”
–Psalm 86:11b

The salon where I get my hair cut likes to display seasonal decorations. So, it was no surprise that this month I was greeted by several hundred red, pink, and silver cut-out hearts as I walked in. But what I liked best was the red glittery word LOVE nestled in some silk flowers and greenery. It’s the one four-letter word we like to hear, isn’t it?

The Greeks, of course, had four words to define love: agape, meaning unconditional love; eros, for romantic love; philia, which is the bond of friendship; and storge, which refers to familial love. As I sat waiting for my stylist, I couldn’t help thinking: what kind of love did David have in mind when he prayed for an undivided heart?

The most obvious answer of course, is agape, an unconditional love for God, His laws and decrees. And yet I can’t help but think that the more we agape (love) God with an undivided heart, the more we will demonstrate every other kind of love to those around us. “God is love,” the Apostle John wrote, before reminding his readers: “Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in Him” (1 John 4:16b). The two go hand in hand; our actions reflect His character.

Giving flowers, cards, chocolate, and assorted other gifts are just a few of the ways we say Happy Valentine’s Day today to those we love. But the command to live in love remains constant. And for that we need an undivided heart.