The Story: Chapter 11 The Bible: 1 Samuel 15-16, 2 Samuel 22, Psalm 59
1 Samuel 15:26 Samuel said to Saul, “I will not go back with you, for you have rejected the LORD’s orders, and the LORD has rejected you from being king over Israel!
Saul has been rejected as king over Israel. Now Samuel is given the task of anointing Saul’s successor. It will be one of the sons of Jesse of Bethlehem, but which one? One by one Jesse’s sons come before Samuel. All are fine looking young men, tall, handsome, they seem to be a great choice. Yet God makes one thing clear:
1 Samuel 16:7 God does not view things the way people do. People look on the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.
Throughout David’s leadership there were moments of obedience and disobedience, moments full of ups and downs. The difference for David was he knew where his heart belonged and that it belonged to the LORD God Almighty. He asked forgiveness when he sinned. He trusted God in times of peril. He praised God in times of prosperity or joy. David’s prayers were always a reflection of his heart, and his heart reflected trust and praise for God.
2 Samuel 22:31-32 The one true God acts in a faithful manner; the LORD’s promise is reliable; he is a shield to all who take shelter in him. Indeed, who is God besides the LORD? Who is a protector besides our God?
Psalm 59:9, 16-17 You are my source of strength. I will wait for you. For God is my refuge. … As for me, I will sing about your strength; I will praise your loyal love in the morning. For you are my refuge and my place of shelter when I face trouble. You are my source of strength. I will sing praises to you. For God is my refuge, the God who loves me.
It is not our outward appearance of Christianity that matters to our Heavenly Father. It is the condition of our heart and He knows the difference.
Today’s Prayer Suggestion: Check the condition of your heart. Is it a heart that reflects trust and praise for God? Offer praise to your Heavenly Father for his faithfulness.
The devotional But the LORD looks at the Heart appeared first on Write From My Heart at
https://writefrommyheartblog.blogspot.com
Email: Dotty Willmon, writefrommyheartblog@gmail.com
The Scriptures quoted are from the NET Bible® http://netbible.com copyright © 1996, 2019 used with permission from Biblical Studies Press, L.L.C. All rights reserved.
General format for WFMH devotionals will follow the pattern of chapters outlined in The Story: The Bible as One Continuing Story of God and His People, M. Lucado & R. Frazee, Zondervan, 2005, 2008, 2011.
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