Having a Heart for God

David loved the LORD. He wrote praises to Him. He sang to Him. He revered Him. Even so, David committed horrible sins. He took Uriah's wife, Bathsheba, while Uriah was off fighting the Ammonites at David's command. When Bathsheba conceived, David had Uriah placed in a position that could only lead to his death. (2 Sam 11)

God was so angry with David that He caused the child to die, cursed David's lineage with bloodshed, and promised to take his wives from Him!

Now therefore the sword shall never depart from thine house; because thou hast despised Me, and hast taken the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be thy wife. Thus saith the LORD, Behold, I will raise up evil against thee out of thine own house, and I will take thy wives before thine eyes, and give them unto thy neighbor, and he shall lie with thy wives in the sight of this sun. -- 2 Sam 12:10 - 11.

Notice that God says that David's sin reflected a lack of regard of the highest level: "thou hast despised Me"! To understand why God punishes us for sin, we must start with understanding how God views sin. We see clearly here that He sees it as the ultimate disrespect. Today, we have the idea that because God loves us, He would never harm us. Truly, God loved David.

But now thy kingdom shall not continue: the LORD hath sought Him a man after His own heart, and the LORD hath commanded him to be captain over His people, because thou hast not kept that which the LORD commanded thee. -- 1 Sam 13:14

But God still punished David. He did not just look the other way. No, David's life after this sin was much more difficult. He faced one serious problem after another. He had problems in his family, and problems in his kingdom. I believe the only thing that kept him was the fact that he still had a heart for God.

To have a heart for God is to consider Him above all else, to put what He regards above all else. David certainly had a heart for what God was concerned with in his day. He fought to free Israel from the sinful nations around them. He fought to keep God on the throne of Israel's heart. He didn't even fight Goliath just to be a hero. No, He fought Goliath, because Goliath disrespected God. David was truly into honoring God for the one true God He is.

We see David's passion for God in many of his Psalms. He speaks intimately to Him, committing all he has unto His care. He doesn't just trust Him. He truly believes Him. There's a familiarity to their relationship. God is not just his God in name. No, He is David's God in truth.

Draw nigh to God, and He will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded. -- Jam 4:8

I often return to the Psalms to be reminded of their relationship. Wherever David was obedient, we see God blessing, guiding, and delivering David. Wherever David was sinful, we see God reenforcing His boundaries clearly. Indeed, David was sorely punished for his sins, and greatly blessed for his obedience. Through it all David continues to acknowledge that God does right by him. He doesn't take the attitude that he should be blessed regardless. No, he fully understands that he deserves God's wrath.

Unto Thee, O LORD, do I lift up my soul. -- Psa 25:1

If the holy God of Heaven is to be our God, we, too, must take on this attitude. Like David, we must place ourselves in His care. Even in His wrath, He is merciful. Even when we are at our best, we deserve His wrath. We must seriously repent of our sins, but we need also remember that it is His mercy that keeps us.

Remember, O LORD, Thy tender mercies and Thy lovingkindness; for they have been ever of old. -- Psa 25:6

All the paths of the LORD are mercy and truth unto such as keep His covenant and His testimonies. -- Psa 25:10

Note that David attested to the need to be obedient. He was a man after God's own heart who understood the price of sin. He shed innocent blood to get what he wanted, greatly disrespecting the God he loved, but he sincerely repented and did not commit that sin again.

Like David, we are guilty of shedding innocent blood. We need to repent, too; but also, we need to get busy about following His call to not allow the shedding of innocent blood. Failing to do otherwise leaves us at odds with God, because even ignoring shedding of innocent blood is sin to Him.

That innocent blood be not shed in thy land, which the LORD thy God giveth thee for an inheritance, and so blood be upon thee. -- Deu 19:10

Some have mistakenly argued that this only applied to Israel. No, although this was originally written to them, it is like many other things no serious person would argue against. It basically assures us that nations are destroyed by the shedding of innocent blood, and there are other Scriptures that back this up.

Therefore, as I live, saith the Lord God, I will prepare thee unto blood, and blood shall pursue thee; sith thou hast not hated blood, even blood shall pursue thee. -- Eze 35:6

Acceptance of the shedding of blood brings bloodshed to a nation. As a nation, we not only accept the shedding of innocent blood, we promote it.

Yea, they sacrificed their sons and their daughters unto devils, and shed innocent blood, even the blood of their sons and of their daughters, whom they sacrificed unto the idols of Canaan: and the land was polluted with blood. -- Psa 106:37, 38

We need to have a heart like David. When God called him on his sin, he wept and repented. We have wept, but not many have repented like they truly meant it. No, many still turn a blind eye and deaf ear -- expecting that God will forgive them, while they remain in their sin. In reality they despise God, because they do not respect Him enough to obey Him.

Remaining in Him

"As the Father has loved Me, so have I loved you. Now remain in My love. If you obey My commands, you will remain in My love, just as I have obeyed My Father's commands and remain in His love." -- Joh 15:9-10

Starting the day with praise is one of the best ways to remain in Him. It gets us off on the right foot. If you have yet to memorize a few praise songs or Scriptures, take time to do so. It will add a spring to your step and help keep a smile on your face. As little girls my mother put my sisters and I in a children's choir. To this day I sing hymns, both while sleeping and throughout the day. Those within earshot may not enjoy it, but it keeps me smiling.

