When David was anointed to be the new king of Israel, Samuel wondered if David was the one that God had chosen. God assured the prophet that God does not look on the outer appearance of man, but on the heart. King Saul was insanely jealous of David and treated him harshly, chasing him and hunting him down like an animal. All through David’s wilderness ordeal, God was testing, developing, and preparing him to be the king that God delights in.

In his book Undercover John Bevere uses the analogy of how a war horse must be broken before is can go into battle. “As with horses, our breaking process deals with our response to authority. God customizes the perfect process for each one of us and this always entails some form of leadership.” What kind of heart pleases God? “God is pleased with you when, for the sake of your conscience, you patiently endure unfair treatment” (I Peter 2:19 NLT).

Have you been treated harshly and unjustly by someone? A submissive and humble heart is a principle God teaches us throughout the Bible. You may wonder, “What good does suffering harsh treatment from leaders accomplish?” There are three ways that God uses to molds and shape a heart into one that is submitted and one that He can bless.

First – IT MAKES ROOM FOR GOD’S RIGHTEOUS JUDGMENT. “Beloved, do not avenge yourselves but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, ‘Vengeance is mine, I will repay,’ says the Lord” (Romans 12:19). One of the most difficult things for me to learn is not to defend myself. It helps when I remember that Jesus, the most powerful and just man who ever walked the earth, never defended himself when falsely accused. (Mark 15:3)

Second – IT DEVELOPS THE CHARACTER OF GOD WITHIN US. King Saul had talent and ability but not the character of God. “Therefore, since Christ suffered in his body, arm yourselves also with the same attitude, because he who has suffered in his body is done with sin” (I Peter 4:1).

Third – OUR SUBMISSION UNDER HARSH TREATMENT GLORIFIES GOD. When we refuse to defend ourselves, we are hidden under the hand of God’s grace and judgment. (I Peter 2:23 NLT)

The women in my life love “Cinderella”. I didn’t know if I could take another screening of it with my granddaughter. Maybe it’s a guy thing. But why didn’t Cinderella just whack that wicked step-mother up side the head and kick those step-sisters in their rotten rumps? But now I see it. On the inside I was more like Dirty Harry rather than Cinderella. God has destined all of His children to be a “prince” and “princess”. (Romans 8:29-31) But it’s a matter of the heart. God sent His Son to make the way for us by displaying and giving us a heart that pleases God. “He did not retaliate when He was insulted. When He suffered, He did not threaten to get even. He left His case in the hands of God, who always judges fairly” (I Peter 2:23 NLT).

David discovered that a prerequisite for closeness to God is a broken and contrite heart. (Psalm 51:16-17) “The Lord is near to those who have a broken heart and saves such as have a contrite spirit” (Psalm 34:18).

What kind of heart pleases God? A broken and submissive heart. Are you more like Cinderella or Dirty Harry? Ask God to give you a clean heart and a right spirit. (Psalm 51:10) There is a promise of blessing for those who have a heart that pleases God. “Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult, but with blessing because to this were you called so that you might inherit a blessing” (I Peter 3:9).

Jesus suffered on the cross for our sins. Are you willing to arm yourself with the same mind to follow Him? (I Peter 3:18) It’s the heart that God blesses.