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Now that we understand the importance of being in covenant with God and loving Him with our whole heart, we must take the next important step: regularly examining our hearts and guarding our lives from distractions that can draw us away from Him. The Bible teaches that we are to be vigilant in guarding our hearts and ensuring that nothing takes the place of God in our lives. This requires an ongoing process of self-examination, purification, and realignment with God’s will.

In Exodus 12:15, God commands the Israelites to remove leaven from their homes during the Passover. This act was a symbolic gesture of purifying their homes from corruption. Leaven represented sin, and removing it was an act of consecration to God. In the same way, we are called to regularly examine our lives and remove anything that has taken God’s place. This could be a sin we’ve allowed to fester, an unhealthy habit, or even a good thing that has become an idol in our hearts.

In today’s world, distractions are abundant. It’s easy to become sidetracked by the demands of work, relationships, and the pursuit of personal goals. These things are not inherently bad, but when they begin to take priority over our relationship with God, they can become idols. In Matthew 6:24, Jesus reminds us that we cannot serve two masters: “No one can serve two masters… You cannot serve both God and money.” Our hearts can easily be divided, but when our love for God becomes secondary to other pursuits, we lose the peace and fulfillment He offers.

To guard our hearts, we need to regularly perform “spiritual checkups.” Just as we schedule annual physicals to assess our physical health, we should also set aside time for spiritual reflection. Are there areas in our lives where we have allowed distractions to take root? Are there idols we’ve allowed to subtly take God’s place? These are difficult questions, but they are necessary for maintaining a pure heart that is fully devoted to God.

Hebrews 11:6 says, “Without faith, it is impossible to please God.” Our relationship with God is rooted in faith, and faith requires that we constantly seek Him above all else. When we place our trust in Him and guard our hearts from distractions, we position ourselves to experience the fullness of His love and the blessings of living in covenant with Him.

Reflective Questions:

1. What “other gods” might be competing for your heart? How can you begin to remove them from your life?
2. How often do you take time for a “spiritual checkup” to ensure your priorities are aligned with God’s will? What does that look like for you?
3. When you face distractions or temptations, what practical steps can you take to refocus your heart on God and keep Him as your first priority?

Now that we’ve established the importance of God’s covenant with us, the next crucial step is understanding how we are called to respond: by loving God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength. This command, found in Deuteronomy 6:5, is the heart of the covenant and the foundation for our relationship with God. It’s not merely a suggestion but a divine mandate that encompasses every aspect of our lives. Loving God fully means putting Him at the center of our hearts, minds, and actions, recognizing that nothing should take precedence over Him.

Loving God with all our heart means giving Him the deepest part of ourselves, our emotions, desires, and affections. It’s an invitation to cultivate an intimate relationship with God where our hearts are fully devoted to Him. Loving God with all our soul speaks to our inner being—our will, purpose, and identity. It’s about surrendering our will to God’s and choosing to live according to His desires rather than our own. Loving God with all our mind means allowing Him to shape the way we think and perceive the world, bringing our thoughts into alignment with His truth. Finally, loving God with all our strength means committing our energy, time, and resources to serving Him and fulfilling His purpose in the world.

The challenge for many of us is that we live in a world that constantly competes for our attention. Work, relationships, entertainment, and personal desires often pull us away from God’s will. It’s easy to become distracted by the things of this world, seeking fulfillment in material possessions, success, or status. However, 1 John 2:15-17 warns us about the dangers of loving the world more than God. The apostle John writes, “Stop loving this evil world and all that it offers you, for when you love these things, you show that you do not really love God.” Worldly pursuits may promise happiness, but they cannot provide the lasting fulfillment that only God can offer.

Loving God fully requires intentionality. It’s not about perfection, but about direction. It’s about making a conscious decision every day to prioritize God over everything else. This can be challenging, especially when life’s distractions and pressures seem overwhelming. But the more we intentionally place God at the center of our lives, the more we experience the peace, joy, and fulfillment that comes from living in a relationship with Him.

True love for God transforms how we live. It shapes our decisions, our priorities, and our actions. It allows us to experience a life filled with purpose, meaning, and contentment that transcends worldly desires. When we love God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength, we align our lives with His will, and in doing so, we experience His presence and blessings in ways that far exceed anything this world can offer.

Reflective Questions:

1. How do you practically love God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength? Are there areas of your life where this is difficult?
2. What distractions or “other gods” are competing for your love and attention? How can you shift your focus back to God?
3. When you face decisions, big or small, do you seek God first, or do other desires take precedence?

