Have you ever had to sprint after a toddler in a crowded mall? The urgency, the focus, and let’s be honest, the slight panic? You were running with a purpose. I like to think that the kind of energy Psalm 119:32 talks about when it says, “I will pursue your commands, for you expand my understanding” (NLT). It’s like saying, “Lord, I’m ready to chase after your commands like I’m chasing my runaway three-year-old at the supermarket!”
Most other bible versions use ‘enlarge my heart’ instead of ‘expand my understanding’. Psalm 119:32, “I will run the way of your commandments, when you shall enlarge my heart,” carries a profound truth about obedience. It’s not about reluctant compliance but a joyous sprint, an alacrity towards God’s word, made possible by an expanded heart.
Enlarging our hearts is like expanding our spiritual lung capacity, allowing us to breathe in more of God’s grace, wisdom, and love. It’s not just about being more ‘religious’ but becoming more attuned to God’s frequency – His love, His wisdom, His desires for our lives. As our hearts grow, our understanding deepens, and our eagerness to obey God’s commands increases.
Biblical scholars associate this heart enlargement with wisdom (1 Kings 4:29), love (2 Corinthians 6:11), and joy (Isaiah 60:5). It’s about breaking free from the fetters of our limitations and stepping into a more noble disposition towards God. When our hearts are filled with God’s love and wisdom, obedience shifts from a duty to a delight, from a slow walk to an eager run.
This year, let’s ask God to enlarge our hearts. Let’s seek a transformation that makes us quick to obey, eager to learn, and joyful in our spiritual journey. It’s a request for grace, acknowledging that our ability to live in obedience is not through our strength but through the expansion God brings to our hearts.
As we navigate our roles as mothers, friends, and leaders, let’s do so with hearts widened by God’s love. Let’s run towards His commands, not out of obligation, but because our enlarged hearts pull us irresistibly towards His will.
Our prayer for this season is simple yet profound: “Lord, enlarge my heart. Make me quick to obey, eager to learn, and joyful in my journey with You. Let me run towards Your commands, not just with my feet, but with a heart bursting with Your love and wisdom.”