A Heart for God

“Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers. But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on His law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers (Psalm 1:1-3). The Psalms record David's desire to know God and be known by Him. He sought the Lord's guidance through prayer and had a heart for Him.

David made God his priority: King David made several big mistakes in his life. Yet he was called a man after God's own heart and was mightily used by the Lord to lead the people of Israel. What made him different was the priority he placed on his relationship with our heavenly Father. David delighted in knowing God and sought Him with deep sincerity and seriousness. David wrote, "My soul thirsts for You, my flesh yearns for You in a dry and weary land" (Psalm 63:1, 3-4). He declared that God's love was better than life itself, and pledged to praise Him all his days. His faith sustained him throughout life: when he was a shepherd boy protecting sheep from attacks by wild animals, a young man defeating the giant Goliath, and the nation's anointed leader escaping King Saul's murderous plans. Whatever circumstances David found himself in, he sought the Lord and gave priority to their relationship.

David saw God as the source of life: David viewed the world from a God-centered perspective. He was filled with wonder and astonishment at the Lord's creative power in the world. He relied on God for protection and strength, and proclaimed complete dedication and allegiance to Him in his writings. He prayed frequently with strong passion and conviction. He lifted his prayers and petitions to God in the morning and patiently waited on God for His response: “In the morning, O Lord, You hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before You and wait in expectation” (Psalm 5:3). At night he'd continue communing with God: “On my bed I remember you; I think of you through the watches of the night” (Psalm 63:6). Both actions of praying and meditating on God's character, fueled David’s faith and trust in the Lord.

A heart for God begins with a pure heart: The heart represents the seat of our mind, will, and emotions. When we strive to keep it pure, we will more easily discern the Lord’s plan, submit our will to His, and follow Him obediently. Reaching our full potential begins with a desire to obey Him. However, each of us was born with a nature bent away from God. Jeremiah 17:9 describes the heart as deceitful and inclined towards wickedness. The best way to maintain a pure heart is by meditating on Scripture. The Bible is like a mirror in which we see ourselves as God does, in both successes and failures. Expressing genuine repentance brings God’s forgiveness and cleansing (1 John 1:9). Cooperating with the Holy Spirit’s transforming work will also help us keep our hearts clean. Becoming the person God planned for each of us to be requires an intimate relationship with Him and a desire to obey His Word. Apart from Jesus, we can’t achieve anything of lasting value (John 15:5).