John 15:5
"Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches.     
Those who remain in me, and I in them,
will produce much fruit.
For apart from me you can do nothing."
 

Who is, "a man after God's own heart?" He's the man who has God's heart. He has set his heart after the things of God. The man that has yielded his life will do the things God does and feel the things God feels.

This is what David had. David was a man after God's own heart. Like an arrow that was set, his heart, his affections, his mind all were aimed at the Father. Consequently the Father could shoot that arrow wherever He wanted it to go.

Our God desires men after His own heart because His need is to have a full quiver of arrows to impact this world. If we have our hearts set on what His will is, what His heart is, or what His mind is, rather than "ON HIM!" we will never be a straight arrow. We will continually be in delusion, always disillusioned and in despair because our heart isn't set with the flow of Life. Such is a heart set according to the kingdom of this earth, rather than the kingdom of God. AGAINST the very current and Life Flow of God.

The world clamors for peace and happiness. The only way we can receive peace and joy is when we set our sights on the Creator, where His Flow is. The earth is set up in a system and on a course that is contrary to the Creator. Contrary to the very flow of His life. If we set our affections through appetite, through happenstance or ebb and flow of this world, we will be destitute. The endless pursuit on the "wheel to arrive and achieve" won't happen because it's going against creation and against our created purpose.

Our created purpose is to be a straight arrow in the quiver of the Lord. Christ, the straight arrow, was always so straight that the Father's masterful aiming of Him went dead on target. Often we haven't set our hearts and affections on God so we are continually misfired. Though we may hit an object, we miss the mark. Arrows which are warped or self hurled strike and kill, bringing death and destruction. Heartache and suffering follow the misguided arrow.

My chosen purpose is to be a straight arrow. The problem is that I can't be a straight arrow. I can't make myself straight and I can't form myself straight. I can't will myself straight. I can't even fake myself straight. I am the branch in the forest that the Archer finds, shaves and hews. It must be severed from it's natural life with a blow of the Archer's sword. The roots that fed the branch and gave it life must no longer anchor it. The Archer's pleasure will cause this lifeless wood to soar. The life must be exchanged from the earth's sustenance through a tree, to the Archer's life imparted through His skillful handiwork and deliberate thought. This deadened branch is given new life in the mind of the Archer. It must be formed, cut down to absolute accuracy. Then His life will come into that formed thing and hit the target every time.

I cannot be a failure if I choose that life. The massive pursuit of being a success is futile because the only success is to be fashioned and formed, hewn and made straight, a dead piece of wood, aimed and directed by the Archer. This is the only thing that will bring success. Hence I am not involved at all, being a dead piece of wood. I didn't make myself straight, I did not even grow straight, I didn't aim it. I didn't pull back the bow and I didn't have the strength to shoot. It's all Him.

Copyright ©  John Enslow