Go After God's HeartShembull

United Hearts

Yesterday, we thought for a moment David was about to be King. Yet his allegiance to God kept him from killing Saul. Today, we read Psalm 86, a petition for God’s protection and guidance written by David. Despite Saul’s realization of David’s destiny, he continued hunting him down to kill him. David and his men were eventually driven to live in the land of Israel’s enemies. To protect his family, David had to make allegiances with people at enmity with God. He was surrounded by a culture that opposed everything he believed. David would have felt pulled apart from the depths of his spirit. It was a time like this when David prayed, Teach me Your way, O LORD; I will walk in Your truth; Unite my heart to fear Your name. Psalm 86:11 NKJV

David’s appeal for a united heart was loaded with value for leaders. His request got at the very nature of why we fail. Adam and Eve—the people God chose to lead off all of humanity—ate the apple because the affection of their hearts became divided between their Creator and His creation. James wrote about a double-minded person, unstable in all their ways. Jesus said no one can serve two masters. The Apostle Paul talked about how even he did what he didn’t want to do. We too want to serve God, and we want to serve ourselves. In the midst of one of his most divided moments, David asked for an end to all this. It is here, in the attitude of this prayer, where David's heart after God’s was forged. Are you leading with a divided heart? Do what David did. Ask God to unite it.

Leader Tip: Leaders go unwaveringly after God’s own heart.