The Daily Dose

Take a step up!

“And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him, that your Father in heaven may also forgive you your trespasses. But if you do not forgive, neither will your Father in heaven forgive your trespasses.”  ~ Mark 11:25 – 26

Have you ever noticed how it’s much easier to pray for a mountain to move than it is to forgive the person who helped build it? If only forgiveness came with a delete button and an “Are you sure?” prompt. Unfortunately, Jesus had something much better in mind.

Today I want to look at verses 25 and 26 in Mark 11, where Jesus continues teaching about having an effective faith life. After talking about mountain moving faith, it almost seems as though He suddenly changes the subject to forgiveness. But He doesn’t.

Before He talks about forgiving, He says, “Whenever you stand praying…” Prayer and forgiveness are connected. Many times I’ve started my prayer time by confessing my own sins and asking for forgiveness, but this passage takes it one step further. Jesus tells us to examine our hearts for unforgiveness before we continue praying. That caught my attention.

In Luke 17:1 – 5, the disciples asked Jesus how many times they should forgive someone who offended them. Peter probably thought he was being super spiritual when he suggested seven times. But, Jesus answered, “Seventy times seven.” The disciples were stunned. Their response wasn’t, “We’ll try harder.” Their response was, “Lord, increase our faith!”

In other words, they realized this kind of forgiveness wasn’t something they could accomplish in their own strength. They needed God’s help.

Jesus went on to explain that forgiveness is part of the life of a servant. It isn’t an optional spiritual extra for especially mature believers. It’s an act of obedience and faith that belongs in the everyday life of every follower of Christ.

To that I say, “Lord, increase my faith!” For many years I believed forgiving others was primarily for my own emotional healing, so I could let go of hurt, bitterness, and offense. While that’s certainly a wonderful result, the Lord began showing me something deeper. Forgiveness isn’t driven by feelings. Forgiveness is a decision of faith. Like so many other steps of faith, obedience comes first, then our emotions gradually catch up.

Some time ago, the Lord showed me an area where I needed to forgive someone. My immediate response was, “Yes, Lord, I forgive them. I just don’t ever want to see them again.” I honestly thought I was making great progress.

Then the Lord gently showed me something I wasn’t expecting. Forgiveness isn’t simply deciding to let something go. It’s allowing His love to fill my heart for that person.

That’s when I found myself saying once again, “Lord, increase my faith!” That certainly wasn’t my definition of forgiveness. I thought “forgive and forget” deserved a great recognition. But Jesus didn’t simply forgive me and move on. He loved me.

When I was broken, sinful, hopeless, and far from Him, He didn’t view me merely as someone who had offended Him. He saw someone who desperately needed a Savior. He forgave me, welcomed me, adopted me into His family, and poured His love into my life.

If that’s how He treated me, then I want to learn to love the people He also died to save. That kind of forgiveness is far beyond natural human thinking. Jesus didn’t see my sin merely as an offense against Himself. He saw it as a cry for help. Because He willingly forgave me, He became the bridge through which God’s love reached my heart.

In much the same way, when we truly forgive others instead of holding on to hurt, resentment, or even indifference, we become a vessel through which God can reach someone else.

That’s why the Apostle Paul wrote in Ephesians 4:32, “Forgive one another, even as God in Christ Jesus forgave you.”

What if every offense became an opportunity instead of an obstacle? What if every difficult person reminded us that someone may be carrying wounds we cannot see? That perspective doesn’t excuse wrong behavior, but it allows God’s love to accomplish something far greater than revenge ever could.

Here are some ways to begin walking in forgiveness today.

• Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal whether you’re holding on to unforgiveness toward anyone.
• Make the decision to forgive, even if your emotions haven’t caught up yet.
• Pray for the person who hurt you, asking God to work in their life as well as yours.
• Remember how completely Christ has forgiven you.
• Ask God to replace bitterness with His love and compassion.
• When painful memories return, choose once again to walk in the forgiveness you’ve already extended.

Forgiveness doesn’t mean pretending the hurt never happened. It means trusting God enough to release the offense into His hands and allowing His love to accomplish what bitterness never could.

Today I want to encourage you to take that next step of faith by choosing forgiveness. Don’t wait until your feelings change before you obey God. As you release offenses into His hands, you’ll discover greater freedom in your own heart, greater confidence in your prayers, and greater opportunities for God’s love to flow through you to others. The same Savior who forgave you completely will strengthen you to forgive those who have hurt you. As you take that step of faith, you’ll become a living example of His grace, opening the door for His love to reach someone who may be crying out for hope, even if they don’t yet know how to ask for it.

Today’s Scripture Reading: Mark 11:20 – 26

20 Now in the morning, as they passed by, they saw the fig tree dried up from the roots. 

21 And Peter, remembering, said to Him, “Rabbi, look! The fig tree which You cursed has withered away.”

22 So Jesus answered and said to them, “Have faith in God. 

23 For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be removed and be cast into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says. 

24 Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them.

25 “And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him, that your Father in heaven may also forgive you your trespasses. 

26 But if you do not forgive, neither will your Father in heaven forgive your trespasses.”

Journal:

• Is there anyone I’ve forgiven with my words but still struggle to love in my heart?
• Have I been waiting for my feelings to change before taking the step of forgiveness?
• How does remembering Christ’s forgiveness toward me help me extend forgiveness to others?
• Is there someone God may be wanting to reach through my willingness to forgive?
• What practical step can I take today to release an offense and allow God’s love to fill that place instead?

Believer when you pray

“Therefore, I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them.”  ~ Mark 11:24

Have you ever ordered something online and then checked the tracking information every few hours? You already know it’s on the way, but somehow looking at it again makes you feel like you’re helping. Prayer can be a little like that. We ask God for something, then the next day we ask again, and the next day again, almost as though He didn’t hear us the first time.

In today’s scripture reading, Jesus teaches something different. Notice one small word in this verse, “when.” He didn’t say, “Believe you receive when you see the answer.” He didn’t say, “Believe you receive when everything finally changes.” He said, “Believe that you receive when you pray.” That one word completely changed the way I pray.

