A Heart Like David

​Love you all, praying for you,
 
I just love God’s Word.  It tells you who God is, how much He loves you, it tells the story of others before you.  What they did well so you can do it too, and what they did poorly – that’s not for you.  One of the most influential men in the Bible.  David.  He was a type of Christ, and His line is from where the Messiah would come.  God said this about David.  Acts 13:22 – I have found David, son of Jesse, a man after my own heart, he will do eveything that I want him to do.  Wow.  Thanks God. That’s the definition, of a Heart After God.  He will do everything I want Him to do.  That’s why PiVAT is vital in your walk with God.  It gives you a chance, to get a heart like David.  What gave David a heart after God?  There were other things that David did – that developed his heart so that when God told him to do something, he heard it, and did it.  We would be wise to do the same.  So what did David do?  #1 He loved God’s Word.  #2 He hated evil doers – he cut them off, he had nothing to do with them.  #3 He was skilled. – first with a sling, then with a harp, then with a sword, then with men.  #4 He most wanted, what God wanted.  That’s why Goliath was in his sights the moment he heard him disrespect the LORD, the God of Israel.  #5 He repented quickly, he didn’t hide his sin, he admitted it and turned from it.  #6 He was a worshipper, He not only loved God’s Word – the commands which give life, but He loved God’s presence.  The more He spent time there, the more he longed to remain there.  He sang songs to Him.  He didn’t care what other people thought about him.  He wasn’t worried about his reputation.  He danced before the LORD with all his might, even when his own wife held him in contempt.  That just exposed her, not him.  #7 He declared.  He was always declaring to himself and God, who God was, what God said, and what he will do in response to it. What started as a declaration became a regulator of his own actions.  #8 - He guarded his heart.  He was practically wise.  I will set before my eyes no unclean thing, the deeds of faithfulness men I hate, they will not cling to me.  #9 – He chose wise counselors -  While most Kings killed the prophets who said what they didn’t like, David chose Nathan as one of his inner circle.  And just because He was king, didn’t mean he thought he was right all the time – he humbled himself under the counsel of others.  #10  He had courage.  Because His trust was in the LORD.  Whether facing the lion, or the bear, Goliath, or vast armies.  His courage defined him because His trust was in the LORD.  #11 – He would not touch God’s anointed.  He didn’t slander, or raise a hand against them.  Not even when well intending friends pointed out that He was the rightful King.  And this was a perfect opportunity that God gave him!  He would not raise his hand or his mouth against whom God had placed in authority.  He left the timing up to God.   Praying that you will do what David did, so you will gain a heart like David’s heart. So you do everything God wants you to do.  Praying that you develop a hunger and thirst for God’s Word.  It is life and success for you.  Praying that you will have nothing to do with those who do evil, no matter how nice they are, or nice to you.  Praying that you will get highly skilled in something, that God wants you to become skilled in.  Praying that your greatest desires are always what God wants.  Praying that you will be quick to repent, that you will long for His presence because you choose to spend time there.  Praying that you will learn to declare – like David declared, that you will guard your heart, and guard your eyes, that you will surround yourself with obeyers – as your counselors.  Praying that you will walk in courage – because your trust is always in the LORD, and praying that you will never touch God’s anointed.  So God can honor you, and bless you, and lift you up in due time.  Praying that you will learn to do what David did, so you can gain a heart like David’s heart.  A heart after God – so you will do everything He wants you to do.   
 
Love you all,
dad