Week 90 Bible Reading: 1 Samuel 16:1–13

Betty Cuthbert didn’t laugh the loudest. Or talk the most. She was rather shy. So it may surprise you that she was a champion. As a teenager, she won three gold medals in sprinting at the Olympics!

Soon after, she got injured. Everyone—including Betty—thought her running days were over. Then, one night, she heard God’s voice. He told her not to give up running. After thinking about it, she said to God, “OK, you win. I’ll run again.”

She didn’t just run again; she won gold at the next Olympics. No matter how challenging her circumstances, Betty wouldn’t give up: God had given her the heart of a champion. Champions don’t always look or act the way we expect. When the prophet Samuel saw Jesse’s oldest and strongest son, he said to himself, “There’s the next king of Israel: he’s tall, handsome, and strong!”

God told Samuel he had gotten it all wrong, “People judge by outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart” (1 Samuel 16:7). So, who did God choose as Israel’s next king? Jesse’s youngest, smallest son—David—who cared for his father’s sheep. Compared to his seven brothers, he didn’t look like a champion. But David was after God’s own heart (Acts 13:22).

God is still searching for champions like David . . . like Betty. They may not be the loudest, strongest, or most popular. But He’s looking for people who love Him. People who want to serve Him.

Girls after God’s own heart.

Jesus, help me to be a girl after Your heart. Thanks for caring about what’s on the inside of me. Teach me how to follow You with everything I’ve got!