On being a man after God's heart

     First, let me say that I've failed more than succeeded in this area.  I'm speaking our of lessons learned, fears realized and changes brought about by the Lord over my 66 years.  Second, let me say that I've made my life (and the life of others) more difficult than it needed to be because of my own selfishness, misunderstanding, and lack of knowledge.  So, I feel qualified to speak on this very important subject.  I'm not relegating this topic to being a dad, friend or even spouse; as it reaches into all of life.  So, bear with me, have an open mind and maybe be prepared to be offended by the truth God has in his Word.  You and your walk with God are always important to Him and should be to you as well.
     In a perfect world you would have been born into a loving Christ centered world to Christian fathers and mothers who told you the truth, lived by the Word and disciplined you according to God's instruction.  You would have grown up loving Jesus more than anyone in your life and at the proper time would have separated yourself from the world to have Jesus live through you in such a way that all anyone could see would be Jesus himself living in you.  THAT is the ideal beginning!  You and I weren't born nor raised that way though because of the curse of sin, unbelieving (or unpracticing) parents, broken families, and the school of hard knocks.  IF you are a man after God's heart,  you will have developed his character in your life and people would still see Jesus in your private and public walk with him.  The man after God's heart would have put on unselfishness as his mantle and the love of God his primary motivation (think train engine) in life.  IF you know Christ in this way you would be allowing the Holy Spirit to be the only voice that speaks into your life, you would have a deep desire to always be reading the Word, and your desire to pray continually be the first thought that you have in the morning and the last thought at night.
     How do you measure up?  Does any of what I've just written cause you to squirm?  Does any of this convict your heart?  Has this reminder exposed how you've hurt someone (maybe wife, children, parents)?  Billy Graham's son rebelled at all the above, rode a Harley, carried a .45 and did whatever he wanted.  Billy prayed and his prodigal came home to Jesus he had loved when he was a child.  You and I are no different.  We, too, need to return to our first love if ever we want to be men after God's own heart.  There is NOTHING within us that we can do to accomplish this task on our own other than surrender to the Lord Jesus who surrendered all so that we might have life and life eternal.  Have you lived your life on your own terms?  Repent and return.  Have you realized how you have compromised the truth you know in your private and public lives?  Repent and return.  You are only one step away from God's purpose in your life.  Remember, it's always your choice.