There was a time when I asked God for the same thing every single day. I wasn’t praying in expectation. I was praying as though I needed to keep convincing Him to answer. Then I realized Jesus had already told me when faith begins. It begins the moment I pray in agreement with His word and promises.

When I have sincerely brought my request before my heavenly Father, I don’t have to keep asking Him for the same thing over and over because I’m not sure if He heard me or not. Instead, from that moment on, I choose to believe that I’ve received what I’ve asked for, even though I haven’t seen it yet. It is on the way from heaven into this world.

Think back to the fig tree earlier in Mark 11. Jesus spoke once. He didn’t come back every fifteen minutes and curse it again. He didn’t wonder whether His words were working. He believed what He said, walked away, and expected the results.

The disciples didn’t see the evidence until the next day, but Jesus never doubted what had happened. That’s the picture of faith. Faith receives first. Then faith sees the results later.

There are certainly times when we continue praying as the Holy Spirit leads us, especially when interceding for others or praying through situations. But when we’re standing on God’s promise, there comes a point where asking becomes believing, and believing begins thankfulness.

Thanksgiving is one of the greatest expressions of faith because you don’t thank someone for something they haven’t given you. You thank them because you believe they have.

Instead of praying, “Lord, please heal me.” Faith begins saying, “Father, thank You that You heard my prayer. Thank You for Your healing power and that it is working in my life.”

Instead of praying, “Lord, please provide.” Faith says, “Father, thank You that You are my Provider. I believe I’ve received what I’ve asked in agreement with Your Word.” That doesn’t mean we’re pretending circumstances have changed. It means we’re choosing to agree with God’s Word before our eyes see the evidence.

Here are a few practical ways to put this truth into practice today.

• Pray specifically, believing God hears you the first time.
• After you’ve prayed, begin thanking Him instead of repeatedly asking for the same thing.
• When doubt tries to creep in, go back to His promise instead of your circumstances.
• Speak words of faith instead of words of worry.
• Keep your expectation on God’s faithfulness rather than on what you currently can see or can’t see.

Faith believes first. Thanksgiving follows and waters the seed of faith that was first planted. Then, in God’s timing, the answer becomes visible in this natural world.

Today I want to encourage you to believe you receive when you pray. Don’t wait until you can see the answer before you believe God has heard you. Bring your request to Him in faith, then begin thanking Him for His faithfulness. Let thanksgiving replace anxious repetition and let confidence replace doubt. God’s Word is true whether you can see the evidence today or not. Believe you receive when you pray, continue thanking Him, and expect to see His promises become reality in His perfect timing.

Today’s Scripture Reading: Mark 11:20 – 24

20Now in the morning, as they passed by, they saw the fig tree dried up from the roots. 

21And Peter, remembering, said to Him, “Rabbi, look! The fig tree which You cursed has withered away.”

22So Jesus answered and said to them, “Have faith in God. 

23For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be removed and be cast into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says. 

24Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them.

Journal:

• Is there a prayer I’ve continued to repeat because I’ve struggled to believe God heard me the first time?
• What concern do I need to confidently place into God’s hands today?
• How can I replace worry with thanksgiving while I wait for God’s answer?
• In what ways have I seen God work behind the scenes in previous situations?
• What would change in my attitude this week if I truly believed God was already working on my behalf?

Leave the Spear Behind

“The Lord forbid that I should stretch out my hand against the Lord’s anointed… But please, take now the spear and the jug of water that are by his head, and let us go.” ~ 1 Samuel 26:11

Have you ever had the perfect opportunity to get even with someone? One of those moments when someone says something hurtful, spreads a rumor, overlooks you, or treats you unfairly. Suddenly, the perfect comeback pops into your mind. You didn’t even have to pray about it. It arrived fully prepared, complete with sound effects and background music! Then the Holy Spirit quietly whispers, “Let’s not do that.” That’s exactly the kind of moment David faced in today’s scripture reading.

Saul had been chasing David for years, trying to kill him. Yet in 1 Samuel 26, God allowed David to walk right into Saul’s camp while everyone was asleep. Saul was completely defenseless. David’s men couldn’t believe it. They thought God had handed David the opportunity to end all his problems with one quick spear throw. But David saw the situation differently. He chose to trust God’s timing instead of taking matters into his own hands.

As God’s people today, we often face moments when we have to decide whether we’ll react according to our emotions or respond according to God’s wisdom. David’s example gives us some valuable lessons for those moments.

Here are three truths that can help us leave the spear behind.

1. Not Every Opportunity Is God’s Permission

Just because a door opens, doesn’t mean God wants you to walk through it. David had the opportunity to kill Saul, but he knew it wasn’t God’s way. Sometimes circumstances make something possible, but God’s Word tells us it isn’t right.

Before making an important decision, ask yourself, “Is this consistent with God’s character and His Word?” Maybe you could expose someone who hurt you, get revenge with a harsh social media post, or repeat a piece of gossip that would make someone else look bad. You may have the opportunity, but that doesn’t mean you have God’s permission. Wisdom asks more than, “Can I?” It also asks, “Should I?”

2. Trust God to Defend You

David didn’t need to prove he was right. He trusted God to handle Saul. That takes real faith. Many times we exhaust ourselves trying to defend our reputation, explain ourselves, or make sure everyone knows our side of the story. God is very capable of taking care of His children.

When you’ve been treated unfairly, resist the urge to fight every battle yourself. If someone misunderstands your motives, says something hurtful, or overlooks your efforts, bring it to the Lord before reacting. Ask Him for wisdom, then trust Him to work in ways you cannot. God has a much better track record than we do.

3. Leave With Evidence of Grace

David didn’t leave Saul’s camp empty-handed. He took Saul’s spear and water jug. Those items became evidence that David could have taken revenge but chose mercy instead. What a powerful example and testimony.

Let your response leave evidence that God is working in your life. When someone expects anger and receives kindness instead, they notice. When they expect retaliation and receive forgiveness, they remember. Your response may speak louder than any sermon you could ever preach. Grace has a way of surprising people.

