"Be of good courage, and He shall strengthen
your heart, all those who hope in the Lord."
Psalm 31:24
As if the heat and humidity of a sweltering July isn't hardship enough...
your heart, all those who hope in the Lord."
Psalm 31:24
As if the heat and humidity of a sweltering July isn't hardship enough...
...I've got my spiritual battles to deal with as well. For me, as a follower of Christ, I have to wrestle daily against the allurements of the world, the lusts of the flesh and its inherent weakness, and last but not least, with the devil himself. Who, as every Christian knows, is always walking about seeking someone to devour (1 Peter 5:8). Well, he's not going to devour me!
But as for King David, I love this man. Why? Because I can relate to his love for God, wanting to do the right things, yet often messing up and doing wrong. While at the same time, I admire his boldness and courage in battle. Yet he is often seen in the Scriptures, especially in the Psalms, as weeping before the Lord and openly confessing his fears, and his failures.
King David longed for God's presence. He knew that when he was in God's presence, he experienced deep peace and immense joy. But during the times he was away from God and was giving in to his temptations and lusts, David experienced excruciating guilt and shame. Thus, feeling dirty and condemned, he would quickly fall to his knees and repent of his sins with tears (Psalm 51).
King David was a man who did exploits for the God of Israel. Yet he was a man who, on occasion, would fail God miserably. And that's what I love about him. He was honest. He rejoiced in his military victories and wept in his failures as a man.
The psalms and songs of King David reveal his successes as a warrior, as well as his weaknesses as an ordinary sinner. At times, he pleased God, while at other times he disappointed Him. And isn't that just like me. Praising the Lord one day and pleading with Him to forgive me the next.
King David was a man after God's own heart. And so am I. And so is every man and woman who faithfully seeks God's face. I also believe that all of us have a little of King David inside us, which is a good thing. Amen!
D.B.
But as for King David, I love this man. Why? Because I can relate to his love for God, wanting to do the right things, yet often messing up and doing wrong. While at the same time, I admire his boldness and courage in battle. Yet he is often seen in the Scriptures, especially in the Psalms, as weeping before the Lord and openly confessing his fears, and his failures.
King David longed for God's presence. He knew that when he was in God's presence, he experienced deep peace and immense joy. But during the times he was away from God and was giving in to his temptations and lusts, David experienced excruciating guilt and shame. Thus, feeling dirty and condemned, he would quickly fall to his knees and repent of his sins with tears (Psalm 51).
King David was a man who did exploits for the God of Israel. Yet he was a man who, on occasion, would fail God miserably. And that's what I love about him. He was honest. He rejoiced in his military victories and wept in his failures as a man.
The psalms and songs of King David reveal his successes as a warrior, as well as his weaknesses as an ordinary sinner. At times, he pleased God, while at other times he disappointed Him. And isn't that just like me. Praising the Lord one day and pleading with Him to forgive me the next.
King David was a man after God's own heart. And so am I. And so is every man and woman who faithfully seeks God's face. I also believe that all of us have a little of King David inside us, which is a good thing. Amen!
D.B.