A covenant is more than just an agreement—it’s a promise, a solemn bond that forms the foundation of a relationship. In the Bible, a covenant signifies a deep, intimate relationship based on trust and mutual commitment. Unlike a contract, which typically arises from a need to protect one party’s interests, a covenant is built on a shared commitment and faithfulness between the parties involved. Throughout Scripture, God establishes covenants with His people, revealing His unwavering love, faithfulness, and desire for an intimate relationship with us.

One of the most profound covenants in the Bible is the one God made with Abraham. In Genesis 12:1-3, God promises Abraham that his descendants will become a great nation, inherit the land of Israel, and be a blessing to all nations. This covenant is foundational to understanding God’s relationship with His people. God not only promises blessings but also establishes a responsibility for His people to walk in faith and obedience. This covenant is reaffirmed in Genesis 15:1-21, where God formalizes His promise to Abraham with a sacrificial act, demonstrating His faithfulness.

The significance of this covenant isn’t just in the promises made, but in the deep trust it required. Abraham had to trust God’s word even when the fulfillment of those promises seemed impossible. For us, this covenant serves as a reminder that God’s promises are faithful, even when we don’t immediately see the results. It calls us to trust in God’s timing and His ability to bring about His will in our lives.

In the New Testament, we see the establishment of a new covenant through Jesus Christ. Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection fulfilled the promises God made to Abraham and all of humanity. The new covenant is based on grace, not on the adherence to laws or rituals, as seen in the old covenant. Jeremiah 31:31-34 prophesied this new covenant, which would be written not on stone tablets but on human hearts. This promise is fulfilled in the person of Jesus Christ, who offers forgiveness, redemption, and eternal life to all who believe (Mark 14:22-25, John 3:5-8).

This new covenant invites us into a personal relationship with God, based on His grace rather than our ability to keep the law perfectly. Through Jesus, we are given the opportunity to experience a life that is not bound by the law’s demands but is shaped by the love, grace, and power of the Holy Spirit. The covenant calls us to live in relationship with God, responding to His love with trust, faith, and obedience.

As believers today, we are called to embrace this covenant relationship with God. Just as Abraham trusted God’s promises, we are invited to trust in God’s faithfulness and respond with obedience. This relationship is not a one-time agreement; it’s a continual, living commitment to walk with God, trusting Him in all areas of our lives. By understanding the significance of God’s covenant with us, we are reminded of His faithfulness and the deep love He has for us.

Reflective Questions:

1. How do you view the covenant between God and His people? How does this understanding shape your relationship with Him?
2. What does it mean to live in covenant with God today? How can you deepen your trust in His promises?
3. Are there areas of your life where you have not fully surrendered to God’s will? What can you do to align more closely with His covenant?

As we continue to look at and examine God’s purpose for your life, what has He called you to do? There is a specific place in life where you will thrive!

John 15:16 (NKJV) says:

You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you.

You must ask with a surrendered heart, not one that is selfish and self serving.

Ephesians 2:10 (AMP) says:

“For we are God’s [own] handiwork (His workmanship), recreated in Christ Jesus, [born anew] that we may do those good works which God predestined (planned beforehand) for us [taking paths which He prepared ahead of time], that we should walk in them [living the good life which He prearranged and made ready for us to live].

Ephesians 1:4-12 (NASB77) says:

“just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before Him. In love 5 He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention of His will, 6 to the praise of the glory of His grace, which He freely bestowed on us in the Beloved. 7 In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace, 8 which He lavished upon us. In all wisdom and insight 9 He made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His kind intention which He purposed in Him 10 with a view to an administration suitable to the fulness of the times, that is, the summing up of all things in Christ, things in the heavens and things upon the earth. In Him 11 also we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to His purpose who works all things after the counsel of His will, 12 to the end that we who were the first to hope in Christ should be to the praise of His glory.”

God sees the end of your life as well as its beginning. He also knows where you are at currently in your life’s journey and what you are becoming.

Think about being chosen by God. What does that mean to be chosen? It is to be chosen out of many, to be fit for God’s favor and to be separated from others. Are you available? Let Father God know your answer!

Matthew 10:29-31 NKJV
Are not two sparrows sold for a copper coin? And not one of them falls to the ground apart from your Father’s will. [30] But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. [31] Do not fear therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows.

As you daily walk trusting God for direction for your choices, you can have confidence that He intimately knows you.

Our next post will be Part 3 and final of “Your Purpose”

Blessings,

Return weekly to read our next life changing message that will encourage you in your daily walk with the Holy Spirit as you become more like Jesus.