Something I genuinely desire for my life is to be a man after God’s own heart.
King David was also described as a man after God’s own heart. Even after all the sexual immorality, adultery and murder that he committed, King David had the heart of God. That should encourage us men. I know it encourages me; it lets me know that even in our failures and sin we still can get to God’s heart.
What are the qualities that embody this kind of man?
First off, what does society say a real man is? You know the world’s definition of a real man. My objective is to observe what the world says makes a man and turn the other way and run as fast as I can from that and run towards the Lord’s definition of a man. I believe there are many different attributes to the worldly man out there.
Let’s take a look at those for a second.
More often times than not, if you don’t fart and burp the loudest or grow a Paul Bunyan backwoods beard you could by the world’s standards not be considered as a real man!!! HAHAHA
Now that’s ridiculous!!! But let’s get real here for a moment.
The world says if you don’t make enough money and drive the latest and most expensive car, then you’re not a man. Lie.
The world says if you don’t look like Brad Pitt and don’t have the perfect male physique then you’re not a man. Lie.
The world says if you don’t sleep around and go after sexual conquests night after night than you’re not man. Lie.
The world says if you don’t have the status, power, the job and great accomplishment and you’re not sleeping with your girlfriend than you’re not a real man. Another Lie.
The world says guys don’t cry and you should be ashamed of your struggles and that you can’t be transparent with people. Another Lie.
All these are lies from the pit of hell that satan wants us to buy to deceive us.
I’ll admit there was a time not too long ago that I was deceived and craved after all these things I mentioned and much more.
But then something happened!!!!
I met King Jesus and He wrecked and is continuing to wreck my view of what a real man is and what he is suppose to look like.
Our biggest need as guys is to be adequate and to feel that we are good enough. And when that need goes unmet we turn to many destructive things and idols to fill the void.
I believe that’s why men turn to alcohol, sex, pornography, drugs, success and even money. We want the validations that were good enough.
There have been times in my life as a guy I’ve felt inadequate and that I wasn’t good enough and turned to a lot of those same things.
So what do we do guys?
We run hard after Christ, the God man, the only one who can validate us as real men and transform us into a man after God’s own heart.
The Holy Spirit is the only one who can break down the fortress walls of our pride and ego. Then and only then after that happens, God can start to mold His man.
Here are some characteristics that I think mark a man of God.
-He Loves the Lord with all his heart and soul.
-He is bold and will stand firm in the face of opposition from the enemy.
-He is Unashamed about his faith in Christ.
-He leads many to Christ.
-He calls out evil.
-He’s firm when he needs to be firm and gentle when he needs to be gentle.
-He is Holy Spirit filled and Spirit led.
-He is honest and transparent about his struggles and failures.
-He reads God’s word often and it’s his final authority.
-He’s a leader.
-He Views women as God’s precious daughters and not objects to be had. He honors and protects them.
-He is a provider and protector.
-He has godly wisdom.
-He is a gentleman.
-He is able to teach and instruct others in God’s word.
-He is humble.
-He is respectful.
-He pursues holiness and purity
-He seeks the Lord daily and pleads the favor of God over his life and loved ones.
-He is a prayer warrior.
-He is selfless and looks out for others needs before his own.
-He takes responsibility.
-He admits when he’s wrong and repents when he sins against God and others.
-He is a servant of all.
I believe this is the kind of man that captures the heart of God.
Do I emulate all these qualities? Nope! Not all of them but I believe I will one day. I think God has a special heart for us guys and He promises in scripture that what ever work He began in us He will bring to completion.
Philippians 1:6
And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.
This is what I want and what I will strive for. I believe this next year on the World Race God will mold these qualities out of me and many other men on my squad to become God’s men, Men after God’s own heart.
It’s time to stop believing the lies of the enemy and the world’s view of what real masculinity is. It’s time to run hard after Christ and the heart of God.
IT’S TIME TO MAN UP!!!
