He was a murderer.
An adulterer.
A terrible father.
The king of Israel.
And a man after God’s heart.
David, the sweet psalmist of Israel, was a man who epitomized failure. And yet he is named in the infamous Hebrews 11 “faith chapter” and is called a man after God’s own heart.
Maybe Proverbs 24:16 shines light on this: “For a just man falleth seven times, and riseth up again: but the wicked shall fail into mischief.”
Falling is easy–it is natural. But getting up again and admitting our faults; confessing our sins to God; and seeking God to cleanse us from every wicked way–that’s the distinction between a just person and every other person.
With 2017 rapidly falling behind us, let’s not just look at our successes.
That’s right, remember our failures: you didn’t hit the gym as often as promised. You didn’t read your Bible as thoroughly or frequently as planned. And after blowing up at your peers a few times too often, I think you realized you’ve still got that temper. And don’t even get me started on your thought life: I saw that look of anger in your eyes when you were plotting murder.
Yeah, I’ve been there this year.
But why remember our painful failures?
Why relive the moments when we remember the pain we’ve caused others?
And why remind ourselves (for the millionth time this year) that we are not flawless?
Because it’s those little things that count. When David cut off a piece of King Saul’s robe, his heart smote him. Why? It’s not like he killed the man who was angrily hunting him down. Remember, David was completely innocent. But that one small act of dishonor to the Lord’s anointed wrenched his heart. David was careful about the little things. Time and time again, David came before the Lord to plead for forgiveness, such as after his sin with Bathsheba:
“Hide thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities. Create in me a clean heart. O God; and renew a right spirit within me.” Psalm 51: 9, 10
Don’t let those little failures grow. Admit them to our Heavenly Father, asking for His forgiveness and strength. And then begin again with a clean, renewed heart.
Make 2018 a better year.
Be a better brother, sister, parent, spouse, student, or employee.
Be a better you.
A better Christian.
At the end of 2017, will God be able to say that you were a woman or a man after His heart?
Petals With A Purpose 
Thank you Maddy for sharing such beautiful words with us. We do have a tendency to try to forget our failures without acknowledging that some are sin against a holy God. We need the heart of David. To recall, acknowledge them, ask God for forgiviness and move foward. May you be blessed this coming year. God is trully using you. Love, Nana
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Thank you, Nanny! Happy New Year to you, too! And truly, truly, God has been so good this year! Confessing sin and asking His forgiveness has been one thing holding me back this year, and I don’t want it to hold me or others back next year. Love you! 😁❤️❤️
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