One of the things I appreciate about David is that he wasn’t pretending Saul hadn’t hurt him. David wasn’t ignoring the situation or acting like everything was fine. He simply refused to allow someone else’s wrong choices to determine his own.

In my own life I have found that it’s not always easy to respond with grace, but it is always the right way. There have been times when I wanted to defend myself or make sure everyone understood my side of the story. Yet I’ve learned that peace comes much more quickly when I trust God to handle what only He can handle. Every time I’ve surrendered those situations to Him, He has proven Himself to be far better at bringing justice than I ever could have been.

Today I want to encourage you to leave the spear behind. Don’t allow hurt, offense, or disappointment to pull you away from God’s best for your life. Trust Him enough to let Him fight the battles that belong to Him while you remain faithful to the path He has called you to walk. Choosing mercy doesn’t mean you are weak. It means you are confident that God’s justice, His timing, and His wisdom are greater than your own. When you choose His way, you’ll discover that protecting your heart is far more valuable than winning an argument and living in His peace is far better than carrying the weight of revenge. Not every opportunity is God’s opportunity, but every opportunity is an invitation to seek His wisdom before you act.

Today’s Scripture Reading: 1 Samuel 26

1 Now the Ziphites came to Saul at Gibeah, saying, “Is David not hiding in the hill of Hachilah, opposite Jeshimon?” 

2 Then Saul arose and went down to the Wilderness of Ziph, having three thousand chosen men of Israel with him, to seek David in the Wilderness of Ziph. 

3 And Saul encamped in the hill of Hachilah, which is opposite Jeshimon, by the road. But David stayed in the wilderness, and he saw that Saul came after him into the wilderness. 

4 David therefore sent out spies, and understood that Saul had indeed come.

5 So David arose and came to the place where Saul had encamped. And David saw the place where Saul lay, and Abner the son of Ner, the commander of his army. Now Saul lay within the camp, with the people encamped all around him. 

6 Then David answered, and said to Ahimelech the Hittite and to Abishai the son of Zeruiah, brother of Joab, saying, “Who will go down with me to Saul in the camp?”

And Abishai said, “I will go down with you.”

7 So David and Abishai came to the people by night; and there Saul lay sleeping within the camp, with his spear stuck in the ground by his head. And Abner and the people lay all around him. 

8 Then Abishai said to David, “God has delivered your enemy into your hand this day. Now therefore, please, let me strike him at once with the spear, right to the earth; and I will not have to strike him a second time!”

9 But David said to Abishai, “Do not destroy him; for who can stretch out his hand against the Lord’s anointed, and be guiltless?” 

10 David said furthermore, “As the Lord lives, the Lord shall strike him, or his day shall come to die, or he shall go out to battle and perish. 

11 The Lord forbid that I should stretch out my hand against the Lord’s anointed. But please, take now the spear and the jug of water that are by his head, and let us go.” 

12 So David took the spear and the jug of water by Saul’s head, and they got away; and no man saw or knew it or awoke. For they were all asleep, because a deep sleep from the Lord had fallen on them.

13 Now David went over to the other side, and stood on the top of a hill afar off, a great distance being between them. 

14 And David called out to the people and to Abner the son of Ner, saying, “Do you not answer, Abner?”

Then Abner answered and said, “Who are you, calling out to the king?”

15 So David said to Abner, “Are you not a man? And who is like you in Israel? Why then have you not guarded your lord the king? For one of the people came in to destroy your lord the king. 

16 This thing that you have done is not good. As the Lord lives, you deserve to die, because you have not guarded your master, the Lord’s anointed. And now see where the king’s spear is, and the jug of water that was by his head.”

17 Then Saul knew David’s voice, and said, “Is that your voice, my son David?”

David said, “It is my voice, my lord, O king.” 

18 And he said, “Why does my lord thus pursue his servant? For what have I done, or what evil is in my hand? 

19 Now therefore, please, let my lord the king hear the words of his servant: If the Lord has stirred you up against me, let Him accept an offering. But if it is the children of men, may they be cursed before the Lord, for they have driven me out this day from sharing in the inheritance of the Lord, saying, ‘Go, serve other gods.’ 

20 So now, do not let my blood fall to the earth before the face of the Lord. For the king of Israel has come out to seek a flea, as when one hunts a partridge in the mountains.”

21 Then Saul said, “I have sinned. Return, my son David. For I will harm you no more, because my life was precious in your eyes this day. Indeed I have played the fool and erred exceedingly.”

22 And David answered and said, “Here is the king’s spear. Let one of the young men come over and get it. 

23 May the Lord repay every man for his righteousness and his faithfulness; for the Lord delivered you into my hand today, but I would not stretch out my hand against the Lord’s anointed. 

24 And indeed, as your life was valued much this day in my eyes, so let my life be valued much in the eyes of the Lord, and let Him deliver me out of all tribulation.”

25 Then Saul said to David, “May you be blessed, my son David! You shall both do great things and also still prevail.” So David went on his way, and Saul returned to his place.

Journal:

• Is there someone I need to stop trying to get even with and instead trust God to handle?
• Have I mistaken an opportunity for God’s permission?
• What battle am I trying to fight that I need to place into God’s hands?
• How can I respond with grace the next time someone disappoints or offends me?
• What would it look like to leave evidence of God’s work in my life through my response to difficult people?

The Right Person at the Right Time

“Blessed is the Lord God of Israel, who sent you this day to meet me!” ~ 1 Samuel 25:32

Have you ever had someone stop you from making a really bad decision? Maybe it was a friend who talked you out of sending that emotional text message. You know the one you were absolutely sure was inspired until you reread it the next morning. Or perhaps someone lovingly challenged your perspective before you made a choice you would have regretted. Looking back, you realized they weren’t getting in your way. They were protecting your future. That’s exactly what happened to David.

After faithfully protecting Nabal’s shepherds and flocks, David simply asked for provisions for his men. Instead of expressing gratitude, Nabal insulted David and sent his servants away empty handed. David’s patience disappeared almost instantly. He strapped on his sword and set out to settle the matter himself. Thankfully, God had another plan.

