NeuroDivine

Readings

For when Solomon was old, his wives turned away his heart after other gods; and his heart was not true to the Lord his God, as was the heart of his father David. For Solomon followed Astarte the goddess of the Sidonians, and Milcom the abomination of the Ammonites. So Solomon did what was evil in the sight of the Lord, and did not completely follow the Lord, as his father David had done.

1 Kings 11:4-6

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Then King Zedekiah sent for him, and received him. The king questioned him secretly in his house, and said, ‘Is there any word from the Lord?’ Jeremiah said, ‘There is!’ Then he said, ‘You shall be handed over to the king of Babylon.’

Jeremiah 37:17

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Jesus answered them, ‘Have faith in God. Truly I tell you, if you say to this mountain, “Be taken up and thrown into the sea”, and if you do not doubt in your heart, but believe that what you say will come to pass, it will be done for you. So I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. Whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone; so that your Father in heaven may also forgive you your trespasses.’

Mark 11:22-25

Reflection

Where is My Heart Actually Turned?

In these three readings, we meet people facing the uncomfortable gap between what they want and what God is actually asking of them.

In 1 Kings, Solomon’s heart gradually turns away from God. It is not one dramatic rejection, but a slow drifting of loyalty. The king who had been given wisdom begins to place other things alongside the God who had called him.

In Jeremiah, King Zedekiah wants a word from God. He even asks Jeremiah secretly, “Is there any word from the Lord?” There is. But it is not the word he would have wanted to hear. Jeremiah remains faithful enough to speak it anyway.

And in Mark, Jesus calls his disciples in another direction: “Have faith in God.” Trust God. Pray. Believe. And, crucially, forgive.

Perhaps the thread running through all three readings is a simple question:

Where is my heart actually turned?

It is possible to speak about God, to ask God for help, even to pray—while still trying to keep control ourselves.

Solomon drifted. Zedekiah wanted a word from God, but on his own terms. 

Jesus points us somewhere different: towards trust, prayer, forgiveness, and a heart genuinely turned towards God.

Unlike Solomon whose heart drifted, or Zedekiah who refused the truth, Jesus is the only King whose heart has always been completely undivided.

Notice that we do not say Jesus was. We do not meet today to remember a dead teacher or a historical figure locked in the past. Jesus is.

He is our living High Priest at the right hand of the Father, interceding for us right now. He is our elder brother who knows our weaknesses. And he is our coming King, soon to return to establish God’s Kingdom on earth.

Because he lives, the faith and forgiveness he speaks of in Mark 11 are real, present realities for us today. 

Faithfulness is not simply believing the right things. It is allowing that belief to shape where our heart rests, how we respond when God challenges us, and how we treat those we find difficult to forgive.

So, as our response to these readings, let us ask God to turn our hearts once more towards him.

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Responsive Prayer

After each petition, when I say “Lord, in your mercy,” I invite you to respond: “Turn our hearts to You.”

When we are distracted by many voices and forget the voice that first called us; when other things begin to take the place that belongs to You alone:

Lord, in your mercy: 

Turn our hearts to You.

When we seek the answer we want rather than the truth we need to hear; give us courage to listen even when Your word challenges us:

Lord, in your mercy: 

Turn our hearts to You.

When the way ahead is uncertain, when prayer seems difficult, and when trusting You asks more of us than we expected:

Lord, in your mercy: 

Turn our hearts to You.

When resentment takes root, when old hurts remain with us, and when forgiveness seems beyond us; teach us the generosity of Your grace:

Lord, in your mercy: 

Turn our hearts to You.

When our faith becomes comfortable, when habit replaces attention, and when we resist the change to which You are calling us:

Lord, in your mercy: 

Turn our hearts to You.

In our praying and our listening, in our speaking and our serving, and in all that lies before us this week, keep us faithful to Your love:

Lord, in your mercy: 

Turn our hearts to You.

Faithful God, turn our hearts again towards You.

Give us courage to hear Your word, faith to trust You when the way is uncertain, and grace to forgive as we have been forgiven; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Amen.

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Hymn

1
In city streets where lights burn late,
Our hearts can drift from You;
Like Solomon, we lose our way
In all we chase and do.

2
On platforms where the trams roll in,
We seek a word that’s kind;
Yet Zedekiah’s fear still lives
In hearts that dodge Your mind.

3
But Christ, our living Lord, still speaks
Above the city’s din;
He calls us to a steadfast trust
That moves the hills within.

4
When we stand praying in the crowds,
Or quiet flats at night,
Teach us to offer grace to all
And walk in mercy’s light.

5
O Christ, our High Priest, still You plead
Beyond the bus‑line’s hum;
Turn wandering hearts towards Your truth,
And call Your people home.

6
So shape our lives by faithful love,
Not words we speak alone;
Lord, set our restless hearts to rest,
And make Your mercy known.