A Devotional Thought From 1 Kings

And the Lord said unto David my father, Whereas it was in thine heart to build an house unto my name, thou didst well that it was in thine heart.     1 Kings 8:18

Solomon here recounts a statement that God made to his father David. David, as you may recall, wanted to build a house (temple) for his LORD. God would not allow it because of David’s bloodied warrior hands. Bur God, who looks on the hearts of men and women knew that David desired to honor Him with such a place of worship, and said (as it were) “Even though I will not allow you to be the builder of My house, David, I know your heart, and your aspiration to glorify me in this way was a good thing. The very fact that this was the intention in your heart, though you could not accomplish your goal, was a good and blessed thing.”

The attitude of the heart is tremendously important in the believer’s life. We can’t always do the things we dream of doing for God, but the fact that in our hearts we have that desire is a good thing, a deep spiritual thing, and God sees it and blesses it.

An old gospel standard by Dr. Bennie Triplett, popular in the 1950’s and ‘60’s, asks: “How about your heart? Is it right with God?” How about the attitudes of your heart? Do you want to bring Him glory by your life and actions, behaviors and dreams? That’s a good thing. Follow your dreams and see what glorious things God allows you to do for Him. And, even if you do not have the privilege of doing all your dreams and hopes for His glory, having it in your heart to glorify the Lord is a good thing, and you do well.