In Acts 13:22 David is described as, ” a man after My own heart, who will do all My will.” What a great way to be described by God! What would it take to be described in such a way?
Most of us would say seeking God’s heart means going to worship services or Mass and loving one another. That doesn’t sound so complicated until we realize loving others means speaking the truth, even in an unfriendly culture. It means making choices so that our daily lives are a response to God’s gift of salvation and His daily provisions. It is about responding to the noise from our culture that says holy living isn’t possible. Seeking God’s heart is listening to His voice and refusing to be quiet when we are nudged by the Holy Spirit to speak the truth.
Those who seek God’s heart are His watchmen. “I have set watchmen on your walls, O Jerusalem; they shall never hold their peace day or night. You who make mention of the Lord, do not keep silent, and give Him no rest until He establishes and until He makes Jerusalem a praise of the earth.” Isaiah 62:6-7
Watchmen on the walls of a besieged city are given the duty to watch and give warning of the enemy. As faithful watchmen, we endure the hardness of stiff-necked men and yet continue to present peace at the throne of grace. Look closely at the words in Isaiah and notice that prayer is the way we hold our peace day and night! Isaiah is commanded not to be quiet, he is told to petition the Lord and “give Him no rest”. Just as in the time of Isaiah, God pours out a spirit of prayer on us.
Imagine if we would be like Aaron and Hur and prayed faithfully for our leaders who seek God’s ways! Look how Moses lifted up his hands until Israel found victory over Amalek with the support of Aaron and Hur! Moses brought victory to the Israelites against their enemy. In the same way we lift the hands of those speaking the truth through our prayers.
“So Joshua did as Moses said to him, and fought with Amalek. And Moses, Aaron, and Hur went up to the top of the hill. And so it was, when Moses held up his hand, that Israel prevailed; and when he let down his hand, Amalek prevailed. But Moses’ hands became heavy; so they took a stone and put it under him, and he sat on it. And Aaron and Hur supported his hands, one on one side and the other on the other side; and his hands were steady until the going down of the sun.” Exodus 17:10-15
Let us not grow weary. Galatians 6:9 “And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart.” Join me in the life of a watchman. We fit our feet with the readiness that comes from the Gospel of Peace and wear the helmet of salvation. This is the helmet which covers and protects our minds with God’s Holy Word; the helmet which gives us understanding of all things through eyes of salvation. We stand firm on the wall with the truth buckled around our waist and pray in the Spirit on all occasions and requests. As watchmen we demonstrate our love for God and one another by becoming like Ruth, whose daily choices revealed her faith in Israel’s Redeemer. Isaiah 30:15-18