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After removing Saul, he made David their king. He testified concerning him: ‘I have found David son of Jesse a man after my own heart; he will do everything I want him to do.’ Acts 13:22
Remember during recess when it was time to choose teams? Two captains were chosen to determine the self-esteem of everyone for the entire day, or life! We’d look around us and measure each other up. “I’m better than her.” “He’ll be chosen first.” “I hope I’m chosen!” Woe to the last two people in line. While both would be chosen, it was obvious they were the ‘worst players on each team.’
While age matures us somewhat, the process of determining ones worth has really remained the same. Back then, teams were chosen according to their performance. There were some mighty ‘nice people’ that were chosen last because it wasn’t about being nice; it was about performance and outward looks.
The Israelites chose their first king because he was good looking, strong, and powerful man. He stood head and shoulders about all the rest. Years later God sent a message to Saul. “But now your kingdom will not endure; the LORD has sought out a man after his own heart and appointed him leader of his people, because you have not kept the LORD’s command.” (1 Samuel 13:14). Saul’s kingdom came to an end because of his disobedience and David was chosen as his successor.
Saul lost his Kingdom because of his sin and David was chosen because, as God said, ‘I have found David son of Jesse a man after my own heart; he will do everything I want him to do.’ What an ultimate irony. David? A man after God’s heart? The same David that was dishonest, an adulterer, a murderer and a really poor parent? How could this be?
Both David and Saul were like any of us. They were rebellious, sinful, selfish men. What set them apart from each other was the one thing we can’t see: the heart. When Saul was confronted concerning his sin he made excuses, blamed others and refused to admit he was wrong. Time and time again, God would reveal David’s sin to him and David would respond by saying, “I am guilty as charged O Lord. Please forgive me.” Was that the end of his sinful life? NO! But God can use a life stained by sin when that life is washed in the blood of Jesus and our heart attitude is to serve Christ.
God knew David would fail but He chose him anyway because of his desire, not his performance. People, even Christians, will still choose you by your past performance, but God chooses you because of your heart. Follow Him. Ask Him to help you leave the sin that encumbers you. Like David, it’s not about our past and inability to follow Jesus. It’s about our willingness to ask forgiveness for our mistakes and strive to live life the way God intends.
PRAYER: Father God. Like David my life is strewn with rebellion, stubbornness and just plain stupid choices. Thank You for looking at my heart and not my actions. Today, I confess to you my inability to live for you. Please forgive me of my sin and help me to live for you. I want to be a person after your own heart. Amen.
But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Matthew 6:33
Worry. It’s one of the greatest crippling influences of lives. The dictionary defines worry as “Tormenting oneself with or to suffer from disturbing thoughts.” There is NOTHING positive about worry and it does nothing healthy for our lives!
In a recent survey researchers discovered that 92% of the things people worry about either never happen, have happened in the past or are out of our control. That means that only 8% of the things we worry about are things that we have any hope of changing, and worrying about them won’t change a thing.
One day Jesus was teaching on a mountain top. I imagine that as people listened to His teaching they were enjoying the fresh mountain air. There were flowers nearby and birds soaring above. Jesus, the master teacher, used the moment to teach us a valuable truth. “Look around,” He said. “Look at the flowers. Do they worry about what their clothes look like? Do the birds concern themselves with having storage barns and cupboards full of food for the future?” We might add, do animals worry about retirement funds and 401K’s and their children’s college fund? The answer to all the above is a resounding “NO, of course not!”
As followers of Jesus Christ we need to constantly remind ourselves that we don’t need to worry about tomorrow. It’s not easy to admit, but often the things we worry about are a result of a lack of true belief in who we serve. If we serve a God that is like an angry, abusive or apathetic father, then we have reason for concern. We are on our own.
If however, we serve a God that is a loving, responsible, caring father we have nothing to fear. As a Loving Father He sees to our needs, encourages us in our weakness and forgives us when we fail. Someone once said, “Worrying is like a rocking chair, it gives you something to do, but it gets you nowhere.”
