'And he did what was right in the eyes of the Lord , yet not with a whole heart. 2 Chronicles 25:2

This verse haunts me. I can follow the rules and jump through the hoops and do what is expected, but my heart is simply going through the motions, not fully engaged. I might be fatigued from running too hard and sleeping too little. I might be distracted by others who are causing me irritation. But at the end of the day, my eye is not on the prize that matters and my heart is not fully engaged.

I need to continue to ask myself, "am I doing what God is calling me to do, or am I distracted by lesser things? These things might be good things and worthy things, but not the main thing. I can find myself content with doing trivial things, because I feel like I am accomplishing something, but my heart is not fully engaged with passion, focus and intentionality.

Isn't this the challenge of all of us mere mortals? We are limited in our focus, limited in a physical strength, limited in our stamina, which leads us right back to our greatest need for Jesus to be our source of strength and power.

"Apart from Him I can do nothing!"(John 15:5)

I cannot be "wholehearted" by muscling it out in the flesh as an act of the will. Without the Spirit of Christ empowering me with His strength I will never be "wholehearted" in a manner that pleases the Father, even as I keep the letter of the law. The Spirit is still willing and the flesh is still weak.

So I choose to surrender, as an act of worship, asking Jesus to empower me to serve Him today, doing what is right, with a whole heart.

Colossians 1:28–29 (NIV) He is the one we proclaim, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone fully mature in Christ. To this end I strenuously contend with all the energy Christ so powerfully works in me.