Fully Committed
Your Heart, Body, Mind and Soul—for All That God Has Promised.
Commitment is a word I have come to appreciate deeply, as it encompasses qualities that reveal one’s stance and conviction. Words such as resolve, determination, firmness, steadfastness, obligation and promise often fill its place—all signalling strength and unwavering devotion.
So, when I read these words in the Bible: “Take delight in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the LORD; trust in him and he will do this” (Psalm 37:4–5 NIV), this excites me.
To me, this means that if I truly want to receive the desires of my heart, I should commit my ways to God.
Of course, it is not quite that simple. There are conditions one must meet to receive one’s desires from the Lord. For one, we must acknowledge God’s leadership in our lives, accept the work of Jesus on the Cross and the work of the Holy Spirit.
Still, what excites me is that the Bible affirms the possibility of true commitment—and that this commitment opens the door to God’s promises.
Today, I want to explore what it truly means to commit to God—a prerequisite to experiencing the fullness of God’s promises as described in Scripture.
God’s invitation to commit our lives to Him echoes throughout the Bible, forming a recurring theme from the Old Testament to the New. We are told to “commit to the LORD whatever you do” (Proverbs 16:3 NIV) and to “commit your way to the LORD; trust in him” (Psalm 37:5 NIV).
This invitation to commit remains open, no matter how far we may have strayed. God continually beckons us to return and recommit ourselves to Him.
But what does commitment to God look like in Scripture?
I must warn you: commitment to God is not for the faint-hearted. It asks for all of you.
Come with me, Let’s go on an exploration, with Scripture as our guide, to see what it means to commit fully to God.
1. Love God with all your heart, soul and strength
“Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.” (Deuteronomy 6:5 NIV)
Scripture tells us about King Josiah, so we know that it is possible to be fully committed to God:
“Neither before nor after Josiah was there a king like him who turned to the LORD as he did—with all his heart and with all his soul and with all his strength, in accordance with all the Law of Moses.” (2 Kings 23:25 NIV)
So, what did Josiah do right?
He recommitted himself and the people to God.
Josiah renewed the covenant “to follow the LORD and keep his commands, statutes and decrees with all his heart and all his soul.” Then “all the people pledged themselves to the covenant” (2 Kings 23:3 NIV).
He removed other masters. He tore down idols and pagan altars and removed practices associated with the worship of other gods throughout the kingdom (2 Kings 23).
He took the Word of God seriously. When the Book of the Law was found and read to Josiah, he responded to what he heard and acted upon it. He did not merely hear the Word; he brought the kingdom back into alignment with it.
He restored worship that had been neglected. Josiah reinstated the celebration of the Passover, which had been neglected by previous generations.
From his example, we learn that God wants our love for Him to surpass all else. He does not want to compete for our attention with idols and pagan altars. In our time, these may look different—money, material things, occultism, fame or anything else that can take our hearts away from Him.
The Bible says, “God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth” (John 4:24 NIV). We must come to Him authentically, worshipping from the heart without seeking outward recognition. Josiah restored the worship of God according to the Word of God. The same is required of us—worshipping God in a way that is true and authentic.
God also desires our strength—our very best effort in worship and service—not what is left after we have expended our energy elsewhere.
2. Trust God completely
God wants us to trust Him completely—not other gods, mediums, the alternatives offered by the world or even our own understanding.
The Scripture says:
“Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.” (Proverbs 3:5–6 NIV)
We should learn to rely on Him and on the Holy Spirit for every decision. Even in ordinary situations, we can ask: Lord, what do you want me to say or do in this situation?
King Asa gives us an interesting example. When a vast army came against him, he called upon God: “LORD, there is no one like you to help the powerless against the mighty. Help us, LORD our God, for we rely on you” (2 Chronicles 14:11 NIV).
And God helped him.
Scripture later says of Asa: “Although he did not remove the high places from Israel, Asa’s heart was fully committed to the LORD all his life” (2 Chronicles 15:17 NIV).
Yet later in his life, when another crisis arose, Asa relied on the king of Aram rather than God. The prophet told him, “Because you relied on the king of Aram and not on the LORD your God…” (2 Chronicles 16:7 NIV).
Even when Asa became seriously ill, Scripture records that “even in his illness he did not seek help from the LORD, but only from the physicians” (2 Chronicles 16:12 NIV).
God desires to be our first source of help—not a last resort after we have tried everything else.
This does not mean we should never consult doctors or seek practical help, but rather that we bring everything to Him first, so that even as we consult others, God remains our supreme helper.
3. Give God your whole self
Paul writes:
“Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship.” (Romans 12:1 NIV)
God does not only want our hearts, souls and strength. He wants our bodies too.
Our commitment to God affects how we live, what we wear, what we allow into our bodies, what we watch and listen to, and how we act.
Our bodies are to be holy.
“Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own.” (1 Corinthians 6:19 NIV)
We are not our own.
We “were bought at a price” and are therefore instructed to “honor God with your bodies” (1 Corinthians 6:20 NIV).
Paul understood the need to bring his body under control. He said, “I strike a blow to my body and make it my slave” (1 Corinthians 9:27 NIV), while Colossians 3:5 tells us to “put to death…whatever belongs to your earthly nature.”
Commitment to God therefore requires us to bring our bodies under subjection and act according to the Word of God.
4. Live according to His Word
“And may your hearts be fully committed to the LORD our God, to live by his decrees and obey his commands, as at this time.” (1 Kings 8:61 NIV)
To be fully committed means following Him, living by His decrees and obeying His commandments—as given to Moses, including being merciful, being compassionate and helping the poor.
Jesus summarized the commandments this way: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind,” and “Love your neighbor as yourself” (
God desires full adherence to His commandments.