A thankful heart is pleasing to God. After all, He has provided us with everything. When we stop to think about all that He has done for us, we soon realize that we have much to be thankful for. Even the poorest of us can say He gave us air to breathe, the sun to brighten our day, ground to walk on (really, we could be floating in space), water to drink, and salvation for our souls. Further, in salvation is the hope of all eternity, the blessings of heaven, the mercy of His love . . . one could go on all day. Some of my favorite blessings are the green of spring, the blue of the sky, the shade of trees, and the smell of roses. In His riches He blesses us with so much that thankfulness should be a big part of our lives.

Praise and thankfulness abound when we remain in Him. To be near Him is to appreciate His incomparable kindness. The more we seek Him the more we desire Him and the closer we draw to Him. All good relationships take effort. Our relationship with the Lord is no different. If we are to have His joy, His peace, and His mercy; we must first firm up our relationship with Him. This requires that we put the same type of effort into being His that we would to be a good wife or a responsible husband or a close friend. Truly, our Heavenly Father is the ultimate helper, provider, and confidant. He is also the eternal Sovereign, the One before Whom all knees will bow. So He doesn't just care for us, He is completely in charge of us.

How much wiser it is to submit to the One Who is in complete control than to resist the inevitable. God's rules are unbreakable, meaning that we do not break them without facing consequences. When we remain in Him, He remains in us. When He remains in us, praise and gratitude just naturally flow from our hearts. It is a beautiful circle of love that stems from obedience.

Another Poem, "Mirage"

by Betty Baker Bailey

Deep in my heart there is an ache

That cuts clear to the bone

It comes from hearing children cry

While dying all alone.

I cannot stop the tears that flow.

Nor soothe my wounded heart.

I feel the loss of every one

Gone missing since the start.

They’ll never run or skip or jump.

They’ll never see the sea.

They just fill up the city dump

And bring me to my knees.

These lives that some consider not

To me are treasures lost.

For who can know what one is worth

When in the can one's tossed.

Oh, how I long to hold each one

In motherly embrace;

To gently nurture and caress;

What some consider waste.

Some have said this makes me mean –

To want the children saved.

I ask them to discern between

The caring and depraved.

For those who have the bloody hand

That does the deadly deed,

They are the ones who strike the blow

Based purely upon greed.

It is not wrong to love the child

Nor for its life to plead.

But wrong it is to take such lives

And on their deaths to feed.

To speak, perchance to reach a heart

Bent upon destruction

Is such a noble, worthy cause

As to deserve sanction.

Yet, lies abound ‘bout what we do;

How deeply goes our wound.

For if the truth was ever out

Their profit would be doomed.

The little ones within the womb

Are pawns amidst their game,

Of pow’r and wealth and deadly “health”;

Of ghoulish, fiendish fame.

In Honor of the Children: "Little Innocents"

Little Innocents
by Betty Baker Bailey

How do you sleep little child of my heart?

Are you afraid of the sounds in the dark?

Does your little heart race at your mother’s voice?

Are you terrified of her need for choice?

How do you dream little child all alone?

Do you think how you’d be if you ever got grown?

Do you wish for a kiss or a warm full breast?

Do you long for the peace of a safe night’s rest?

How is your life, little one, do you play?

Do you turn?  Do you kick?  Do you push away?

Do you look at your hands . . . your fingers or toes?

Have you reached out and touched the tip of your nose?

How do you grow, little one, in the womb?

Does each new cell bring the dread of your doom?

Do you hate each change?  Do they bring you fear?

Do you wonder why no one seems to hold you dear?

How do you fight, little one, for your life?

Do your little feet kick hard against the knife?

Do you try to hold on when the suctioning starts?

Does it hurt when they pull your limbs apart?

How do you die, little one, do you cry?

Do you wonder why your mom believed the lie?

Do you grab at the one who breaks your neck?

Do you doubt that anyone gives a heck?

How does it feel when you’re tossed to the side?

Do you hear or see the ones that denied

That you were alive in your mother’s womb;

That they killed you and put you in the tomb?

But what do they do with what’s left of you?

Do they put you away in a box that is new?

Do they sing you a song or shed a tear?

Or do they laugh a little and go have a beer?

Did you know your eyes are worth some money?

That your parts are used like bees use honey?

Though no one cared enough to let you live

They all care to see just how much you can give.

For each precious part there is now a price.

The ones who killed you think it’s quite nice.

They all line their wallets with your skin

And call it “just research” to your kin.

They who took an oath to “do no harm”

Destroy the hope of the unborn.

Taking little lives, they call them naught

Earning a profit from the anguish they’ve wrought.

And where is mom while this is done?

Does she fight for the life of her little one?

Is she screaming for help or running to hide?

Does she not hear the cries from deep down inside?

And dad, who’s so strong, why does he not care?

Does he not know the torture you endure there?

Doesn’t grandma or grandpa hear your plea,

“Will no one . . . no, no one please care for me?”

But wait, little one, surely there must be laws?

To take guiltless life must truly give pause?

Some penalty, some cost, some great price paid

By those who dare make your little light fade?

What justice will judges and rulers give you?

Surely they will defend you, as is your due?

Or will they also turn their face aside

And in their dark hearts the truth hide?

Let’s go to those who claim to speak for God;

Those who say they follow where Jesus trod.

They most surely must be screaming out in anger,

Warning against the impending danger.

Whatever will become of such a nation

Where innocents are given no earthly station;

Where helplessness is such a horrible curse;

And death is meted out to those who nurse?

Oh, where have you gone little one of my heart?

Little eyes, little fingers, little toes, little heart?

Do you look down on this world from Heaven above

And wonder . . . yes, wonder, what is this thing we call love?