Month: February 2023

Scripture 2 Sam 5:19 So David inquired of the LORD, saying, “Shall I go up against the Philistines? Will You deliver them into my hand?” And the LORD said to David, “Go up, for I will doubtless deliver the Philistines into your hand.”

Observation: How often do we inquire of the Lord before we go through with our plans? In my case it must be less than ten percent. I have a desire and I act on it without considering my Lord and what He wants. I love the scripture I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me and the other not so much Apart from God I can do nothing. Do to things through Christ means, I need to do things the way He wants them done. I forget that no is an answer when I’m asking God if I should do something and even when I do inquire of my Lord I don’t sit still long enough to hear the answer.

Application: God is called my Master for a reason and that is that He is. To find out what my master desires I need to inquire and listen then obey His commands. My God loves and if I’m sure of this then I should want his advice since He obviously knows best and what the best for me. Everything I want is instant gratification with very little long term growth if any, but God want me to grow and be ready for the ultimate reward, Heaven. That is the path he has me on the path home, but there is a few things I’m to do first and I need to inquire of my Lord to find out what they are and how to do them the way He wants.

Prayer: My Lord I’ve wasted so many days doing things without inquiring of you. Slow me down that I will sit still and hear the answers you have for me. May I not make another decision without checking with you first. I know you love and care for me and want the best for me and I need to inquire each day to what those things are.

Scripture 2 Sam 4:9 But David answered Rechab and Baanah his brother, the sons of Rimmon the Beerothite, and said to them, “As the LORD lives, who has redeemed my life from all adversity,

Observation: As the Lord lives is a very definite statement, because there is no doubt that He does and will live forever. As secure as I can feel that my Lord lives, I’m also just as confident to know that He has redeemed my life. He has protected me from adversity and has also gotten me through it. My God has never failed me even though I can’t count the number of times I’ve failed Him. He has redeemed my life from hell and has redeemed and made it useful here on this earth. He has been able to use the pain in my life to help others through theirs. He has redeemed this life and now is able to use it for his glory.

Application: Each morning the negative thoughts come pouring out of my mind to the point I’m not even sure what I’m thinking. It’s as if Satan took everything that might happen to me and what has happened and poured into my head. Each time this happens I need to stop and think of my redeemer and how disappointed he must be in me. I think of the Israelites and how they continued to turn their backs on the God who continually saved them and how angry I would get at them, yet I’m not any better. I need to separate myself from my thoughts at times and meditate on God’s word and promises before taking another step.

Prayer: My Lord and my redeemer. Thank you for redeeming me from all the pain I went through and healing your servant. I thank you for never giving up on me and always being there to pick me up. Help me lead others to you and show them the love of my Redeemer.

Scripture 2 Sam 3:18 Now then, do it! For the LORD has spoken of David, saying, ‘By the hand of My servant David, I will save My people Israel from the hand of the Philistines and the hand of all their enemies.’

Observation: Throughout scripture the Lord has spoken of people like Moses, David, Solomon, Samuel and so on. He spoke of these men because they followed and obeyed God and God wanted to tell us that he was going to use this obedience. I don’t think I would have ever made the scriptures, because my walk is shallow. There will be times when I obey God, then others when I disobey and yet other times when I just ignore my Lord completely. If God was going to speak of me, it wouldn’t have been pleasant.

Application: I want to be that man that God can speak of, an obedient and loving man, a man that would put God first in everything and that I would love him with all of my heart, mind and soul. Yet I’m a sinner and my focus always comes back to me and my needs, not a God honoring man at all. It’s not too late to change, I need to put God first in everything and ask for his guidance in all that happens. Give my time freely to my Master and use it in his service. I want the Lord to speak of me, maybe to the angels as he did with Job. That he could say that I’m an upright man who honors him.

Prayer: Dear Lord I know there isn’t much about my life that you could be proud of, but you know that I love you and want to be a better man for you. Help me grow closer to you and understand what would please you with this life. May the rest of this life be an example of how to live a life in glory and honor to you.

Scripture 2 Sam 2:26 Then Abner called to Joab and said, “Shall the sword devour forever? Do you not know that it will be bitter in the latter end? How long will it be then until you tell the people to return from pursuing their brethren?”