Abigail stepped into the middle of a dangerous situation with wisdom, humility, and courage. Her words stopped David from making a decision that would have left a permanent stain on his future as Israel’s king. How grateful we should be for the people God places in our lives who lovingly redirect us when our emotions threaten to take control.

Here are three points from this chapter that can help us walk wisely with God today.

1. Don’t Make Permanent Decisions Based on Temporary Emotions

David had every reason to feel hurt and angry. The problem wasn’t that he had emotions. The problem was what those emotions almost caused him to do. Strong emotions often make us believe we need to act immediately. Usually, we don’t.

When emotions are running high, slow your decision making down. If someone offends you at work, don’t immediately send the email you’ve already written three times in your head. If a family member hurts your feelings, spend time talking with God before confronting them. Give the Holy Spirit room to calm your heart before you respond.

I’ve found that the messages I don’t send are often some of my best decisions.

2. God Often Sends Help Through Other People

David probably wasn’t expecting God to answer through Abigail. Yet God used one wise, courageous woman to change the direction of an entire situation. Sometimes we’re praying for God to speak while ignoring the people He has already placed around us.

Stay teachable when godly people offer wise counsel. If your spouse, pastor, trusted friend, or mentor gently points out something you need to consider, don’t become defensive. Ask God if He may be using them to protect you from making a costly mistake. God’s guidance doesn’t always come through dramatic moments. Sometimes it arrives carrying bread, raisins, and a very wise conversation.

3. Let God Handle What Belongs to Him

David thanked Abigail because she kept him from taking vengeance into his own hands. By the end of the chapter, God dealt with Nabal without David having to lift a sword. This is such an important reminder for us. When we try to do God’s job, we usually create more problems than we solve.

Release the outcome to God and focus on your own obedience. If someone has treated you unfairly, don’t spend your energy trying to get even. Continue walking in integrity and trust God to deal with the situation in His way and in His timing. God has never asked us to carry the burden of revenge. He’s asked us to trust Him.

One of my favorite parts of this chapter is that David was humble enough to change course. He could have ignored Abigail, justified his anger, and continued marching toward disaster. Instead, he listened. That moment of humility protected not only his future, but also his reputation.

I’ve experienced times when I was convinced I knew exactly what needed to happen and what I needed to do to make it happen. I had my plan, my reasoning, and what I thought was the perfect solution. Yet God, in His kindness, used the wisdom of other people and the gentle prompting of the Holy Spirit to redirect me. Looking back, I’m thankful He interrupted my plans. What felt like an inconvenience at the time became one of His greatest acts of protection. Sometimes God’s greatest blessing isn’t opening the door we wanted. Sometimes it’s lovingly closing the one we were about to walk through.

Today I want to encourage you to stay teachable and trust God’s interruptions. When emotions run high, choose wisdom over reaction. Be willing to receive counsel from the people God places in your life and trust Him enough to let Him handle the battles that belong to Him. God knows how to protect your future far better than you do. He sees what you cannot see, and He is faithful to guide your steps, even if that means sending an “Abigail” across your path at exactly the right moment. Don’t resist His direction. Embrace it, because His wisdom will always lead you toward His very best.

Today’s Scripture Reading: 1 Samuel 25

1 Then Samuel died; and the Israelites gathered together and lamented for him, and buried him at his home in Ramah. And David arose and went down to the Wilderness of Paran.

2 Now there was a man in Maon whose business was in Carmel, and the man was very rich. He had three thousand sheep and a thousand goats. And he was shearing his sheep in Carmel. 

3 The name of the man was Nabal, and the name of his wife Abigail. And she was a woman of good understanding and beautiful appearance; but the man was harsh and evil in his doings. He was of the house of Caleb.

4 When David heard in the wilderness that Nabal was shearing his sheep, 

5 David sent ten young men; and David said to the young men, “Go up to Carmel, go to Nabal, and greet him in my name. 

6 And thus you shall say to him who lives in prosperity: ‘Peace be to you, peace to your house, and peace to all that you have! 

7 Now I have heard that you have shearers. Your shepherds were with us, and we did not hurt them, nor was there anything missing from them all the while they were in Carmel. 

8 Ask your young men, and they will tell you. Therefore let my young men find favor in your eyes, for we come on a feast day. Please give whatever comes to your hand to your servants and to your son David.’ ”

9 So when David’s young men came, they spoke to Nabal according to all these words in the name of David, and waited.

10 Then Nabal answered David’s servants, and said, “Who is David, and who is the son of Jesse? There are many servants nowadays who break away each one from his master. 

11 Shall I then take my bread and my water and my meat that I have killed for my shearers, and give it to men when I do not know where they are from?”

12 So David’s young men turned on their heels and went back; and they came and told him all these words. 

13 Then David said to his men, “Every man gird on his sword.” So every man girded on his sword, and David also girded on his sword. And about four hundred men went with David, and two hundred stayed with the supplies.

14 Now one of the young men told Abigail, Nabal’s wife, saying, “Look, David sent messengers from the wilderness to greet our master; and he reviled them. 

15 But the men were very good to us, and we were not hurt, nor did we miss anything as long as we accompanied them, when we were in the fields. 

16 They were a wall to us both by night and day, all the time we were with them keeping the sheep. 

17 Now therefore, know and consider what you will do, for harm is determined against our master and against all his household. For he is such a scoundrel that one cannot speak to him.”

18 Then Abigail made haste and took two hundred loaves of bread, two skins of wine, five sheep already dressed, five seahs of roasted grain, one hundred clusters of raisins, and two hundred cakes of figs, and loaded them on donkeys. 

19 And she said to her servants, “Go on before me; see, I am coming after you.” But she did not tell her husband Nabal.

20 So it was, as she rode on the donkey, that she went down under cover of the hill; and there were David and his men, coming down toward her, and she met them. 

