Set Your Heart on the Lord

For someone who is very much a “head person,” the words of the Psalmist and of Samuel in today’s readings are both a challenge and a relief.  When I say that I am a “head person,” I mean that I focus often on what I can know and learn.  I think about everything, and focus way more on thoughts than on feelings.  

So when I read Samuel’s command to “Set your heart on the Lord! Worship God only!” (1 Samuel 7:3), I am reminded that my faith in God is not just about what I know.  It’s not just about the facts that I can learn.  The Psalmist writes, “My heart is unwavering, God. I will sing and make music—yes, with my whole being! Wake up, harp and lyre! I will wake the dawn itself! I will give thanks to you, Lord, among all the peoples; I will make music to you among the nations because your faithful love is higher than heaven; your faithfulness reaches the clouds.” (Psalm 108:1-4)  These words invite me to bring my whole self: my heart, my body, and my life to my relationship with God, not just my head and my knowledge.  It is a relief to be able to worship God with my heart and my self; I do not have to have all the answers to worship God.  I do not have to do everything perfect yet; God invites us to bring our whole selves, just as we are, still growing to our worship.  It is also a challenge because I have to let go of all the different things that I am thinking and just be; I have to let my heart feel and my self connect with God in a different way.  

I challenge you this week to worship God with your whole self: heart, soul, mind, and strength (Deuteronomy 6:5).  If you are like me and are a “head person” let go and feel a connection with God.  If you are a heart person, embrace the other ways to worship God fully.

QUESTIONS FOR THE FIELD

• Are you a head person or a heart person or both?
• How can you use that to worship God?  
• How do you worship God with heart, soul, mind, and strength?  
• Do you need to work on/grow in serving or worshipping God in one of those areas? 

FAMILY FIELD TALK

• Worship together as a family this week at home by reading Psalm 108 aloud together.  Perhaps make or gather instruments so that you can make music together.  Perhaps talk about all the ways God has blessed your family this week.  Perhaps find a way to share how God has made you feel this week.

PRAYER
Holy God, help me to worship you today with my whole self: heart, soul, mind, and strength.  I love you.  Thank you for loving me.  Amen.