Beth Moore - A Heart Like His: Devotional Journal

O f all the characters in Scripture, none appeal to me exactly like David. I guess I identify with him so much because he was such a man of extremes. Nobody loved God with the abandoned passion of David. However, in one of those incredible contradictions, nobody exceeded David for wickedness. First, David shows me what a vibrant relationship with God can look likea Heart Like His. Then he shows me the evil that dwells in a heart far from Godthe evil that dwells in my heart apart from Christ.

In this devotional journal, you will find chronological tidbits from the life of David, following the life of a man with a heart for God. You will find, however, that they are also descriptive of the seasons of our lives. David experienced times of confusion, darkness, loneliness, opposition and fulfillment. Our times include many of the same. So I encourage you to use this devotion guide as the Spirit leads and your needs dictate. You may want to walk straight through the time line of the shepherd king by following from the first page to the last.

We can celebrate his virtues and mourn his failures as we learn from both. On the other hand, you may find yourself drawn to parts of David's life that match your present experience or to give you hope in times of trouble. In whatever way you choose to interact with one of the greatest lives ever lived, I pray that on these pages you will visit the shepherd-king David, buteven more sothat you will truly encounter the King of Kings. Thank you for your interest in God's precious Word. May the divine Author bless youas He has blessed methrough my sojourn with the musician king. I only wish I could be with you to hear the discoveries the Spirit will share with you.

I love you. Beth CONTENTS

PSALM 78:70-72 He chose David his servant and took him from the sheep pens; from tending the sheep he brought him to be the shepherd of his people Jacob, of Israel his inheritance. And David shepherded them with integrity of heart; with skillful hands he led them. G od chose David. On the surface, the choice made no sense. But God doesn't work on sense; He works on grace.

Do you find God's activity as fascinating as I do? He loves us, calls us, redeems us, and uses us totally because of who He is. Of David we might think that God called him in spite of the fact that he was a common shepherd. But the facts prove otherwise. God was working in David's life from the beginningthrough the invaluable experience of keeping sheep. EPHESIANS 2:10 We are His making, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared ahead of time that we should walk in them. THE DEEPER QUESTION: Have you discovered the ways God has been workingall of your lifeto prepare you for kingdom service? What experiences, lessons, talents, or hurts do you need to present to Him for His use? __________________________________________ __________________________________________ __________________________________________ __________________________________________ __________________________________________ __________________________________________ __________________________________________ __________________________________________ __________________________________________ __________________________________________ __________________________________________ __________________________________________ __________________________________________ __________________________________________ __________________________________________ __________________________________________ __________________________________________ __________________________________________ __________________________________________ Father, thank you for the assurance that you are always at work in my life.

Help me to see that to follow you never means to throw away who you made me to be.

1 SAMUEL 16:12-13 He sent and had him brought in. He was ruddy, with a fine appearance and handsome features. Then the LORD said, Rise and anoint him; he is the one. So Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the presence of his brothers, and from that day on the Spirit of the LORD came upon David in power. T he Holy Spirit just can't seem to arrive without power, can He? Even in the life of this little shepherd boy, we see testimony of that power again and again.

David would go on to fell a giant and build a kingdom, but all the good that he accomplished would come from one sourcethe power of the Holy Spirit. Samuel's anointing oil may have blurred David's vision when it bathed his eyes that day. But the Spirit's power would help him see things in life that he never dreamed. ACTS 1:8 You will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be My witnesses. THE DEEPER QUESTION: You receive the Holy Spirit when you receive Christ (Rom. 8:9), but you do not automatically experience the Spirit's fullness.

What specific steps can you take today to live your life controlled by the Spirit? __________________________________________ __________________________________________ __________________________________________ __________________________________________ __________________________________________ __________________________________________ __________________________________________ __________________________________________ __________________________________________ __________________________________________ __________________________________________ __________________________________________ __________________________________________ __________________________________________ __________________________________________ __________________________________________ __________________________________________ __________________________________________ __________________________________________ Lord I am amazed that you choose to share so personally this life of mine. Today I need your power. May I surrender to your leadership.

1 SAMUEL 16:19-21 Saul sent messengers to Jesse and said, Send me your son David, who is with the sheep. So Jesse took a donkey loaded with bread, a skin of wine and a young goat and sent them with his son David to Saul. David came to Saul and entered his service.

Saul liked him very much, and David became one of his armor-bearers. W hat should you do when God has called you but you don't know what to do next? After David was anointed by Samuel, he returned to caring for his father's sheep. Mark this down, then, as a good principle: Keep studying God's Word and listening to His voice; but while you're listening, take care of the responsibilities He has given you. Looking back at years of ministry, I have often seen God use that kind of small faithfulness to accomplish more than the great things of which we dream. MATTHEW 25:23 Well done, good and faithful slave! You were faithful over a few things; I will put you in charge of many things.

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