Don’t allow yourself to be tormented by the thoughts of what could have been or what might be. Focus instead on the fact that you have a Loving Heavenly Father who wants to give you the best life can offer. Grow closer to Him in your walk through daily prayer, bible reading and fellowship with Christ honoring believers. The things of your past can be forgiven simply by asking. The future is in the hands of a Loving Heavenly Father. Ask for wisdom on your part in following Him today.
Title: Overheard in an Orchard
Said the Robin to the Sparrow, “I should really like to know
Why these anxious human beings; Rush about and hurry so.”
Said the Sparrow to the Robin, “Friend, I think that it must be
That they have no Heavenly Father; Such as cares for you and me.”
— Elizabeth Cheney
PRAYER: Heavenly Father, I thank you today that you know my past and my future. I acknowledge that I believe you are willing to walk with me every day and that you know my tomorrows. Help me to have the strength to forget my past and the wisdom to face the future. Give me the power to deal with today and leave the rest in your hands. Amen.
David continued to succeed in everything he did, for the Lord was with him. 1 Samuel 18:14 (NLT)
A mark of Godly wisdom is how we conduct ourselves during adversity. True followers of Christ will conduct themselves wisely during the most trying situations. David shows this kind of wisdom early in his life. David was taken from the quiet obscure life of a shepherd boy and thrust into the role of military hero and heir to the throne of Israel.
This should have been a dream come true soon became more like a nightmare. After he killed Goliath he was invited into the palace to live with King Saul. David bonded immediately with Saul’s son, Jonathan, and all the officers and staff of the palace. Socially, David was apparently easy and fun to be around.
But David was more than just a nice guy. He was a driven leader. Every assignment Saul gave to David turned into success. As a result, Saul gave him more and more responsibility. He was never disappointed with the outcome.
So if David was so successful in everything Saul gave him to do, what could possibly go wrong, right? Wrong. David’s following grew so quickly that soon all of Jerusalem was singing the praises of David. He was fast becoming more popular that the insecure King Saul. As a result Saul began a campaign to wipe David out. That’s when David’s true colors came to the surface.
Although Saul tried to kill him on numerous occasions, David remained loyal to Saul. There is no indication in scripture that David did anything to provoke the King’s anger or speak evil against him. David patiently waited until God’s timing brought him to the throne. Even though he had several opportunities to kill Saul and take the Kingdom by force, David would not sin by taking things into his own hands.
When we encounter adversity it is important to keep the end result in view. David was told that he would someday ascend the throne. He saw no need to hurry that situation along because he was content with who he was. Rather, David focused on the task at hand and worked hard to be excellent at whatever he was doing. He realized the fact that no job is too small, nothing is beneath him. As a result, in everything he did he worked to be excellent. Others took note of that and admired him for it.
Remember that God has placed us where we are at this time for a specific purpose. As Christ followers, strive to for excellence now so that you will be ready for greater work in the future. Expect adversity as you excel in your work. The adversity that David faced in the 20 years he waited to ascend the throne prepared him for greater challenges ahead. Build relationships along the way. David had many friends in the midst of Saul’s attacks. One of his closest friends was Saul’s very own son! God didn’t wait until David was ‘great’ to use him. He used him mightily throughout his life because with all David’s faults, he trusted God.
PRAYER: Heavenly Father. Thank you for the story of David and his patience during adversity. Help me to see every activity of this day as an opportunity to show Godly excellence. Forgive me for my impatience in waiting for you to remove the obstacles that keep me from moving forward. Help me to be content where I am while I strive to grow stronger. Amen.
You gave me life and showed me kindness, and in your providence watched over my spirit. Job 10:12 (NIV)
There are few stories in the Bible that are more intriguing than the story of Job. The drama played behind the scenes between Satan and God helps us understand, somewhat, the huge part the ‘spirit world’ plays in our everyday lives. Don’t think for a moment that Satan doesn’t still approach the throne and make some pretty hefty accusations against God’s own. If he had the tenacity to go after the very Son of God, nothing will stop him from going after frail mortals.
