After God's Own Heart

I desire to be special- that is set apart! However, to be set apart, I need to mature and grow in the ways and purpose in which God planned for me in order to one day hear, “Mary, you are a woman after God’s own heart.” 

 

After God's Own Heart

 

God said of David,

“He is a man after my own heart.”

This set David apart,

For God was in the depth of David’s love

Though there was still sin to speak of.

God wants the same for me-

An abiding relationship;

His story upon my lip.

God wants a bond – a passion for him;

Devoted action, not reaction on a whim.

God wants me in His word;

He wants me, ministry, stirred.

He wants my voice, in Godly love, heard.

God wants my dependance, faithfulness, and trust,

That’s a must. 

Maybe, then, I will hear from God,

“Mary, you are a woman after God’s own heart.”

That would be a start;

And like David,

Being set apart.

 

Mary Crisp Jameson 12/11/2025 

 

“And when He had removed him, He raised up unto them David to be their king; to whom also He gave their testimony, and said, I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after mine own heart, which shall fulfil all My will.” Acts 13:22 

 

“But now thy kingdom shall not continue: the Lord hath sought him a man after his own heart…” 1 Samuel 13:14a  

 

 

Day 3 on Prayer

I have been thinking a lot about my prayer life and found a good prayer by David in Psalm 19:131-14. David made his prayer very personal and gave the Lord honor. “Keep your servant also from willful sins. May they not rule over me. Then I will be blameless, innocent of great transgression. May these words of my mouth and this meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer.” 

     Solomon also issued up a good prayer in Chronicles 6. I like how he begins by giving God His rightful honor, and the end acknowledges God’s power. “O Lord, God of Israel, there is no God like You, in heaven or on earth…You spoke with Your mouth, and with Your hand have fullfilled it this day.” 

     I also need to consider the prayer Jesus prayed just before He was nailed to the cross. Jesus was burdened when He prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will.” Jesus was under a heavy fearful, painful weight, but He remained willing to do God’s will. Jesus completely put His request in God’s hands and was willing to accept God’s answer. 

     I need to do the same.  

Faith Event and God-Wink Moments

Faith Events and God-Wink Moments

 

I have a great need to build my faith. I would like it to be as strong as David’s confidence was when he confronted Goliath. How did David build such faith? The answer could be that, as a shepherd, he spent hours alone in the wilderness tending sheep and talking to God. He listened for God’s voice. He grew his faith over time in quiet moments alone with God. 

     I would also like my faith to be as strong as Esther’s was when she went before the King without being summoned to do so. She could have been killed, but her faith was strong enough to depend upon God for her safety. How did this happen? She not only prayed and fasted but also asked her people to do the same. Here again, I see someone who trusted because she had prepared over a course of time, and she had talked with God, making Him her priority.  

     I have to admit, I have had not had many giants to face in my life. Although my faith was weak, I had victories. God has also given me God-wink moments; many I simply did not even recognize at the time. 

     I think I will use the day to try and remember some of those moments and be thankful to God for them. 

A Song of Praise

 I love reading the Book of Psalm. David wrote many songs of praise to God. As I was reading one this morning, I felt the desire to write one of my own. It is as follows: 

A Song of Praise 

I will praise you, O Lord;

With my whole heart, I praise.

By Your love, You amaze!

I praise Your marvelous glory

Oh, let it be my daily story!

I praise for how my joy is complete

As I lay my burdens at your feet. 

I praise you in the morning.

I praise you at the noon of day.

I praise you in every way.

I praise your majestic name

For how it sets my heart aflame.

I praise you in the night.

I praise You as the King of Kings;

Heaven’s reigning Knight.

 

Mary Crisp Jameson. 5/5/2023 

 

“I will praise thee, O Lord, with my whole heart; I will shew forth all thy marvellous works.” Psalm 9:1 KJV

My Shining Knight

     David was a man "after God's own heart," yet he had flaws.  However, God loved him still, and continued to be with David, giving him victory throughout the battles and wars being fought.  David acknowledged God's mighty hand in his life when he wrote his song of praise to the Lord in 2 Samuel 22.  May we all acknowledge God's hand in our life.  The following is my praise for today.

      My Shining Knight!

The Lord is the rock of all,

My support, my solid wall.
He is my shield, the power who saves me
from troubles as deep as the spacious sea.
At the blast of His breathe and voice,
Let me rejoice, 
For He is my refuge;
My God, in whom I praise.

The heavens open at His command;

Power and force form from God's right hand. 
Dark clouds roll beneath his feet;
Only He can wash my body sweet. 
My Lord soars on the wings of the wind;
Blessings, sorrow -He evens the blend. 
His voice resounds; the Lord thunders!
View His wonders!