21 Now David had said, “Surely in vain I have protected all that this fellow has in the wilderness, so that nothing was missed of all that belongs to him. And he has repaid me evil for good. 

22 May God do so, and more also, to the enemies of David, if I leave one male of all who belong to him by morning light.”

23 Now when Abigail saw David, she dismounted quickly from the donkey, fell on her face before David, and bowed down to the ground. 

24 So she fell at his feet and said: “On me, my lord, on me let this iniquity be! And please let your maidservant speak in your ears, and hear the words of your maidservant. 

25 Please, let not my lord regard this scoundrel Nabal. For as his name is, so is he: Nabal is his name, and folly is with him! But I, your maidservant, did not see the young men of my lord whom you sent. 

26 Now therefore, my lord, as the Lord lives and as your soul lives, since the Lord has held you back from coming to bloodshed and from avenging yourself with your own hand, now then, let your enemies and those who seek harm for my lord be as Nabal. 

27 And now this present which your maidservant has brought to my lord, let it be given to the young men who follow my lord. 

28 Please forgive the trespass of your maidservant. For the Lord will certainly make for my lord an enduring house, because my lord fights the battles of the Lord, and evil is not found in you throughout your days. 

29 Yet a man has risen to pursue you and seek your life, but the life of my lord shall be bound in the bundle of the living with the Lord your God; and the lives of your enemies He shall sling out, as from the pocket of a sling. 

30 And it shall come to pass, when the Lord has done for my lord according to all the good that He has spoken concerning you, and has appointed you ruler over Israel, 

31 that this will be no grief to you, nor offense of heart to my lord, either that you have shed blood without cause, or that my lord has avenged himself. But when the Lord has dealt well with my lord, then remember your maidservant.”

32 Then David said to Abigail: “Blessed is the Lord God of Israel, who sent you this day to meet me! 

33 And blessed is your advice and blessed are you, because you have kept me this day from coming to bloodshed and from avenging myself with my own hand. 

34 For indeed, as the Lord God of Israel lives, who has kept me back from hurting you, unless you had hurried and come to meet me, surely by morning light no males would have been left to Nabal!” 

35 So David received from her hand what she had brought him, and said to her, “Go up in peace to your house. See, I have heeded your voice and respected your person.”

36 Now Abigail went to Nabal, and there he was, holding a feast in his house, like the feast of a king. And Nabal’s heart was merry within him, for he was very drunk; therefore she told him nothing, little or much, until morning light. 

37 So it was, in the morning, when the wine had gone from Nabal, and his wife had told him these things, that his heart died within him, and he became like a stone. 

38 Then it happened, after about ten days, that the Lord struck Nabal, and he died.

39 So when David heard that Nabal was dead, he said, “Blessed be the Lord, who has pleaded the cause of my reproach from the hand of Nabal, and has kept His servant from evil! For the Lord has returned the wickedness of Nabal on his own head.”

And David sent and proposed to Abigail, to take her as his wife. 

40 When the servants of David had come to Abigail at Carmel, they spoke to her saying, “David sent us to you, to ask you to become his wife.”

41 Then she arose, bowed her face to the earth, and said, “Here is your maidservant, a servant to wash the feet of the servants of my lord.” 

42 So Abigail rose in haste and rode on a donkey, attended by five of her maidens; and she followed the messengers of David, and became his wife. 

43David also took Ahinoam of Jezreel, and so both of them were his wives.

44But Saul had given Michal his daughter, David’s wife, to Palti the son of Laish, who was from Gallim.

Journal:

• Is there a situation where my emotions are influencing my decisions more than God’s wisdom?
• Has God recently used someone to give me counsel that I needed to hear?
• Am I trying to handle a situation that I need to place in God’s hands?
• Who has been an “Abigail” in my life, helping me avoid a poor decision?
• How can I become more teachable and responsive to God’s direction this week?

A Heart That Waits for God

“The Lord forbid that I should do this thing to my master, the Lord’s anointed, to stretch out my hand against him, seeing he is the anointed of the Lord.” ~ 1 Samuel 24:6

Have you ever been handed the perfect opportunity to get even with someone? Maybe someone spoke unfairly about you, overlooked your hard work, or treated you in a way that left you hurt and frustrated. Then, all of a sudden, the tables turned. You had the chance to prove them wrong, expose them, or finally settle the score. In those moments, our flesh usually whispers, “This is your chance!” But God often whispers something very different.

That was David’s situation in today’s reading. King Saul had spent years pursuing David with one goal in mind, to kill him. Yet in one unexpected moment, Saul unknowingly walked into the very cave where David was hiding. David’s men couldn’t believe it. They were convinced God had delivered Saul into David’s hands. Everything seemed to point to one conclusion. Finally, this ends now.

Instead, David quietly cut off the corner of Saul’s robe. Even then, his conscience was troubled because he knew he had dishonored the king God had appointed. David understood something that many of us forget. Just because an opportunity presents itself doesn’t mean God is giving us permission to act on it.

Here are three lessons from David’s response that can help us navigate difficult relationships and challenging circumstances today.

1. Not Every Opportunity Is God’s Permission

David’s men interpreted the situation as God’s answer but David listened to God’s heart instead of the opinions around him. Sometimes what looks like an open door is actually a test of our character.

Before making an important decision, pause and ask yourself if it agrees with God’s character and His Word. Maybe someone who has hurt you suddenly becomes vulnerable. Instead of taking advantage of the situation, choose mercy. Or maybe you’re offered a shortcut at work that compromises your integrity. Just because you can, doesn’t mean you should.

Opportunity should never become a substitute for obedience.

2. Let God Be the Judge

David refused to take revenge because he trusted God to handle Saul in His own way and in His own time. That’s one of the hardest lessons we learn as believers. We like justice, especially when we’re the ones who have been wronged. Sometimes we’d even like to help God administer it.

Release your need to make everything right. If someone has spoken against you, don’t spend all your energy trying to defend yourself. Continue living with integrity and trust God to reveal the truth in His timing. The truth is that God has a much better reputation for handling difficult people than I do.

