David arose and fled that day from Saul and went to Achish king of Gath.  The servants of Achish said to him, Is not this David, the king of the land?  Did they not sing one to another of him in their dances:  Saul has slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands?  David took these words to heart and was much afraid of Achish king of Gath.  And he changed behavior before them. And pretended to be insane in their [Philistine] hands, and scribbled on the gate doors, and drooled on his beard.  Then said Achish to his servants, You see the man is mad.  Why then have you brought him to me?  Have I need of madmen,  that you bring this fellow to play the madman in my presence?  Shall this fellow come into my house? 1 Samuel 21:10-15 AMPC

Picture this.  David.   Worshipper.  Psalm Writer.  Slayer of the giant.  Warrior.  Anointed to be king.  Now, pretending to be insane. 

Then a little later David decides to go live in enemy territory to get away from his enemy (Saul). 

But David said in his heart, I shall now perish one day by the hand of Saul.  There is nothing better for me than that I should escape into the land of the Philistines. 1 Samuel 27:1a AMPC

Here we have examples of a man’s life filled with interesting moments, to say the least. Yet, nestled inside these stories is a word of encouragement.   We can be encouraged.

Encouraged because David’s past did not determine his future.   Encouraged because nothing David did stopped God from allowing David to become king.  None of it stopped God’s purpose for David’s life from being fulfilled.   

Father,
Thank You for these words of encouragement.  Thank You that we are not discounted based on our past.  Thank You that our past does not determine our future.  In Jesus Name, Amen.

​Be Strengthened and Encouraged in HIM!
​

In 1 Samuel 24, Saul goes into a cave not knowing David and his men are in the same cave.  While Saul is sleeping, David cuts off the skirt of Saul’s robe and afterward David is remorseful because of what he has done.

He said to his men, the LORD forbid that I should do this to my master, the LORD’s anointed…when he is the anointed of the LORD.  (excerpt from 1 Samuel 24:6)

Wow! Bet David’s men had to think about that.  I imagine they are thinking this guy has hunted you down like a dog and here is your chance to get rid of him and you what? 

​Saul then leaves the cave without even realizing what has happened. David goes out of the cave and calls Saul.  David addresses Saul as my lord the king and David stooped with his face to the earth and bowed.

Basically, in my words, David says, “Man, if I wanted to kill you, you would’ve been dead! But God chose you.  You are a king by Divine right.  I honor God.”

Now, get this.  David had yet another opportunity to hurt or kill Saul.  The second time David takes some of Saul’s things and then presents them back to Saul.  Kind of like saying, “Gotcha again!”

David had opportunity to kill Saul twice and both times he didn’t because David saw things from the perspective of much greater than himself.  David did not allow any negative seed to even germinate in his heart.  Possibly a seed of bitterness or a seed of revenge.  It didn’t matter what was going on.  It didn’t matter what Saul did, how Saul was was acting or reacting, David honored God.  David’s character, even towards someone who wanted him dead, was to honor God. 

In closing, I leave you with these words of inspiration.  Let your life honor God even if you have to do it alone.

​Be Strengthened and Encouraged in HIM!

There came a time when Saul’s jealousy got the best of him.  In fact, at one point, he demoted David.  See 1 Samuel 18:12-16

Guess what?  That did not matter to David. 

So, I thought about how I would act in this situation.  I’m doing a great job and making my boss look A-MAY-ZING. 🤣 And then I am demoted because the people are speaking about my accolades more than the leaders.   I remain under the leader but pushed much further down the food chain.  Do I quit?  Do I begin to look for another position?  Do I have an attitude? Do I not perform like I used to?   I mean what is the point!  

Or do I trust in God and do what I am purposed to do, at that time, and allow God to work it out?

Tough pill to swallow.  No doubt.   But that’s it.  Trust in God as we allow God to work.   

David trusted in God and allowed God to work it all out and in the end David became king. What looked like a demotion was just part of God’s plan.  

David knew God controlled his destiny.   Man has no control over our destiny.  Even when they think they do. 

So, no matter what, trust in God and watch Him work 😉

Be Strengthened and Encouraged in HIM!

So, I was thinking what are the requirements needed to be a shepherd?  What makes a great warrior?  What about a king?

​What I noticed is the requirements or skills needed for being either a shepherd, warrior, or king, for that matter, do not include being a worshipper.  

Stay with me now. 

So, I couldn’t help but think although being a worshipper may not have been a qualification for many of David’s assignments, it did demonstrate his heart for God.  

So, maybe, as we are doing this thing called life, on this side of Heaven, we should keep a heart for the job and a heart for God.    I guess those should be reversed, huh?

As we serve in our positions, whatever they may be, let’s keep a heart for God and a heart for the job.    

Worship while you work 😉

Be Strengthened and Encouraged in HIM!
​

Let’s look at David when he challenged Goliath.   David ran to the battle line (see 1 Samuel 17:48).  

​Clearly, David had no fear.  None whatsoever. In fact, David ran quickly.  Death was not on his mind.   David’s focus was not on death.  Get this.  It wasn’t even about his stones and slingshot.    It wasn’t about the size or the strength of his adversary either.  The enemy.  Goliath. 

Notice his conversation.  Notice his focus.

