A Woman After God’s Heart

But one of the most important topics was a call to action for many of us. David’s habit of praise, worship, and thanksgiving emphasized the importance of these three things. Ironically, we praise the One who is worthy, yet we’re the ones who receive the blessings.

Clearly articulated through the Psalms are reasons God is worthy of our praise. David called out to God and wept. He became angry and weary. He vented and questioned. But he also loved, respected, and revered God. And although a king himself, he honored the One True King with outbursts of praise. He was a man who learned to enter the presence of God. David was an intelligent man who knew how to command an army.

But those character traits aren’t what made him successful.

He made mistakes and poor choices, but that didn’t make him unsuccessful.

What made David successful was his humble dependence on God for his strength, wisdom, and abilities.

Acts 13:22 tells us, [God] raised up David to be their king, concerning whom He also testified and said, “I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after My heart, who will do all My will.”

In David’s quest to understand the true character of God and his desire to please Him, he was branded with the perfect label — “man after My heart.”

This is why we love the imperfect David. We see a part of ourselves in him. No matter our past, our ever-changing emotions, our disappointments, or our defeats, we want the same God who remained faithful to David to remain faithful to us. We long to approach the throne of Almighty God in the same way that David did — uninhibited, without reservation, and with a sincere heart full of genuine praise. We, then, will become women after God’s heart. Praise the Lord!

Adapted from, “Shining Through the Psalms,” by Deborah Presnell, 2018. Available on Amazon.