After removing Saul, he made David their king. He testified concerning him: “I have found David son of Jesse a man after my own heart; he will do everything I want him to do.” Acts chapter 13 verse 22
What made David a man after God’s own heart?
I have been pondering the question of what made David a man after God’s own heart and how can I learn from his life and become a woman after God’s own heart?
Although David was a flawed human and committed a major sin against God (his affair with Bathsheba and later orchestrating the death of Bathsheba’s husband is a widely known part of David’s story) he was called a man after God’s own heart.
Lessons from David
For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him.
2 Chronicles chapter16 verse 9
Andrew Wommack explains in Lessons from David: How to be a Giant Killer, that, “the word perfect in this verse doesn’t mean sinless or problem free. It means someone whose heart is fully committed, completely belonging to the Lord; someone who is seeking God with their whole heart.
“God passed over an entire nation, seven older brothers – everybody – to find David. The Lord put honour, favour, and blessing upon David because David had put honour, favour, and blessing upon the Lord.”
The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart. 1 Samuel chapter16 verse 7
We can often limit ourselves and others through our thoughts and relying on our own wisdom and strength. We can make excuses for doing or not doing certain things. I know I have had the tendency to worry too much and have been concerned about pleasing others when I have needed to instead trust God and live to please him. God is not necessarily looking for people with exceptional talent, education, or natural abilities, he is looking for a heart that seeks after Him.
Wommack says, “…embrace the wisdom of God. Renew your mind to his word so you can see yourself the way He sees you. Understand the riches he placed within your born-again spirit and how you can experience them day-by-day.”
David trusted God with his battles, David obeyed God and sought him wholeheartedly. David accepted responsibility for his own actions and sincerely repented when he sinned.
Developing heart attitudes
We need to develop heart attitudes that are like God’s.
These could include integrity, humility, mercy, love, to name just a few. The Word teaches us that we need to remain faithful in the small things before being entrusted with bigger things. (See Luke chapter 16 verse 10).
Ron Edmondson lists ten reasons David is called, “A man after God’s own heart.”
They include humble, reverent, respectful, trusting, loving, devoted, recognition, faithful, obedient and repentant (biblestudytools.com).
Serving the Lord
In singleness of your heart, as unto Christ; not with eyeservice, as men pleasers; but as the servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart; with good will doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men. Ephesians chapter 6 verses 5–7
How we serve the Lord will look different for each of us depending on what He has called us to do. Whatever it is we feel God wants us to do, we need to strive to do it wholeheartedly, with integrity and humility, as to before God and not for man or man’s praises or recognition.
And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men; knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance; for ye serve the Lord Christ. Colossians chapter 3 verses 23–24
Jo Fuller lives on the beautiful Sunshine Coast with her husband, son and daughter. Jo is a teacher with an education in journalism and early childhood who loves to spend time with her family and enjoys reading and writing whenever she can.
