Spiritual Propensity

1 Chronicles 29:18
“O LORD God of Abraham, Isaac, and of Israel, our fathers, keep this for ever in the imagination of the thoughts of the heart of thy people, and prepare their heart unto thee:”

Everyone has a propensity to do things a certain way. Our propensity to do things is our character. What we do and how we do it are important to who we are and what we do.

In the verse above, David gives Solomon the propensities of the spiritual. Solomon was about to take over the throne which David had occupied for many years, and David wanted to be sure that his son has the spiritual propensity to do what is right. David knew that if Solomon had a spiritual propensity that the throne would not damage him; however, he also knew that if Solomon had worldly and fleshly propensities that the throne would destroy him and the people he led. If you are going to stay right with the LORD, you are going to need to have the spiritual propensities that Solomon needed to reign over Israel properly. Let me share with you these spiritual propensities that you need.

First, you need the spiritual propensity to guard your thought life. The verse above says, “…keep this for ever in the imagination of the thoughts of the heart of thy people…” You will never serve the LORD successfully if you don’t guard your thoughts. The mind is capable of imagining corrupt things, and that is why you must guard your thought life with every part of your being. Your thoughts eventually become your actions. If you don’t want your actions to be sinful, you had better keep yourself from imagining vain and sinful thoughts. You will become what you are thinking today. If you don’t want to become what you think, you had better change your thought life.

Second, you need the spiritual propensity to prepare your heart to serve the LORD. The verse above continues to say, “… and prepare their heart unto thee:” Your thought life will affect the heart you have for the LORD. If your thought life is not right, your heart will never be prepared to seek God. Let me ask you, do you have a heart to seek and serve the LORD? Do you prepare your heart daily in the Scriptures and prayer to serve God? My friend, you must be sure to prepare your heart daily to serve the LORD. Before you go to church, prepare your heart to get something from the message. Before you read the Scriptures, prepare your heart for God to speak to you by having a desire to get something from His Word.

Third, you need the spiritual propensity to obey the LORD. Verse 19 talks about Solomon keeping God’s commandments, testimonies, and statutes. You will not stay spiritual if obedience to God is not your primary thought with every action you do. Before you do anything, you must always ask yourself if the LORD would be pleased with what you are about to do. Being spiritual is not an accident; rather, it is a purposeful act to obey everything the LORD tells you to do. Being spiritual is a choice you make by doing what the LORD commands you to do.

Fourth, you need the spiritual propensity to live for the LORD. Solomon wasn’t just to prepare to build the temple, but he was to turn the preparation into action. Serving God isn’t just about what you don’t do, but it is also about what you do for the LORD. Those who have the propensity to live for God will always find His blessings will follow.

Author: Allen Domelle