A Person After God's Heart

I was reading the book of Acts chapter 13 when verse 22 caught my attention. I became very aware of new emotions going through me and thoughts coming in my mind. I already knew that God had said that David was a man after His own heart. However, it seems that I had read the last statement that goes: “…he will do everything I want him to do” for the first time.

I think I became greatly jealous of this last statement. I am aware of the various powerful writings of David that can only come from a loving, submissive heart dedicated to honor and worship God. But I also know of all the bad stuff David committed. Didn't God allow the good and bad stuff of this mighty man of God to be recorded in the bible and open to us all to teach us about life. Doesn't knowing the challenges and problems faced by the main characters of the bible give us courage to go through our own battles?

It makes me feel especially good because I know that all these great servants of the Lord were simple people with issues like all of us. Doesn't God say that He chooses the foolish things of the world to confound the wise? Some of them have done worst stuff than we will probably ever do in our lifetime. Also some of them have suffered more things than we will probably ever endure in a lifetime. After all, we haven't suffered yet unto death.

Coming back to verse 22, I decided to meditate on the words, questioning and analyzing them carefully. What does God mean by “he will do everything I want him to do.” What does God mean by “everything” specially? How can we know that we are really doing what God wants us to do, and not our own will?

The bible told us that our first parents disobeyed a command of God causing their seed, the human race, and the whole world to be under a curse. Despite the fact that they were warned by the Almighty God that they would die if they disobeyed Him, they did. On the other hand, we learned that Jesus being found in fashion as a man, humbled himself, and become obedient unto death, even the death of the cross (Philippians 2:8). We all know that He was the Word God that came in form of the flesh. He came and fulfilled completely all He was sent to do on earth. Primarily his coming on earth was to destroy the works of the evil one and set us free. He did it! Hallelujah! Thanks Jesus! Praise God!

Where do we stand as disciples of Christ? Although there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, wouldn't it be great to know that we are obeying God in everything in our daily lives? (Romans 8:1). The thought of not surrendering fully bothers me personally because I know that at times I am not doing everything I know to do. Nor do I have the time or the desire to do certain things I feel the Lord wants me to do. Isn't it sad! Can God say that you will do everything He wants you to do? Wouldn't it be great to say that we know one hundred percent what God wants us to do, and to claim that we do it?

While I am still looking for the answer as to how people can know that they are doing everything that God commands, I chose to be still and know that He is the God in control of my life (Psalm 16:8; Psalm 46:10). What about you? Is He the Lord of your life?

Blessed are those who hear the Word of God and obey it! (Luke 11:28)

Marie Monaus