A blessing from a respected friend or acquaintance often empowers us to accomplish things that would normally be beyond our ability.
Think about it for a moment. You have something burning in your heart, yet you lack the confidence to step out of your comfort zone. You’ve prayed about it and, while you feel this may be something the Lord has called you to do, you’re not totally sure. Days pass and that fire in your heart doesn’t die; rather, it burns hotter to the point of consuming your every thought. Unexpectedly, you happen to run into an old friend for whom you’ve held great respect, someone with integrity and soundness in their walk with God. The unplanned meeting opens the door to share your heart. His/her face lights up as he/she speaks with unquestionable authority: “Go, my friend, and do what God has put on your heart, for He is with you.”
You’re empowered. You’re convinced that God has indeed birthed this fiery passion in your soul. You feel supernaturally strengthened and humbly confident in God’s call and His ability to see you through no matter the obstacles that come your way.
This, in fact, is what exactly David experienced when Nathan spoke to David who had such a passion burning in his soul. “And Nathan said to the king, Go, do all that is in thine heart; for the LORD is with thee.” (2 Samuel 7:3)
David highly respected Nathan as a prophet of God and knew that Nathan’s encouragement to do what was in his heart had its roots in God’s will—God’s heart.
There’s a lot in this simple verse: (1) Nathan’s integrity and trustworthiness stood unquestioned; (2) David’s desire was also God’s desire; (3) David followed the desire of his heart because he was encouraged by Nathan.
Let’s learn that our integrity and trustworthiness are essential to be used of God as Nathan was. David never questioned Nathan – his reputation had preceded him and was unquestionable.
Let’s learn also that David’s desire was also God’s desire. Psalm 37:4-5 further explains this: “Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart. Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass.” Not only does the Lord gives us the desires of our heart, he puts desires in our heart and then ignites that passion in our hearts to do those things which He sovereignly designed.
Finally, let’s learn that David was the recipient of encouragement, not only by Nathan but by God. Nathan’s approval of David’s desire was interpreted by David as God’s approval because of Nathan’s integrity as a prophet of God.
Can you see the circle? Integrity and trustworthiness was the channel through which God brought about His purposes through David as David was encouraged by a prophet of God, a man of integrity and trust.
Integrity and trust are essential in a Christian’s life. Without it, we limit what God can accomplish through us. May we all seek to improve our integrity and trust by living a life unblemished by unrighteousness and sin. May we ever seek to be holy even as God is holy so then we, too, will become trustworthy to perform the sovereign will of God as He stirs our heart with His desires, His plans, and His purposes.
Father, I look at my life and know I have fallen short of the mark in many ways. Guide me and show me how to be trustworthy and honorable as Your Word grows in me. Create in me a pure heart and renew a right spirit within me. Open my heart and cause Your desires to be my desires and then by Your power, use me to perform Your will, bringing glory to You as my King and Sovereign over all. In Jesus’ name, by His blood, and for His glory alone, amen and amen.
© Jan Ross
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