What does it mean when scripture refers to David as ‘a man after God’s own heart’? “After removing Saul, he made David their king. God 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 13:22   What did David do that pleased God?   I have concluded that God’s answer was also given here- “he will do everything I want him to do”.   David was willing to submit to God’s will and do as He commanded.  In 1 Samuel 15:22, Samuel was speaking to Saul about God’s heart’s desire.   But Samuel replied:  “Does the Lord delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the Lord?  To obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed is better than the fat of rams.”   God commanded the Israelites to do various sacrifice rituals to atone for their sins.  It was a temporary fix to the issue of sin but showed their obedience to God’s laws and their devotion to Him.  However, Samuel was telling Saul that following God and pleasing him was about more than following His laws.  It was about following God with your heart in obedience.  Obedience seems to be the key to God’s heart and our being willing to do submit to God’s will for our lives.  If you look at David’s life, you quickly see that he did not do everything right and did not follow God’s laws all the time.  He sinned big time with the intentional killing of Uriah and the lusting after Bathsheba.  However, David accepted his discipline from God and was repentant.  He was obedient in following the Lord and his faith never wavered.  He trust God 100% and submitted to God’s will in his life.

What does that mean for you and me?  Obedience in faith and worship = putting God first above all else and believing in His Son.  Obedience in our daily walk = seeking to please God by loving Him and others.  That means spending time with Him daily in prayer and in His Word.  It also means having Jesus’ attitude of compassion and love for those around us.  Obedience in service = working by ourselves and/or with other Christians to show the world Jesus by reflecting Him in our words and deeds.  God wants all of our heart transformed to work for Him with joy, love, obedience, in purity, devotion, kindness, compassion, with forgiveness for ourselves and others, in peace, faith and humility.  There is so much God wants for us and striving through the power of the Holy Spirit to live for God makes us a people after God’s heart.  Those things are reflected in a heart of obedience, submission and love.  It is a life-long process that brings and bears much fruit and blessings to us from God.

Striving to walk each day in obedience to God with heart that is pleasing to Him,

Linda