3. Character Is Built in the Cave

The cave was more than David’s hiding place. It became his classroom. No one else would have blamed David for taking Saul’s life. Yet David’s private decision revealed the condition of his heart. Our greatest moments of spiritual growth often happen when no one else is watching.

Choose to honor God in the unseen moments. Respond with kindness when no one expects it. Keep your word even when it costs you something. Continue doing what is right even when it seems like no one notices. God develops public leaders through private obedience.

One of my favorite parts of this chapter is that David trusted God’s timing more than his own emotions. He knew God had already promised him the throne, but he refused to take it in a way that violated God’s principles. David wasn’t just waiting for a position. He was allowing God to shape his heart while he waited.

I’ve experienced many times in my life where I wanted God to move much faster than He did. There were times I thought I knew exactly how He should solve a problem or open a door. Looking back, I’m so thankful He didn’t always do things my way. While I was focused on changing my circumstances, God was focused on changing my heart. Many of the delays I questioned became the very places where He strengthened my faith, taught me patience, and reminded me that His ways are always better than mine.

Today I want to encourage you to trust God’s timing even when it seems like you have the perfect opportunity to take matters into your own hands. Don’t allow hurt, frustration, or impatience to pull you away from God’s best. Choose integrity over revenge, obedience over shortcuts, and trust over fear. The same God who protected David in the cave is watching over your life today. He knows what has been done to you, He knows what He has promised you, and He is more than able to bring His plans to pass without you compromising your character. Let God fight the battles that belong to Him while you remain faithful to the path He has placed before you.

Today’s Scripture Reading: 1 Samuel 24

1 Now it happened, when Saul had returned from following the Philistines, that it was told him, saying, “Take note! David is in the Wilderness of En Gedi.” 

2 Then Saul took three thousand chosen men from all Israel and went to seek David and his men on the Rocks of the Wild Goats. 

3 So he came to the sheepfolds by the road, where there was a cave; and Saul went in to attend to his needs. (David and his men were staying in the recesses of the cave.) 

4 Then the men of David said to him, “This is the day of which the Lord said to you, ‘Behold, I will deliver your enemy into your hand, that you may do to him as it seems good to you.’ ” And David arose and secretly cut off a corner of Saul’s robe. 

5 Now it happened afterward that David’s heart troubled him because he had cut Saul’s robe. 

6 And he said to his men, “The Lord forbid that I should do this thing to my master, the Lord’s anointed, to stretch out my hand against him, seeing he is the anointed of the Lord.” 

7 So David restrained his servants with these words and did not allow them to rise against Saul. And Saul got up from the cave and went on his way.

8 David also arose afterward, went out of the cave, and called out to Saul, saying, “My lord the king!” And when Saul looked behind him, David stooped with his face to the earth and bowed down. 

9 And David said to Saul: “Why do you listen to the words of men who say, ‘Indeed David seeks your harm’? 

10 Look, this day your eyes have seen that the Lord delivered you today into my hand in the cave, and someone urged me to kill you. But my eye spared you, and I said, ‘I will not stretch out my hand against my lord, for he is the Lord’s anointed.’ 

11 Moreover, my father, see! Yes, see the corner of your robe in my hand! For in that I cut off the corner of your robe, and did not kill you, know and see that there is neither evil nor rebellion in my hand, and I have not sinned against you. Yet you hunt my life to take it. 

12 Let the Lord judge between you and me and let the Lord avenge me on you. But my hand shall not be against you. 

13 As the proverb of the ancients says, ‘Wickedness proceeds from the wicked.’ But my hand shall not be against you. 

14 After whom has the king of Israel come out? Whom do you pursue? A dead dog? A flea? 

15 Therefore let the Lord be judge, and judge between you and me, and see and plead my case, and deliver me out of your hand.”

16 So it was, when David had finished speaking these words to Saul, that Saul said, “Is this your voice, my son David?” And Saul lifted up his voice and wept. 

17 Then he said to David: “You are more righteous than I; for you have rewarded me with good, whereas I have rewarded you with evil. 

18 And you have shown this day how you have dealt well with me; for when the Lord delivered me into your hand, you did not kill me. 

19 For if a man finds his enemy, will he let him get away safely? Therefore, may the Lord reward you with good for what you have done to me this day. 

20 And now I know indeed that you shall surely be king, and that the kingdom of Israel shall be established in your hand. 

21 Therefore swear now to me by the Lord that you will not cut off my descendants after me, and that you will not destroy my name from my father’s house.”

22 So David swore to Saul. And Saul went home, but David and his men went up to the stronghold.

Journal:

• Is there a situation where I have been tempted to take matters into my own hands instead of trusting God?
• Have I mistaken an opportunity for God’s permission?
• Is there someone I need to release into God’s hands instead of trying to change them myself?
• What is God developing in my character during this current season?
• How can I choose integrity over convenience this week?

Strengthen One Another

Then Jonathan, Saul’s son, got up and went to David in the woods and strengthened his hand in God. ~ 1 Samuel 23:16

Have you ever had one of those days when you knew what God had promised, but you just needed someone to remind you? Not someone to solve your problems or tell you what you should have done differently. Just someone to come alongside you and say, “Don’t give up. God hasn’t forgotten you.” Those kinds of people are rare, and they are priceless.

In today’s scripture reading, David was once again running for his life. Even after rescuing the city of Keilah, Saul continued pursuing him. David was hiding in the wilderness, uncertain about what tomorrow would bring. Then something beautiful happened. Jonathan found David, not to complain, not to gossip, and not to offer his own opinion. He came for one purpose, to strengthen David’s hand in God.

I love that phrase. Jonathan didn’t simply encourage David with positive thinking. He reminded him of God’s promises. He pointed David back to the One who had already called him to be king.

As God’s people today, we all need people like Jonathan in our lives. Even more, God wants us to become that kind of person for someone else.

Below are three truths from this chapter that can strengthen our own walk with the Lord.

1. God Often Encourages Us Through People

Sometimes we pray for God to encourage us, and He sends a friend. Jonathan was God’s answer to David’s discouragement. God still works that way today.

