My wandering heart

This is a continuation of the last post on cheating.  The song I quoted in that post is Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing.  I greatly enjoy Chris Rice's version of this hymn.  There is a line in this hymn that says, "prone to wander Lord I feel it, prone to leave the God I love."  Continuing the song says, "Here's my heart O take and seal it, seal it for thy courts above."  These words by 18th century pastor Robert Robinson haunt me.  Robinson is admitting, "I am a cheater."  He has a wandering heart.  I do too.  It starts with my wandering eyes that seek out the enticing things of the world (Luke 11:34).  It continues with my actions as I spend my time with the things of the world (James 4:4).  Finally, without realizing it... I give my heart away (Luke 10:27).  There are so many things that come before God in my life.  My heart is prone to wander, prone to leave the God I love.  There is another line in this hymn that says, "let thy goodness like a fetter bind my wandering heart to thee."  A fetter is a chain or shakle similar to modern day handcuffs (see picture).  The hymnist is saying- God handcuff my heart with your goodness.  Let your goodness keep me so tied to you that my cheating heart won't seek other things.  Words are easy.  We can say we love God, that we are committed to the Lord.  Doing is tough.  You have to allow your wandering heart to be shackled to God.  Read about His goodness.  Meditate on his goodness.  Think about how He has been good to you.