Editor’s Note: This is the first in a series of articles on what it means to be a man after God’s heart. Future articles will look at how David and Jesus were men after God’s heart; our call to be men after God’s heart; a closer look at the Scriptures; and a daily plan for becoming men after God’s heart.
“I have found David, son of Jesse, a man after my own heart; he will carry out my every wish” (Acts 13:22b).
“Do not let your hearts be troubled. You have faith in God; have faith also in me. In my Father’s house there are many dwelling places. If there were not, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back again and take you to myself, so that where I am you also may be.” (John 14:1-3)
St. Paul, when he preached in the Antioch synagogue, traced the history of God’s chosen people, culminating in Jesus of Nazareth. (Acts 13:13-43). Pivotal in his account was Jesus’ ancestor, King David, “a man after my own heart; he will carry out my every wish” (Acts 13:22). What a testimonial! Of course, many more things could be said of David: shepherd, psalmist, warrior, man of integrity, adulterer, forgiven sinner, founder of a dynasty. Yet how much is conveyed in the simple description given above! A preacher once said: “The world has yet to see what God can do with one person fully yielded to him.” A young listener resolved, “By the grace of God, I’ll be that person!” He went on to become a great evangelist.
Not all of us are called to be kings, government officials, or renowned preachers, but each of us is essential to the establishment of God’s kingdom on earth. Although the omnipotent God does not need us, each of us is indispensable to him. And each of us can resolve, by the grace of God, to be a person close to his heart, eager to carry out his every wish.
Being a Man After God’s Heart. But still the question remains: “What does it mean to be a man after God’s heart?” The starting point, of course, is to try to understand the desires of God’s heart. Firstly, some of God’s desires are universal. He wants every person on earth to know, love, and serve him. He wants everyone to reject sin so as to live in the freedom of God’s children. He wants everyone to develop a personal friendship with Jesus, nourished by prayer, Scripture, the sacraments, and the Christian community. But God also has specific plans for each of us-plans that he wants to reveal to us individually. That’s why it’s a good idea to begin each day by listening quietly to your heavenly Father. What does he want for you today? Where is he sending you as his agent? What word would he have you feed on and share with someone who needs his love?
Obstacles: Perhaps, the biggest obstacle to being a man after God’s heart is our own fears, worries, and anxieties. It can be easy to become apprehensive about our walk with the Lord. We want to know if we are measuring up to his expectations. Of course we should pay attention to the way we are living our faith, but not to the extent that we become paralyzed by doubts or anxious with worry. Jesus also tells us: “Do not let your hearts be troubled” (John 14:1). If he is going to all the trouble to prepare our heavenly home, we can be sure he is committed to moving our hearts closer to his and helping us get to our heavenly home!
What is it you are worried about right now? Are you concerned because you can’t seem to break out of a particular habit? Do you spend a lot of time blaming yourself for your past mistakes? Instead of focusing on your shortcomings, run to Jesus! Tell him you want to be more like him. Tell him you want to have a heart after his Father’s heart. Jesus will take away not only your sin but also any guilt or anxiety you might be carrying with you. Know that you are his beloved child, and that he is pleased when you come to him and when you desire to do the things that are pleasing to him.
God doesn’t expect us to become completely his overnight. His image, imparted to us at conception and cleansed in baptism, grows day by day as we love him and seek to follow him. Insight by insight, correction by correction, obedient choice by obedient choice, we become more fully the individuals the Father created us to be. That is, we become men after God’s heart.
“Father, with all my heart I want to be a man after your own heart. Deepen my desire to want to carry out your every wish. Light up my path today, and every day, so I can see what would please you. Lord Jesus, I surrender my life to you, and my past and my future. Help me to follow you in faith, and give me the light of your Spirit to guide me on my journey!”
Questions for Reflection/Discussion by Catholic Men
- Why do you think David was called a man after God’s heart? What were some of the specific attributes that made him such a man?
- The articles states that the starting point to understanding what it means to be a man after God’s heart is to first “try to understand the desires of God’s heart.” How would you describe them?
- How would you describe what it means for you to be a man after God’s heart?
- What do you consider to be your obstacles to becoming a man after God’s heart? What steps can you take to overcome them?
- At the end of your meeting pray for one another that each of you would truly be men after God’s heart. Use the prayer at the end of the article as the starting point.
