excerpt from “The Spirit Filled Believer’s Daily Devotional
“This is one of those verses which reads the same in the Old Testament (1 Sam. 13:14) as in the New Testament. When the Lord states that David is a man after His own heart, what He is saying is: ‘David is My kind of man! I can count on him to do all My will without any reluctance or hesitation.’
Twice in the Psalms, David discusses his willingness to do the Lord’s will. In Psalm 40:8 he declares: ‘I delight to do Your will, O my God. And Your law is within my heart.’ (NKJ) Then in Psalm 143:10 he requests the Lord’s help in this area: ‘Teach me to do Your will.’ (NKJ) This desire to do the Lord’s will was PLEASING to God.
David had another characteristic that qualified him to be a man after God’s own heart. It was a QUICKNESS to ACKNOWLEDGE WRONGDOING when he was confronted with it. David was QUICK to REPENT. He did not hide his sins. He did not carry grudges, hatred, unforgiveness, or resentment in his heart.
He always hurried to the place of FORGIVENESS and RECONCILIATION. How many hours, days, weeks, months, and years have we wasted by not coming to grips with unconfessed sin? David was SO SENSITIVE about DISPLEASING the Lord that he was quick to make amends and be restored to loving fellowship. He did not lose any time clearing away the debris in his life. It was THIS quality that caused him to be a man after God’s own heart.”
~Dick Mills
Sometimes I struggle with feelings of inadequacy. Feeling like I’m falling SO SHORT of the Glory of God, that the Lord MUST not want to hear from me. That THIS time I’ve messed up too bad, and am an utter failure. A disappointment to my Father in Heaven.
Then I read about all the mistakes that David made. He struggled with lust, committed adultery and murder. He struggled with anger. And yet the Lord calls him a man after His own heart, and I realize that THAT is what grace is for. For when despite our best efforts, we stumble off the path of righteousness. It’s not for willful disobedience, or delighting in sin, but rather just falling short.
It’s a heart issue. It’s always, every time a heart issue.
Satan would like to keep me focused on my mistakes, but I am determined to stay focused on God’s love for David, and His love for ME.
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