Observation: So often we get so determined to have things are way it doesn’t matter who we hurt or what sin we might comment to get it. We feel we have to win and that is the only thing that is important to us and we pursue it without thinking. I know in my life I did it all of the time whether it was getting a promotion at work, winning an argument, or getting something I wanted. I would pursue it without thinking whether it was wrong or right I just needed to get my way and this is what this scripture is saying are we going to destroy everything for no reason. It wasn’t until Abner stopped to think of the consequences of their action and had the strength to speak out before the killing stopped. It’s funny when he spoke out Joab agreed right away because they were so focus on winning they didn’t realize the cost.

Application: I want to be the peacemaker and realize what is happening around me. I’m typically the person that causes the quarrel in the first place and I need to be the one who humbles himself and thinks of the consequences of my actions. I want to be the person that can stop others when I see what they are doing is fugal and against what God wants. If people are aware of their mistakes and have an opportunity to correct them they will. I need to be aware of what I’m doing at all times to make sure I never fight a losing battle.

Prayer: My Lord I’m typically the instigator in most matters and I want to be the peacemaker. Please give me the wisdom I will need to draw others closer to you. May the only battle I’m in be the fight for you.

Scripture 2 Sam 1:26 I am distressed for you, my brother Jonathan; You have been very pleasant to me; Your love to me was wonderful, Surpassing the love of women.

Observation: God calls us to love one another and that is how He will know we are his disciples. God calls us to love others above ourselves. When they asked Jesus what was the greatest commandment He said to love God with all of our heart, mind and soul and the second was to love others as we love ourselves. He didn’t tell us to pick and choose who to love but to love everyone. David and Jonathon had a best friend relationship where either one would give their life for the other and Jonathon but his safety second to keeping David safe.

Application: I put my needs above almost everyone else like so many and most of the time won’t discard my own comfort for someone else. I need to be the man Jesus calls me to be to love others and to put their needs above my own. It’s hard because I think of myself so often and about others so little and that needs to change. Yesterday we had friends from church over for dinner and it was a wonderful night, but earlier in the day I was almost hoping they would call it off so I didn’t have to go through the work of preparing dinner. I need to change and work harder for others and less for myself, because when I do that I honor God and that’s why I’m here.

Prayer: Dear Lord forgive me of my selfish ways. Give me a heart like Jesus and help me see others the way you see them. You have surrounded me with your children may I welcome them into my life and you have welcomed me. May I have a compassionate heart and the gift of hospitality to bring others closer to me.

Scripture 1 Sam 31:9 And they cut off his head and stripped off his armor, and sent word throughout the land of the Philistines, to proclaim it in the temple of their idols and among the people.

Observation: Here people are taking their trophy and bragging what they had done to others and setting them up in their temple to false idols. It sounds like something we would do, brag about an accomplishment, which God allowed us to do, then wait for the praise of men, setting up a trophy that God doesn’t get the credit for in a temple of our own. So often we don’t seek God’s guidance and we go off on our own, looking for the praise of others so that we may be glorified, instead of living a life that glorifies God.

Application: I still want the praise of men. Even when I do God’s work that others see I have a very difficult time at times giving glory to God. I received the praise of others, knowing in my heart I was only able to do it because God desired it done. My idols are quick fame, praise, recognition and short lived rewards and I trade doing God’s will for them. What a terrible trade. Everything that I do that is good God must get the glory for it. I’m here only for Him and not for me and when I leave this place I want people to remember how I served God and not the trophies I might have left behind.

Prayer: My Lord may I be your trophy. May this life have a tag on it that I served you with my whole heart, mind and soul. When it is time for me to come home may the thoughts of me left in this world remind others of your love and mercy.

Scripture 1 Sam 30:6 Now David was greatly distressed, for the people spoke of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and his daughters. But David strengthened himself in the LORD his God.

Observation: David went into depression and the only thing that could get him out of it was the Lord. He took his focus off himself and looked toward God. I know how he felt. Most of my life I suffered from depression and it overwhelmed me to the point of death. Finally God got my attention and gave me strength, a strength to continue. I still have those moments when my heart despairs and I begin to feel down, but then I set my heart on God, He strengthens me to go on. I couldn’t possibly live this life without Him and I’m thankful I don’t have to try. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

Application: I’ve been in a battle with Satan lately and can’t keep focused on what God desires. It has been a terrible struggle and I need to draw closer to God. He gets me out each time, but it doesn’t take long before my mind wanders and I find myself back in the pit God lifted me out of. I need to stay closer to God and get more involved in the things that glorify Him. I’ve become idle and not doing much which is making me a target for the devil.

Prayer: My Lord help me stay focused on you. Open doors for ministry for me and calm my mind to be focused on you. I’m struggling at times and have become so tired Lord. Give me energy and strength to run this race and get me busy serving you.