Wednesday in the Word: Measures of My Heart For God

The theme for our church this year has been "A Heart for God." My husband has been preaching messages about having a heart for God on Sunday mornings and applying that to different areas of our lives. One morning someone asked him, "How do I know I have a heart for God?" After some study, my husband found these truths in the life of David, a man after God's own heart.

When I have a heart for God . . .

• The priority of my life will be my relationship with God. The Psalms are full of David's desire to be close to God. When my heart is fixed on God, I'll make time each day for Him by having a quiet time of devotions. I'll make time each week to go to church. I'll communicate with Him in prayer and allow Him to communicate with me through His Word. My top priority will be keeping myself in fellowship with God. "Evening, and morning, and at noon, will I pray, and cry aloud: and he shall hear my voice." Psalm 55:17

• The place of my trust is in the Lord when facing trials. When I have a heart for God, my first thought when something comes up is "I need to talk to the Lord about this," rather than, "We need to call the bank to see if we can get a loan," or "The baby has a sniffle; let's call the doctor!" I'm not advocating neglect of our finances or health, but prayer should be our first reaction to trouble. I believe the Lord will give direction, peace, and comfort for each day's needs. David said, "What time I am afraid, I will trust in thee. In God have I put my trust: I will not be afraid what man can do unto me." Psalm 56:3,11

• The passion of my life is a desire to please God. David's desire to please God overran his natural instincts. When he had opportunity to kill Saul, his enemy, he purposed to obey God and wait for God's timing to become king. He refused to harm Saul: "The Lord forbid that I should do this thing unto . . . the Lord's anointed . . ." I Samuel 24:6 What motivates my actions? When my heart is toward God, my passion will be to do God's will. That will include many things in my life - being a witness, keeping my home, loving my husband and children, serving at church, serving others - and the overall motivation for these things will be a burning desire to please God. "Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God." I Corinthians 10:31

• The personality of my life is humility. David's heart cry as king was "Who am I, O Lord God? and what is my house, that thou hast brought me hitherto?" II Samuel 7:18 Everything I do and everything I have is only by the grace and mercy of God. When my heart is following God, I will realize that I have no reason to boast or look down upon someone else; neither will I envy someone else, because the same grace that works in my life works in others' lives as well. ". . . be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: For God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble." I Peter 5:5

• The purpose of my life is an opportunity to serve. A heart for God will be a servant's heart! David spent most of his life serving his father, King Saul, and the people of Israel, both as a military leader and as king. When my heart is fixed upon God, I will be looking for ways to serve Him and others. I will desire to be like Jesus: "Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister . . . " Matthew 20: 28

It's important to note that David was not sinless! He was an adulterer and a murderer, but when he sinned, his heart for God motivated him to repent, confess, and forsake his sin. "Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me." Psalm 51:2,3 Having a heart for God does not mean I will never sin, but that I will confess it as soon as I realize it's there and keep my fellowship with God clear.

How is your heart today? Do you have a heart for God? As I look back over these measures, I see areas where my heart needs some work. Let's purpose to turn our hearts toward God!

This entry is cross-posted at KJV Blog Directory.