The Servant's Heart

The Lord instructs us to be servants . . . to "prefer others" ahead of ourselves, make ourselves a little lower than the rest.

Ever done this in regards to someone else's happiness? Did things or gave away things or let go of what you had wanted, maybe even counted on-for the sake of someone else's happiness or well being?

Think of a mother, . . . she' hungry herself, . . . there's just a little stew left or maybe one more piece of homemade bread, and she didn't have any . . . but little Suzi or Johnny comes running in . . .

-And mom will give what was rightfully hers away . . . in a moment because of her love for that child.

It isn't easy though sometimes is it? Sometimes there isn't anything fun or that even seems "right" or "fair" about it does it?

I mean we all live in a society that breeds us to "look out for number one" and "get yours before someone else does". Sad really.

There is a whole world of people that will walk right in front of an old lady and not open a door for her-

People suing people all the time for small and large sums-

And pretty much every one else writing contracts to make sure they are protected from everyone else-

How far off from everything have we gotten in this world? How far?!

The Lord instructed that when we enter in, not to take the "best seat", but make sure to give that to someone else-

And to "prefer" each other over ourselves and be "kindly, with affection" from the heart-

But that what we do is not to please man as others are looking on, but from our heart because that desire is there in the first place.

We're to do things as we are doing them directly onto God.

King David was always one of my favorite Bible stories. Why? Well, because he was a tremendous screw-up. When he messed up, he messed up in BIG ways. Yet, God referred to him, even after, as a "Man after His own heart". Wow! A man after God's own heart!

& Here is what I see:

David was young, 13 I think, when he come to know God had annointed him King. He grew into a mighty man. Still, not operating as King, he had the love and adoration of many. He could have have gotten troops of men to overtake Saul but he did not. Why? -Because his heart was to follow the Lord. & The Lord had not moved him into that position- yet. . . .

Later in many places David fell. When he did, he made big blunders, not small ones. My goodness, he took another man's wife as his own and then had the man killed to cover it up. Yet, still, God referred to David as a "man after his own heart". WHY!?!?!?!?!?!?!

I think because when David fell and realized his mistake, he was truly sorry . . . from his heart. It was not lip service. It was not flippant. It grieved him that he had grieved God.

& David was also passionate. When he was in he was A L L in and when he was out, . . . he was probably all o u t too.

Except for the time he disobeyed and did not go into the battle as he was asked---- he was not one to hold back.

He gave everything he had . . . with no promise of "safety" or "happiness".

And for these things I think He found favor in God's eyes. . . . . . .

I marveled once years and years ago when I read his story. I wasn't even in church or anything at that time. Still, in it I saw hope. I mean, if God could find favor in him . . . with all that he had done, surely there was hope for me also. & I prayed that someday God would make me a "Woman after His own heart."

Not sure that has been achieved . . . but He's still workin' on it . . .

I do know I fail sometimes at not getting into that "protect yourself at all costs" mindset-

In conversation just yesterday with someone that was concerned with what they were losing or what they would have to do to achieve a certain end result--- had me thinking all the same way.

Then I started wondering about my own well being, and how to make sure that I was being considered or whatever . . .

God forgive me.

The truth is, my life is the same place it was before, . . . in His hand. His instructions to me is to love Him with all my heart, mind, soul + strength and love my neighbors (or everyone else) as myself.

So- I'm going to try to make sure that I help the ones around me, . . . that I love even when I am not loved back, and that I give everything I have, . . . because it's all I have . . .

And leave the rest to God.

God Bless_