God knows we cannot do this alone. The scripture says the Holy Spirit will help us to fulfil this commitment. Jesus promised the Holy Spirit as an Advocate or Helper who teaches believers and reminds us of God’s Word (John 14:26). He also convicts us when we stray, bringing us back in line with the Word of God (John 16:8).
To summarise all the above, we are called to live only for God—to “be holy in all you do,” just as the God who called us is holy (1 Peter 1:15 NIV).
GOD"S PROMISES FOR THOES THAT ARE FULLY COMMITTED TO HIM.
Our God is an awesome God. Scripture says He “rewards those who earnestly seek him” (Hebrews 11:6 NIV). This is why I know that our commitment and dedication to God is not a deficit, but can offer us more than the world can promise or provide.
The Bible confirms this: He has not called us to seek Him in vain:
“I said not unto the seed of Jacob, Seek ye me in vain.” (Isaiah 45:19 KJV)
Though we do not come to Him only for what He can offer us, He nevertheless promises us many good things for committing fully to Him.
These are promises we can count on—take to the bank, as we say—because He who promised is faithful.
“Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful.” (Hebrews 10:23 NIV)
The promises are ours for the taking if we can fully commit to God—provided what we desire aligns with His will and purpose.
“This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us.” (1 John 5:14 NIV)
Not one promise will fail. Scripture says, “Not one of all the LORD’s good promises to Israel failed; every one was fulfilled” (Joshua 21:45 NIV).
And concerning His Word, God says it “will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it” (Isaiah 55:11 NIV).
Not one promise will fail. It must accomplish the purpose for which it is sent. We are asked to just trust.
So, what are some of these promises that are ours to take hold of?
He promises to protect
God cares about our protection and safety.
“The name of the LORD is a fortified tower; the righteous run to it and are safe.” (Proverbs 18:10 NIV)
“The righteous person may have many troubles, but the LORD delivers him from them all.” (Psalm 34:19 NIV)
All. Not a part. All.
“The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear him, and he delivers them.” (Psalm 34:7 NIV)
He promises to strengthen
One of my all-time favourite Scriptures is:
“There is none like unto the God of Jeshurun, who rideth upon the heaven in thy help, and in his excellency on the sky.” (Deuteronomy 33:26 KJV)
It speaks about God's incomparable help. A help that comes just when you cannot help yourself.
So when you are in a season where your strength is gone from fighting battle after battle, struggling with your health or unable to see a way out of your problems, God says He will come to your rescue:
“For the eyes of the LORD range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him.” (2 Chronicles 16:9 NIV)
And:
“So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” (Isaiah 41:10 NIV)
He promises to provide
David knew something about God's provision:
“I was young and now I am old, yet I have never seen the righteous forsaken or their children begging bread.” (Psalm 37:25 NIV)
A friend of mine, who is a childcare worker, once told me about a difficult time in her life when she desperately needed a job but could not find one. Her bills were beginning to pile up. She could not see a way out, and one night, after praying desperately to God, she cried herself to sleep.
The next morning, she got on a bus to meet a friend. Somewhere along the journey, she felt a prompting to get off the bus.
She resisted it. She had not reached her destination. Why would she get off?
But the prompting persisted, so she got off.
Right in front of where she stopped was a daycare.
She went inside and asked if they were hiring. To her surprise, the proprietor was so glad to see her. She needed a childcare worker—and just like that, my friend was offered a job.
What a miraculous provision!
She had gone to bed the night before unable to see a way out. God already knew where the provision was.
Scripture is filled with stories of this kind of provision. Hagar was in the desert without water when God opened her eyes and she saw a well. Thousands were hungry when Jesus multiplied five loaves and two fish. Elijah needed food and God sent ravens to feed him.
The God who provided then is still God today.
And the list of promises goes on...
Maybe what you need today is healing. Maybe it is direction concerning a decision you have to make. Perhaps you need peace, restoration, provision, deliverance, wisdom, forgiveness, favour, or simply strength to make it through another day.
I don't know what you need today. But God does.
God's promises are not wishful thinking. Where God has spoken, we have something upon which to place our faith.
So, fully commit yourself to God—or recommit yourself. Find the promises that speak to what you need in the Bible and, with faith, claim them for you and yours
May God meet you at the point of your need today—whatever it may be, in Jesus’ name.
Reflection;
As you reflect on what we have explored today, keep this in mind:
Throughout Scripture, we see this pattern again and again—what full commitment to God means and what it can do:
Delight yourself in the LORD → He gives you the desires of your heart (Psalm 37:4).
Commit your way to Him and trust Him → He will act (Psalm 37:5).
Trust in the LORD with all your heart and submit to Him in all your ways → He makes your paths straight (Proverbs 3:5–6).
Seek Him earnestly → He rewards you (Hebrews 11:6).
Fear the LORD → You lack nothing you need (Psalm 34:9–10).
Seek the LORD → He delivers you from your fears (Psalm 34:4).
Seek first His kingdom and His righteousness → The things you need will be given to you as well (Matthew 6:33).
A heart fully committed to Him → He strengthens you (2 Chronicles 16:9).
Remain in Christ and let His words remain in you → Ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you (John 15:7).
Abide in Christ → You will bear much fruit (John 15:5).
Obey His commands and do what pleases Him → You receive from Him what you ask (1 John 3:22).
Humble yourself before the Lord → He will lift you up (James 4:10).
The righteous → are not forsaken, nor are their children left begging bread (Psalm 37:25).
Look to Him, hope in Him and wait for Him → You will not be put to shame (Psalm 34:5; Psalm 25:3; Isaiah 49:23).
Be faithful to the point of death → He will give you the crown of life (Revelation 2:10).
God desires you and me to have the best that life has to offer, but He also desires our full commitment to Him and His Word.
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