The Lord is my rescuer, my strength;

Only He knows my heart, to its depth and length.
He is my light in the night;
The spring of life, my shining Knight. 
He is the lamp unto my feet;
In Him, my heart rejoices with a hammering beat.

Who, but God, is my solid rock;
The Shepherd over all His flock?
Only He is worthy of praise;
Only He issues joy over my days. 

The Lord is like the light in morning's sunrise,

Working miracles within mine own eyes.
He is the glistening diamond of early morning dew;
                Praise Him!  Praise Him!
For He will recue, save, and the soul renew,
Like a kiss in the night; My shining Knight!
                             Mary Crisp Jameson

Goliath And The Stone

     Goliath was a very big giant of a man. He was so big even the mighty men of war trembled in his presence. According to scripture Goliath was “six cubits and a span.” The interpretation I found shows this to be 9 to 10 feet. We are also told that Goliath wore a coat weighing “five thousand shekels of brass.” I looked this up and found it to be 125 pounds. The weight of this along would put most men to the ground.  Can you imagine a small boy in his youth fearless enough to stand up to this huge giant with only a few stones?
     Just what makes some men and women tremble or get sick and depressed while others, going through similar troubling situations, meet people with a smile, never displaying their problems?  Why can some people face their problems in order to find solutions and embrace life while others hide themselves in self-pity?  How can we all strive to eliminate anxiety and worry?  I would like to believe it is sincere faith in a God who promises to walk with us through the trials of life.    
     The way I would like to spell F-A-I-T-H is like this:

“ Fear that has said its prayers”

  Abort self-pity
  Implant the positive
  Trust in God with all your heart
  Hydrate yourself in His Word

     When David went out to meet Goliath, he showed great faith.  David said, “The Lord that delivered me out of the paw of the lion, and out of the paw of the bear, he will deliver me out of the hand of this Philistine.”  There was no doubt in David’s mind that he would kill Goliath that day as he shouted, “Thou cometh to me with a sword, and with a spear, and with a shield: but I come to thee in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel…” 

     When faced with problems so huge we see no way to overcome them, it would be good to remember the slogan I saw on a billboard recently, “For every Goliath, there is a stone.”  

Win! Place! Show!

     Win! Place! Show! What does it take? The right bet on the right thoroughbred horse in the right race.

      According to one article I read, a thoroughbred has a small yet elegant head with a high chest. Their profile is straight and the neck long with well-sloped shoulders. It is handsome, alert, and spirited with boundless courage and immense stamina. The breed is known for endurance, agility, and a big heart.

     When I occasionally attend the Oaklawn horse races, excitement runs high as I watch the thoroughbreds enter the track. I look at their coloring, the way they hold their head, and the spirit of their gait. I have to admit, some are just better looking than others. I listen to the gasp in the crowd when a jockey has a problem getting his horse in the gate. However, the horses are all soon off and running with breakneck speed only to either lag behind, overcome another, or stretch out their legs, running neck to neck, through the finish line. As always, in the game of racing, the favorites nor the best looking ones, do not always win.
     I wonder if that is why Jesus did not always select the most upstanding, handsome, or the most favored people to do His work. Maybe they had to learn to run with endurance, agility, and heart to become thoroughbreds.
     Jonah was afraid, lacked faith, and was stubborn. He ran from God’s call, but after being swallowed by the whale and given a second chance, he learned not to defy God and became a thoroughbred. Moses had murdered a man and escaped to the wilderness when he was called. He argued with God that he could not do what God was asking, but in the end Moses became strong, obedient, and ran with stamina. He faltered at times but God gave him courage, faith, and endurance. Samson was given supernatural strength, but he allowed his weakness toward an untruthworthy woman to rob him of that strength. At the end of his life he turned to God, regained his strength, and showed great courage. David was short in statute and just a boy when he killed Goliath. The people did not see him as a strong and mighty soldier for the king’s army, but God gave David the strength to kill a giant with only a slingshot and a small stone. Zacchaeus was a wee little man who could not see above the crowd, yet Jesus offered him a special invitation. Zacchaeus was converted and became a thoroughbred.
     I believe thoroughbreds are formed through a strong and daily relationship with God. Jesus provides so many examples of endurance, heart, courage, and stamina. Being a thoroughbred does not necessarily mean being a favorite among men, but becoming a thoroughbred does make a difference on whether you win, place, or show in life.
     I have a long way to go, but I pray, as I sit here in "A Friendly Shade" that although I falter at times, God will mold me into a thoroughbred for Christ.