Earlier this week, I got a text message from a man I used to mentor. It was a real question I feel may of us struggle with but at times lack courage to ask. Asking real questions can leave us feeling weak or spiritual not what we portray. In front of the people, especial people we admire we want to portray
an image of strength and maturity a real “man’s man”, even when it is not our present reality. This young man showed real courage in showing his weakness, and I believe the Lord sees it as strength.
His text… “Brandon, if you could just pray for me, I’d appreciate it. Just seems like I’m in a constant battle with wanting to live for the world and living for The Lord.”
I started praying for him right there. The next morning, I was reading a prayer of David.
Psalm 86:11 Teach me your ways, O Lord,
that I may live according to your truth!
Grant me purity of heart,
so that I may honor you.
12 With all my heart I will praise you, O Lord my God.
I will give glory to your name forever,
13 for your love for me is very great.
You have rescued me from the depths of death.
David admits before the Lord that he lacks understanding in the ways of the Lord, purity of heart, and walked into the depths of death and needed rescuing. When it comes to being “a man’s man” lacking understanding, purity of heart, and needing rescuing doesn’t fit. However, in the Kingdom it is STRENGTH and HONORS THE LORD to be vulnerable and admit your need for help.
David took on Goliath as a teenager, led armies against tens of thousands, fought wars on multiple fronts, defeated a real army with a band of rebels, took these rebels and made them his mighty men. When we think of being “a man’s man” we like this part of the story. However, David sounds bi-polar in psalms. One minute he seems to be questioning God and himself, and the next celebrating how the Lord never leaves him hanging. If you are anything like me, you read this and are like, “David there is something wrong with you.”
Here is what I am learning. David was a Vital man because he was willing to reveal his brokenness. He waited for the Lord to give him strength. He gave the Lord credit for EVERY VICTORY. He made them into songs sung by the people to the Lord. So all of Israel saw David’s brokenness and vulnerability before the Lord, giving them an example of how to engage with the Lord. So the Lord declares David a man after His own heart.
According to the Lord, “a man’s man” or a Vital Man is a man who walks humbly before the Lord and men open with their brokenness and dependance on God’s strength, wisdom, and rescue. So where are you showing false strength and need to be real? Where do you need to not “fix” you but ask the Lord and other men to help you? What do you need to repent of to find freedom for yourself, you family, your community, and your church? Go be vital, DO IT NOW!
Recklessly, Obsessively Following Jesus
Brandon Sereg
