Wednesday SHINE....
Today's reading: 1 Samuel 23 http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20samuel%2023&version=MSG
As I awoke this morning to read 1 Samuel, I realized that I read the wrong chapter yesterday. Oops.
So, I read yesterday's chapter (ch.22) and then read ch. 23 again. I think the Lord purposely planned this re-reading for me.
He knows I am a slow learner and He wanted to drive some things from ch.23 home in my heart.
Did y'all notice how David sought the Lord for advice? Not only did he seek the Lord once, but David even went back and asked the Lord, "Okay, just making sure I am clear on this...is this what you want me to do?"
Ooooh, girls. This struck a big fat nerve in my heart. Here's why:
In ch. 23:3, David's men questioned his decision to go Keilah because of their fear.
Have I ever been like these men and questioned something because of my own fear or stake in the outcome?
Sadly, yes.
David wasn't upset with his men, though. Instead he inquired again of the Lord if this is what God had planned for them.
How many times have I gotten off track because my flesh takes over (like David's men) and sets me way off course? Too many times to count.
Let's talk about Saul for a minute. Oh, man, I think Saul and I have way too much in common.
Are you noticing that Saul earnestly thinks that his pursuit of David is what the Lord wants him to do? Are you noticing that Saul truly believes that it is God's will for him to kill David?
How can this be? How can God be telling Saul to kill David, yet telling David how to escape from Saul.
He's not.
Saul is way off track.
What happened to get Saul so lost and off track and so blind to the truth?
Hmm, let's think about this.
Jealousy, pride, envy, bitterness...just to name a few.
Oh, girls. This is stepping on my red toenails big time.
How many times have I let the root of sin, even if it's just a seemingly tiny one, get deep down into my heart. Oh, so many times.
When this happens, it sets my compass in the wrong direction. I even earnestly believe that I am justified and that the Lord is leading me down a certain path.
It's a lie.
The root of envy, pride, bitterness, or whatever it is has taken hold and has caused me to be utterly blinded to the truth.
This is exactly what has happened to our friend Saul.
Oh, man. As I look back on my own life, I see this exact same thing. Sin that I allowed to fester in my heart, grew and grew and grew and before long I was so blind that God could have been standing right in front of me and I would have missed Him.
Why does David have a heart like the Lord's?
David has not let the root of sin take hold in his heart (yet). His compass is set, and he continues to hear from the Lord.
Not only is he hearing from the Lord, but he is patient enough to inquire again to make sure he is hearing from God.
Are we doing this, girls? Are we hearing from the Lord, or are we hearing from a root of sin buried deep down into these little hearts of ours.
"Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting." Psalm 139:23-24
Here's the good news, girls. If we ask the Lord, he will tell us. Read the verse again above.
Get ready to be knocked over the head. He sure has knocked me over the head time and time again when I have asked him to search my heart.
He shows me things that I had NO idea had taken root. No wonder I got so off track.
God loves us. He wants us to know the truth. He wants to purify our hearts to be more like His. We just have to ask Him.
Thank you, Lord, for showing us truth through the lives of Saul and David. Let us seek you like David, Lord. Not only seek you, but seek you again, just to be sure of your way for us.
re-setting my compass again,
jill
As I awoke this morning to read 1 Samuel, I realized that I read the wrong chapter yesterday. Oops.
So, I read yesterday's chapter (ch.22) and then read ch. 23 again. I think the Lord purposely planned this re-reading for me.
He knows I am a slow learner and He wanted to drive some things from ch.23 home in my heart.
Did y'all notice how David sought the Lord for advice? Not only did he seek the Lord once, but David even went back and asked the Lord, "Okay, just making sure I am clear on this...is this what you want me to do?"
Ooooh, girls. This struck a big fat nerve in my heart. Here's why:
In ch. 23:3, David's men questioned his decision to go Keilah because of their fear.
Have I ever been like these men and questioned something because of my own fear or stake in the outcome?
Sadly, yes.
David wasn't upset with his men, though. Instead he inquired again of the Lord if this is what God had planned for them.
How many times have I gotten off track because my flesh takes over (like David's men) and sets me way off course? Too many times to count.
Let's talk about Saul for a minute. Oh, man, I think Saul and I have way too much in common.
Are you noticing that Saul earnestly thinks that his pursuit of David is what the Lord wants him to do? Are you noticing that Saul truly believes that it is God's will for him to kill David?
How can this be? How can God be telling Saul to kill David, yet telling David how to escape from Saul.
He's not.
Saul is way off track.
What happened to get Saul so lost and off track and so blind to the truth?
Hmm, let's think about this.
Jealousy, pride, envy, bitterness...just to name a few.
Oh, girls. This is stepping on my red toenails big time.
How many times have I let the root of sin, even if it's just a seemingly tiny one, get deep down into my heart. Oh, so many times.
When this happens, it sets my compass in the wrong direction. I even earnestly believe that I am justified and that the Lord is leading me down a certain path.
It's a lie.
The root of envy, pride, bitterness, or whatever it is has taken hold and has caused me to be utterly blinded to the truth.
This is exactly what has happened to our friend Saul.
Oh, man. As I look back on my own life, I see this exact same thing. Sin that I allowed to fester in my heart, grew and grew and grew and before long I was so blind that God could have been standing right in front of me and I would have missed Him.
Why does David have a heart like the Lord's?
David has not let the root of sin take hold in his heart (yet). His compass is set, and he continues to hear from the Lord.
Not only is he hearing from the Lord, but he is patient enough to inquire again to make sure he is hearing from God.
Are we doing this, girls? Are we hearing from the Lord, or are we hearing from a root of sin buried deep down into these little hearts of ours.
"Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting." Psalm 139:23-24
Here's the good news, girls. If we ask the Lord, he will tell us. Read the verse again above.
Get ready to be knocked over the head. He sure has knocked me over the head time and time again when I have asked him to search my heart.
He shows me things that I had NO idea had taken root. No wonder I got so off track.
God loves us. He wants us to know the truth. He wants to purify our hearts to be more like His. We just have to ask Him.
Thank you, Lord, for showing us truth through the lives of Saul and David. Let us seek you like David, Lord. Not only seek you, but seek you again, just to be sure of your way for us.
re-setting my compass again,
jill
