When have you last reflected on the desires of your heart? The Lord knows our deepest longings but do those close to us know? Solomon knew what was in David, his father’s heart.

Life can be such a fast-lane adventure that we rarely slow down for some introspective thinking. Are you just speeding through life, staying between the lines, negotiating the turns, and owning the passing lanes to stay ahead of those who may slow you down?

Would you try, this very day, to intentionally think about the desires of your heart and what place you are giving the Lord in your life?

Do those closest to you know what priority the Lord has in your heart? Even if you haven’t yet done what you would like to do for the Lord, do they at least know that the Lord’s things have the first place in your heart?

Solomon knew what was in his father David’s heart. His dad had shared it with him. In 1Chronicles 22:7 King David had a meeting with his son to pass along some important information:

My son, I had it in my heart to build a house to the name of the LORD my God. But the word of the LORD came to me, saying … 1Chronicles 22:7-8

It is highly unlikely that Solomon was in the dark about the family secret. He, himself, was one of the outcomes of his father’s adultery. David’s sin was a tragic stain on his record. But think of his restoration to the Lord. Picture him now calling his son to his side to share with him the spiritual desires of his heart.

The Lord had told David that Solomon would have the honour of building the great temple. David accepted the Lord’s reason for assigning the massive undertaking to his son rather than him. The Lord knew it was in David’s heart to build the temple, but he would not be the builder.

So, if David could not be the builder himself, what was the next best thing? David’s heart language was: “I will feverishly and earnestly work to, at least, collect the building supplies required, so the material will be fully stockpiled – ready and waiting for the green light from the Lord to start the project. Even though I won’t be building it, my heart is 100 percent behind the project.” (1Chronicles 22)

Do my children know what the true spiritual pulse of my heart is? Would they say my heart is backing the Lord’s causes 100 percent? What about you?

Solomon was able to address the nation of Israel confidently about the desires of his father’s heart:

Now it was in the heart of David my father to build a house for the name of the LORD, the God of Israel. But the LORD said to David my father, ‘Whereas it was in your heart to build a house for my name, you did well that it was in your heart. 1Kings 8:17-18

Even if you are not yet (and may never be) a Sunday School teacher, or a Christian website administrator, or a recognized shepherd, or a respected Christian volunteer in the community, or a chaplain at the local inner-city mission or a skilled home evangelism worker, or the manager of a Christian Day Care Center or a host or hostess showing kindness to others – even if you are not there yet and perhaps never will be, do you at least have something like that burning in your heart for the Lord?

David had the desire in his heart and even though he came to understand he would never be the temple-builder, he would do as much as he could possibly do in his lifetime to contribute in every conceivable way to advance the cause. Is that my attitude? Is that the way you think – even if you are not to be the one?

“Lord, I have many shortcomings, failures, and inadequacies. As I see it right now, it is not likely I will ever be able to do for You what I would really, really like to do, but the desire of my heart is to do, out of love for You, whatever I can, whenever I can and wherever I can. And Lord, help me to live in such a way that those closest to me will know what I think of You.”

Never underestimate the value the Lord places on the deepest desires of your heart. The Lord said to David: “You did well that it was in your heart.”

Walk carefully and closely with the Lord today,

Warmly in Christ
Peter Ramsay

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