Do You Have the Heart?  – Greg Laurie Devotion – February 17, 2026

Biblical Context

The book of 1 Samuel chronicles a pivotal transition in the history of ancient Israel: the shift from a judgeship led by prophets and charismatic leaders to a monarchy. Written by an unknown author, likely drawing on existing historical records and prophetic traditions, the book covers the life and ministry of Samuel, the last judge and first prophet to anoint kings, and the reigns of Israel’s first two kings, Saul and David. The narrative is set against a backdrop of ongoing conflict with the Philistines and internal spiritual decline. Chapter 16, specifically, marks a critical turning point following God’s rejection of King Saul due to his disobedience. Here, God commissions Samuel to anoint a new king, leading him to the house of Jesse in Bethlehem. This event underscores God’s sovereignty over human institutions and His unique criteria for leadership, often in stark contrast to human expectations. The divine choice of David, a humble shepherd, over his more outwardly impressive brothers, is a testament to God’s profound insight into the human spirit, a theme central to our devotion today.

Key Word Study

From 1 Samuel 16:7, a profoundly significant word is “heart.” In Hebrew, this word is לֵב (pronounced lev). While in English, “heart” often refers primarily to the seat of emotions, the Hebrew concept of lev is far more comprehensive. It encompasses not only emotions but also the intellect, the will, the conscience, and the innermost character of a person. It is considered the core of one’s being, the center of thought, reasoning, and decision-making. When the Bible states that “the Lord looks at the heart,” it signifies that God assesses a person’s true inner nature, their motives, their integrity, their moral character, and their devotion, rather than merely their external attractiveness, social standing, or perceived abilities. It’s about who a person truly is at their deepest level, the place where genuine faith and obedience reside. This deeper understanding of lev reveals why God’s choice of David was so profound – He saw beyond the shepherd boy’s humble stature to the spiritual fortitude and genuine devotion within.

God’s Unconventional Choices

In our last devotion, we reflected on how God often uses ordinary people when they make themselves available to Him. Today, we delve into another crucial factor in God’s divine calculus: His unique discernment. Part of our fallen human nature compels us to prefer our heroes and leaders to emerge from what we might call “central casting.” We instinctively gravitate towards those who “look the part”: tall, robustly built, conventionally handsome, perhaps with a chiseled jawline and a thick head of hair. These are the societal standards we subconsciously apply to leadership, whether in secular or even spiritual realms.

Yet, God, in His infinite wisdom, operates by an entirely different criterion. Time and again throughout the grand narrative of Scripture, He actively defies conventional human wisdom and expectation in His selection of individuals to accomplish His divine will. He delights in choosing the unexpected, the overlooked, and the unassuming to demonstrate His power and receive all the glory.

The Anointing of David: A Divine Reversal

This divine preference was dramatically illustrated when God dispatched the prophet Samuel to anoint the next king of Israel from among the sons of Jesse. As Jesse paraded his sons before Samuel, each one seemingly more impressive than the last, Samuel, too, was initially swayed by outward appearance. But God interjected with a crucial revelation found in 1 Samuel 16:7: “But the Lord said to Samuel, ‘Don’t judge by his appearance or height, for I have rejected him. The Lord doesn’t see things the way you see them. People judge by outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.’” Jesse himself, influenced by societal norms and perhaps his own familial biases, didn’t even bother to send for David initially. He believed there was no conceivable way that God would choose a lowly shepherd boy, the youngest and seemingly least significant, to lead His people. But Jesse, like Samuel, was wrong, for God’s vision transcends human superficiality.

David and Goliath: A Display of God’s Heart-Sight

A chapter later, we encounter David again, this time traveling to the battlefield where the Israelite forces stood arrayed against the Philistines. His initial purpose wasn’t to engage in combat with the fearsome giant Goliath; it was a simple act of obedience, taking provisions to his elder brothers on the front line. The conventional wisdom dictated that confronting the Philistine champion was a task reserved for King Saul, Israel’s monarch and commander-in-chief, or for one of the battle-hardened, seasoned soldiers in Saul’s formidable army. This was a job for the “central casting” hero.

However, that was not the individual God had in mind for this monumental task. He specifically chose the shepherd boy, David, who was deeply offended by Goliath’s blasphemous taunts against the armies of the living God. David, uniquely among all the terrified Israelites, recognized with unwavering conviction that this giant was no match for the omnipotent God of Israel. He was the only person present who wasn’t paralyzed by overwhelming fear. For David, a weapon was an afterthought; his faith was his true arsenal. God chose the person who would ensure that the credit for this miraculous victory would belong entirely to God, not to human strength or military prowess.

The Heart God Seeks

God saw David’s heart – a heart of courage, faith, and unwavering devotion to Him. And the glorious truth is that He sees our hearts as well. More profoundly, He uses us accordingly, not based on our resumes, our physical attributes, or our social standing, but on the condition and disposition of our innermost being. If your earnest desire is to be used mightily by God, then your primary focus should be on diligently working on your heart.

How do we cultivate such a heart? We must immerse ourselves in His Word, hiding God’s eternal truths deep within our spirits so they become the very foundation of our thoughts and actions. We are called to pour out our hearts to Him in earnest, consistent prayer, fostering an intimate, unhindered relationship with our Creator. Furthermore, we are commanded to love – to love our neighbors as ourselves, to extend grace and compassion even to our enemies, and to cherish our fellow believers with the entirety of our hearts, reflecting the boundless love of Christ.

Availability Over Ability

The message remains clear: if you possess genuine faith in God, if you truly believe that He can accomplish extraordinary things through you, and if you are willing to take those crucial steps of faith, even when they seem daunting or small, then God can and will do incredible, awe-inspiring things through your life. One profound truth that has been echoed many times over the years is that God is fundamentally not looking for pre-existing ability. Rather, He is searching for availability. He possesses the power and the grace to impart ability to you in due time, equipping you for whatever He calls you to do. But first and foremost, God is looking for someone, for anyone, to humbly say, “Lord, I would like to make a tangible difference right where I am. I am wholeheartedly available for Your divine purposes.” If you utter those words with sincerity and step forward in faith, just watch what God will do through you. The transformation will be nothing short of miraculous.