Even more amazing is Job’s reaction to the devastation that he was forced to endure with no warning, no explanation and no support from his friends or family. Even in the midst of all this he maintained a faith that most of us could only hope for. While there are many lessons we can learn from the life of Job, there are three that stand out.
First of all, Job never lost sight of who God was and never doubted His character. He questioned God’s actions. He begged (demanded?) some sort of explanation. He expressed deep mourning and pain (who wouldn’t in situations far less horrendous!). But Job never questioned God’s sovereignty and character. Job 10:12 speaks of God’s kindness and providence. Providence is defined as a ‘divine power that guides our very lives and destiny’. Job knew who was in control.
Secondly, Job never lost sight of who he was. Everyone near and dear to Job was either dead or intent on telling him that he should give up and admit that he was guilty and deserving of everything God had handed him. In the midst of physical pain, emotional despair and spiritual confusion, Job stayed true to himself. Being true to yourself in the midst of adversity is a character trait that, more than anything else, will see us through the tough times.
Lastly, Job never seemed to let go of the ability to see God in the world around him. ‘God activity’ was a natural occurrence in his life. The events that brought Job’s world crashing down were not a result of fate, bad luck or coincidence. God was at the center of everything that happened in Job’s life. He didn’t always understand. He didn’t always agree. But He knew who held the keys to life and his faith would not be shaken.
During the darkest times of our lives our Heavenly Father is not shaken, surprised or caught unaware when things go ‘horribly wrong’. He brings things into our lives to draw us to Himself and make us aware of His presence. Use the events of your life as opportunities to see God’s handiwork in action.
PRAYER: Heavenly Father, I have to confess to you today that when adversity comes I’d far rather react that to rest in You. There are so many times in my life when I’ve doubted You and questioned why. I’ve lost faith in myself, lost faith in You and quit looking for things in my daily existence that show your work. Help me today to actively acknowledge your fingerprints on everything I do and every event that takes place in my life. Amen.
For surely, O LORD, you bless the righteous; you surround them with your favor as with a shield. Psalm 5:12
One of the best things we can do when we read the Bible is to place ourselves in the right mindset. When we read the Bible as a group of stories we can miss the whole point of its purpose. The Bible is not merely a ‘bunch of stories’ but a journal of the lives of men and women, like ourselves, that had to deal with daily stress, relational crises and physical pain.
Reading the Psalms give an excellent example of this. These ‘songs’ written largely by King David are full of emotions that run the gamut from despair and agony to elation and victory. Sometimes all within the span of a few ‘verses’.
Psalm 5 is no exception. In this prayer of David we see him laying in bed in the morning pleading with God for an audience. He is in despair. He is in fear. He is desperately seeking direction. He is a victim of the lies and assaults (verbal most likely) of those who claimed at one time to be friends.
In the course of his prayer he seems to remind God that He is a God of justice and that as such evil is not tolerated. He begs God to execute that judgment upon the evil ones attacking him. He asks that they be banished for the injustice they have caused.
In the end, almost as though God Himself has whispered in his ear, he looks at his struggles with a different attitude. God, his God, the creator God of the universe ultimately protects those who follow after His commands. His shield of protection follows him wherever he may go.
The same is true for us. If we are following close to God and building a relationship with Him that is built on His grace and our obedience to His word, He will protect us. That doesn’t mean we won’t encounter trials on the way, but it does assure us of His ultimate protection.
Because of this promise we should not be afraid to step out and follow our dreams. Others may point at a million reasons why we may not succeed, but if we are listening to the direction of our Heavenly Father we will overcome. When I am walking with Jesus I need not fear what the enemy throws at me for I am protected!
PRAYER: Father God, like David I lay awake some nights begging for justice and it never seems to come! My enemies are constantly pursuing me. Sometimes those enemies are real. Sometimes they are in my mind and thoughts. Help me to remember that the most important thing I can do is to follow you and trust you to protect me wherever I go. Amen.
Mike Fisk & Built with Grace 