Pay attention to the people God places in your path. If a friend comes to mind, don’t assume it’s just a random thought. Send the text. Make the phone call. Write the note. Invite them to lunch. Your simple act of encouragement may be exactly what they needed that day. Sometimes the most spiritual thing you can do is simply show up.

2. Point People to God, Not Yourself

Jonathan didn’t tell David how strong David was. He reminded David how faithful God was. There’s a big difference. Our encouragement should build people’s confidence in God, not in self.

When someone shares a struggle with you, don’t rush to fix everything. Instead, remind them of God’s faithfulness. Share a Scripture. Pray with them. Help them remember what God has already done in their life. People don’t always need your opinions. They need God’s promises.

3. Don’t Let Opposition Stop Your Assignment

David was hiding, but he wasn’t forgotten. God’s calling on his life had not changed simply because his circumstances had. Neither has yours.

Don’t allow difficult seasons to convince you that God’s plan has changed. Perhaps you’ve experienced rejection, disappointment, delays, or unexpected setbacks. Instead of assuming you’ve missed God’s will, continue doing the last thing He asked you to do while trusting Him for the next step. Just because the road gets rough doesn’t mean you’ve made a wrong turn.

One of the things I appreciate most about Jonathan is that he didn’t make David’s situation about himself. He wasn’t jealous of David’s future, even though David would one day become king instead of him. Jonathan genuinely wanted to see God’s plan fulfilled in David’s life. That kind of humility is rare. It reminds me to ask myself whether I’m the kind of friend who points people toward God or toward my own advice. We all need friends who strengthen our faith, but we should also strive to become that kind of friend that has the others best interest in mind.

Today I want to encourage you to look for opportunities to strengthen someone’s hand in God. Ask the Holy Spirit to show you who needs encouragement today. You don’t have to preach a sermon or have all the answers. Sometimes one Scripture, one prayer, one phone call, or one conversation is enough to remind someone that God is still faithful. At the same time, don’t be afraid to receive encouragement from others when you need it. God often ministers to His children through His children. As you continue to point others toward Him, you’ll discover that encouragement has a wonderful way of strengthening both the one who gives it and the one who receives it.

Today’s Scripture Reading: 1 Samuel 23

1 Then they told David, saying, “Look, the Philistines are fighting against Keilah, and they are robbing the threshing floors.”

2 Therefore David inquired of the Lord, saying, “Shall I go and attack these Philistines?”

And the Lord said to David, “Go and attack the Philistines, and save Keilah.”

3 But David’s men said to him, “Look, we are afraid here in Judah. How much more then if we go to Keilah against the armies of the Philistines?” 

4 Then David inquired of the Lord once again.

And the Lord answered him and said, “Arise, go down to Keilah. For I will deliver the Philistines into your hand.” 

5 And David and his men went to Keilah and fought with the Philistines, struck them with a mighty blow, and took away their livestock. So David saved the inhabitants of Keilah.

6 Now it happened, when Abiathar the son of Ahimelech fled to David at Keilah, that he went down with an ephod in his hand.

7 And Saul was told that David had gone to Keilah. So Saul said, “God has delivered him into my hand, for he has shut himself in by entering a town that has gates and bars.” 

8 Then Saul called all the people together for war, to go down to Keilah to besiege David and his men.

9 When David knew that Saul plotted evil against him, he said to Abiathar the priest, “Bring the ephod here.” 

10 Then David said, “O Lord God of Israel, Your servant has certainly heard that Saul seeks to come to Keilah to destroy the city for my sake. 

11 Will the men of Keilah deliver me into his hand? Will Saul come down, as Your servant has heard? O Lord God of Israel, I pray, tell Your servant.”

And the Lord said, “He will come down.”

12 Then David said, “Will the men of Keilah deliver me and my men into the hand of Saul?”

And the Lord said, “They will deliver you.”

13 So David and his men, about six hundred, arose and departed from Keilah and went wherever they could go. Then it was told Saul that David had escaped from Keilah; so he halted the expedition.

14 And David stayed in strongholds in the wilderness, and remained in the mountains in the Wilderness of Ziph. Saul sought him every day, but God did not deliver him into his hand. 

15 So David saw that Saul had come out to seek his life. And David was in the Wilderness of Ziph in a forest. 

16 Then Jonathan, Saul’s son, arose and went to David in the woods and strengthened his hand in God. 

17 And he said to him, “Do not fear, for the hand of Saul my father shall not find you. You shall be king over Israel, and I shall be next to you. Even my father Saul knows that.” 

18 So the two of them made a covenant before the Lord. And David stayed in the woods, and Jonathan went to his own house.

19 Then the Ziphites came up to Saul at Gibeah, saying, “Is David not hiding with us in strongholds in the woods, in the hill of Hachilah, which is on the south of Jeshimon? 

20 Now therefore, O king, come down according to all the desire of your soul to come down; and our part shall be to deliver him into the king’s hand.”

21 And Saul said, “Blessed are you of the Lord, for you have compassion on me. 

22 Please go and find out for sure, and see the place where his hideout is, and who has seen him there. For I am told he is very crafty. 

23 See therefore, and take knowledge of all the lurking places where he hides; and come back to me with certainty, and I will go with you. And it shall be, if he is in the land, that I will search for him throughout all the clans of Judah.”

24 So they arose and went to Ziph before Saul. But David and his men were in the Wilderness of Maon, in the plain on the south of Jeshimon. 

25 When Saul and his men went to seek him, they told David. Therefore he went down to the rock, and stayed in the Wilderness of Maon. And when Saul heard that, he pursued David in the Wilderness of Maon. 

26 Then Saul went on one side of the mountain, and David and his men on the other side of the mountain. So David made haste to get away from Saul, for Saul and his men were encircling David and his men to take them.

27 But a messenger came to Saul, saying, “Hurry and come, for the Philistines have invaded the land!” 

28 Therefore Saul returned from pursuing David, and went against the Philistines; so they called that place the Rock of Escape. 

