A Heart That Obeys

(Continuing my study of Elizabeth George's book "A Woman After God's Own Heart")

"And Samuel said to Saul 'You have done foolishly. You have not kept the commandment of the Lord your God, which He commanded you. For now the Lord would have established your kingdom over Israel forever. But now your kingdom shall not continue. The Lord has sought for Himself a man after His own heart, and the Lord has commanded him to be commander over His people, because you have not kept what the Lord commanded you'." -1 Samuel 13:13-14

David and Saul were men with two very different hearts.

DAVID:

• Willing to obey
• Served God
• Cared for God's will
• Had a heart centered on God
• Consistently sought God
• Humble

SAUL:

• Satisfied with external acts of sacrifice, not truly obedient
• Served himself
• Cared for his own will
• Had a heart centered on himself
• Devotion to God was sporadic
• Proud

Elizabeth George breaks down a "Heart that Obeys" into 5 steps:

1. Concentrate on doing what is right.
"Finally brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy-meditate on these things." Philippians 4:8

Seek God's guidance through scripture and prayer.

"In all your ways acknowledge Him and He shall direct your paths." Proverbs 3:6

2. Cease doing what is wrong.

Stop any activity contrary to God's will immediately. It's not enough to ask forgiveness later if you have continued to sin after you realized you were doing so. God forgives us, but He expects that we will make an effort to change the behavior.

"For in that He Himself has suffered, being tempted, He is able to aid those who are tempted." Hebrews 2:18

3. Confess any wrong.

God expects us to acknowledge our sin and ask forgiveness. I think of how much I appreciate my children when the confess their transgressions before I even have a chance to catch them at it and confront them.

"If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." 1 John 1:8-9

4. Clear things with others.

While it is important to confess our sins to God, it is also important to apologize to those who have been hurt by our sinful actions. While this is not always possible, we should make every effort to set things right with those we have transgressed against.

5. Continue on as soon as possible.

God does not want us to dwell in our sins. He wants us to learn from them and move on with our lives, serving Him to the best of our abilities.

"Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead. I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus." Philippians 3:13-14