And David said, “The LORD who delivered me from the paw of the lion and from the paw of the bear will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine.”  1 Samuel 17:37a ESV

So, what was David’s strategy? David fueled his faith in the LORD. David remembered what the LORD had done for him in the past.   This gave David complete confidence in what He could do.   David’s faith was in the LORD.  Nothing or no one else.  

So, something trying to intimidate you? Challenging you? Are you facing a battle?  Reflect on God’s greatness.  Put your confidence in God’s ability.   Be like David.  Fuel your faith!

Be Strengthened and Encouraged in HIM!

At one point, David is having a conversation with the king.  King Saul.  David is trying to convince the king to let him go fight the giant.   They go back and forth and finally the king tells David to go ahead. (see 1 Samuel 17:32-37) 

The king then arraigns David in armor.   Maybe the king thinks, “Well, at least with the armor on it might soften the blows.  Silly kid!”  🤷🏽‍♀️

But David takes the armor off.   He is going to battle with a sling shot and some stones.  Let me see.  Five stones in a sack to be exact.  

And he defeats the giant with just one stone, the first attempt, which lands smack dab in the forehead of the giant.  Bet that giant didn’t see that coming.  

So, what do you make of that?  

David chose not to wear Saul’s armor.  The armor, which I might add, was not made for him.  David was not accustomed to it.   In the past, David did not fight the lions, tigers and bears, oh my, with this armor.  

In other words, David didn’t try to go in someone else’s stuff to do battle.  He used what had worked successfully in the past for him.  

So, what am I trying to say?  Do you 😉

Each of us has skills, talents and abilities.  Some God has been crafting in us throughout the years.  And He wants us to use them.  Whether in battle or just in every day life.  He continually prepares us for whatever comes up in our lives equipping us with what we need.

So, do you!!!  God has given you all that you need.  You are equipped.  Take off whatever is holding you back and do you!!!

​Just like David did - Do you! 

Be Strengthened and Encouraged in HIM!

One of the young men answered, “Behold, I have seen a son of Jesse the Bethlehemite, who is skillful in playing, a man of valor, a man of war, prudent in speech, and a man of good presence, and the LORD is with him.”   1 Samuel 16:18 ESV

I guess I should give you some background.  Saul, the king, is being tormented by a harmful spirit.  Get this.  The harmful spirit is from the LORD.  And Saul’s servants know it.  Guess they had the spirit of discernment. ☺️ 

So, in First Samuel 16:18, the servants tell Saul about a man who can provide him some relief.  

The man they are speaking of is David.  

Check that out.  The servants knew David well, and this was before he became king, and even before he fought the giant.  Look at how they describe him.   Skillful in playing an instrument, a man of valor, a man of war, prudent in speech, and a man of good presence, in other words, he looked good.

Oh, and they knew the LORD is with him.

David.  The one who tended sheep.  David.   The shepherd boy.

My takeaway:  
Do what you do well.   Be the best at what you do.  No matter what the assignment.  You really never know who is looking.  You never know who is paying attention.  Just do what you do well.

Be Strengthened and Encouraged in HIM!

In the last chapter of first Samuel, Saul’s kingship comes to an end.

​In a battle with the enemy Saul is injured badly.   Rather than dying with the enemy being able to say they defeated him, the king, in battle, Saul preferred to kill himself.  So he did. 

First pride, then the crash — the bigger the ego, the harder the fall. Proverbs 16:18 MSG 

Let’s pray.

Father,
Thank You for the lessons from the life of Saul.  As I walk out this day to day thing called life, on this side of Heaven, please help me remember it’s about serving You and achieving the purpose that You have designed just for me, for the kingdom.  No matter what position or level of influence or title achieved, please remind me it is not about me.  It is all about You. In Jesus Name, Amen.

Be Strengthened and Encouraged in HIM!

Still noodling on Saul’s reign this week.

​Jealousy.  Anger.   Rage.  Conceit.  A list of some things Saul struggled with.

And on any given day, me too ☺️  

Now me, I tend to focus on my strengths and abilities because that’s where I shine.  That’s where my skills and talents come through.  That’s what I do well.  Anybody?🙋🏽‍♀️

But what if whatever we accomplish on our own is only a hint of what God could do through us.

Which brings me to my weaknesses. 

So, what if I changed my perspective on my failures and shortcomings?  What if I started thinking my weaknesses were there to remind me of my need for God? 

What if I recognized my weaknesses can be used by God if  I just acknowledge them and then leave them in God’s hands to do with as He sees fit?  

Just a little something to ponder ☺️

Be Strengthened and Encouraged in HIM!

Isn’t it interesting how the first man who was king over Israel, Saul, was  presented to the people.  He was tall, with a striking appearance.  Head and shoulders above the rest.  He was a warrior.  Courageous.  A man of action.  Nice visual, huh?

​But what wasn’t readily apparent were his weaknesses.  A few, for example,  were that Saul didn’t always follow God’s commands, and he liked to do his own thing, and he failed to understand the importance of obedience. 

To me, the biggest though, is it seems as though Saul believed he was capable of being king on his own.   Saul failed to realize he absolutely needed God and not the other way around. 

As I thought about Saul and his rise and demise as the first king of Israel, it got me to thinking: we are chosen for a purpose by God but we must never fail to understand we are not capable of operating in the fullness of it on our own.  

We need God 😉

Be Strengthened and Encouraged in HIM!