This morning I made my way to 2 Samuel chapter 8 where we find King David is in the midst of cleaning house (I wish someone would come clean mine). Unfortunately, his type of cleaning house was not literal, but more figurative. David was conquering the surrounding nations in the land of Canaan.
In the prior chapter God had promised him that he would have rest from his enemies, but first he had to subdue them. As David experienced victory after victory in battle, he never became confused about the source of his strength. His strength came from the Lord. He never became self-confident or over-confident in his success. His success was because of the Lord. He never considered the spoils of war as belonging to him, he instead dedicated them back to the Lord.
At this point in David's life, he had all of his priorities in the right place. He didn't want to go anywhere that God did not lead Him. He did not what to do anything that God did not tell Him to do. He was a man after God's own heart. Everything that God placed into his hands, he gave back to God. All of the glory belonged to the Lord!
That's the type of life that I want to live. One where I know who I am, I know whose I am, and I know to whom all of the glory belongs. I want the words of my heart to be,
Not to us, O LORD, not to us but to your name be the glory, because of your love and faithfulness. Psalm 115:1Lord, all that I have, all that I am is because of You! Continue to chip away at the rough edges of my heart until all that is left brings you glory! I offer myself to you as a living sacrifice, as a spiritual act of worship. May it be pleasing in your sight.
