A Servant's Heart: The Seventh Reflection Welcome to the seventh installment of our חשבון נפש series. This reflection explores the profound concept of wholeheartedly accepting the condition of being a servant of God ( עבד השם ). Much of this is drawn from the teachings of the Hovot halevavot in the gate of service to G-d , and this is a brief review of its core ideas. What sparks the feeling of being a servant of God? It's the profound realization of the continuous blessings you receive from Him. This includes daily sustenance, guidance, wisdom, and compassion. King David captures this sentiment when he says, "I am Your servant" ( עבדך אני ), recognizing that God has given him understanding. When a servant truly grasps the constant benefits from his Master—who is always watching, in control, and even tests him to see if he'll make the right choices—he will strive to make those correct decisions. As the חובות הלבבות teaches, when a person thinks this way, God grants them a wonderful gift: a smile. Like a master who smiles upon a good and dedicated servant, God's favor brings "great benefits" ( הטובות הגדולות ) and "great light" ( האורים הגדולים ). This light is referenced in a verse we say on ראש השנה after blowing the שופר : "Fortunate is the nation that knows the message of the שופר ...God, we will walk in the light of Your face" ( אשרי העם יודעי תרועה, השם באור פניך יהלכון ). This is the same light mentioned in the ברכת כהנים prayer: "May God shine His face upon you" ( יאר השם פניו אליך ). This light is the direct result of being a good, dedicated servant. The Mutuality of Dedication The most crucial part of being an עבד השם is dedicating yourself wholeheartedly to His service. This devotion earns you a special status, as reflected in the verse from דברים : "You designated God as special today, and God designated you as special today" ( את השם האמרת היום והשם האמירך היום ). The גמרא in מסכת חגיגה 3 b explains this mutuality: We make God "the one and only" when we declare, " השם אחד " (God is one). God makes us "the one and only" when He says, "Who is like your nation, a unique nation on earth?" ( מי כעמך גוי אחד בארץ ). This special relationship means that the nations of the world will see that "the name of God is called upon us" ( כי שם השם נקרא עליך ) and will fear us. As the חובות הלבבות points out, a servant's reputation is directly tied to the greatness of their master. Since we are the nation of the Holy One, who is revered by all, we too should be revered. This reverence comes from our dedication to God, and our commitment to Him grants us that honor in the eyes of the world. The Path of a Servant In the future, the prophet ישעיהו says, "This one will say, 'I am God's'" ( זה יאמר להשם אני ). This speaks to the high level of closeness to God we can achieve. So, reflect on this. Don't listen to your evil inclination. Don't use your desires and thoughts improperly. Remember that God is looking into your heart. As the verse says, "God knows the thoughts of man" ( השם ידע מחשבות אדם ). He knows if you're truly striving to be His servant. We spend our days serving God, but do we truly have the awareness that He is watching us and looking to see if we are living up to the role of His devoted servants?