29 Then David went up from there and dwelt in strongholds at En Gedi.

Journal:

• Who has strengthened my hand in God during a difficult season?
• Is there someone the Lord has been prompting me to encourage?
• When people come to me with struggles, do I point them toward God’s promises or only offer my own opinions?
• How has God remained faithful to me during seasons of uncertainty?
• What is one practical way I can strengthen someone in the Lord this week?

You Are in Good Company

“And everyone who was in distress, everyone who was in debt, and everyone who was discontented gathered to him. So he became captain over them…” ~ 1 Samuel 22:2

Have you ever looked around at your life and thought, Lord, I don’t exactly have the dream team around me right now? Or maybe you’ve looked at yourself and wondered if God could really use someone with your struggles, disappointments, or past mistakes.

If so, I have some encouraging news for you. You are in good company. When David fled from Saul and hid in the cave of Adullam, he wasn’t surrounded by Israel’s military leaders, wealthy businessmen, or influential politicians. The people who came to him were described as distressed, in debt, and discontented. They were carrying emotional burdens, financial struggles, and difficult circumstances. Humanly speaking, they didn’t look like the people you would choose to build a strong and godly kingdom.

Yet those were exactly the people God brought to David. Over time, this unlikely group became David’s mighty men, courageous warriors who helped establish one of the greatest kingdoms in Israel’s history. God has always had a habit of seeing what others overlook.

Here are three encouraging truths from this chapter to consider.

1. God Doesn’t Wait Until You Have It All Together

Every person who came to David arrived with some kind of struggle. They were broken people. They weren’t polished, successful or have impressive resumes. They simply came as they were. The same invitation still exists today.

Stop believing that you have to fix yourself before God can use you. If you’re carrying financial burdens, emotional wounds, family struggles, or regrets from your past, don’t allow those things to convince you that God has set you aside. Bring them to Him. He has always specialized in restoring broken lives. God isn’t looking for perfect people. He’s looking for willing and open hearts.

2. Your Current Situation Doesn’t Define Your Future

The men who gathered around David were known by their problems. In debt, distress and discontent. Those descriptions were true, but they weren’t permanent. God transformed their identity.

Refuse to let your present circumstances become your permanent identity. Just because you’ve experienced failure doesn’t make you a failure. Just because you’re struggling financially doesn’t mean you’ll always struggle. Just because you’re discouraged today doesn’t mean you’ll stay there. God has the final word over your life.

3. God Often Builds Great Things with Unlikely People

David didn’t build his kingdom with people the world admired. He built it with people God sent him that He was transforming. That’s still how God works today. He delights in taking ordinary people and doing extraordinary things through them.

Don’t overlook the people God has placed around you. The person sitting beside you at church, your small group, or even your workplace may be quietly walking through a difficult season. Instead of judging their current circumstances, encourage them. You never know who God is preparing for something miraculous. Today’s struggling believer may become tomorrow’s mighty servant of God.

One of the things I love most about this chapter is that no one had to pretend they had everything together before joining David. They came to him broken, with real problems, real disappointments, and real needs. Isn’t that exactly how we come to Jesus? None of us earns our place in God’s family by having a perfect life. We come because we recognize our need for Him. Then, little by little, He begins transforming us from the inside out. What the world sees as broken, God sees as full of potential.

Today I want to encourage you to stop measuring your worth by your current circumstances. If you’ve been discouraged, burdened, struggling financially, or wondering whether God can still use your life, remember that you are in good company. God has always chosen ordinary people with imperfect stories to accomplish extraordinary purposes. Bring Him your brokenness, your disappointments, and your unanswered questions. He isn’t intimidated by any of them. The same God who transformed the distressed, indebted, and discouraged followers of David is still transforming lives today. Your story isn’t over, and your greatest chapters may still be ahead of you.

Today’s Scripture Reading: 1 Samuel 22

1 David therefore departed from there and escaped to the cave of Adullam. So when his brothers and all his father’s house heard it, they went down there to him. 

2 And everyone who was in distress, everyone who was in debt, and everyone who was discontented gathered to him. So he became captain over them. And there were about four hundred men with him.

3 Then David went from there to Mizpah of Moab; and he said to the king of Moab, “Please let my father and mother come here with you, till I know what God will do for me.” 

4 So he brought them before the king of Moab, and they dwelt with him all the time that David was in the stronghold.

5 Now the prophet Gad said to David, “Do not stay in the stronghold; depart, and go to the land of Judah.” So David departed and went into the forest of Hereth.

Saul Murders the Priests

6 When Saul heard that David and the men who were with him had been discovered—now Saul was staying in Gibeah under a tamarisk tree in Ramah, with his spear in his hand, and all his servants standing about him— 

7 then Saul said to his servants who stood about him, “Hear now, you Benjamites! Will the son of Jesse give every one of you fields and vineyards, and make you all captains of thousands and captains of hundreds? 

8 All of you have conspired against me, and there is no one who reveals to me that my son has made a covenant with the son of Jesse; and there is not one of you who is sorry for me or reveals to me that my son has stirred up my servant against me, to lie in wait, as it is this day.”

9 Then answered Doeg the Edomite, who was set over the servants of Saul, and said, “I saw the son of Jesse going to Nob, to Ahimelech the son of Ahitub. 

10 And he inquired of the Lord for him, gave him provisions, and gave him the sword of Goliath the Philistine.”

11 So the king sent to call Ahimelech the priest, the son of Ahitub, and all his father’s house, the priests who were in Nob. And they all came to the king. 

12 And Saul said, “Hear now, son of Ahitub!”

He answered, “Here I am, my lord.”

13 Then Saul said to him, “Why have you conspired against me, you and the son of Jesse, in that you have given him bread and a sword, and have inquired of God for him, that he should rise against me, to lie in wait, as it is this day?”

14 So Ahimelech answered the king and said, “And who among all your servants is as faithful as David, who is the king’s son-in-law, who goes at your bidding, and is honorable in your house? 

15 Did I then begin to inquire of God for him? Far be it from me! Let not the king impute anything to his servant, or to any in the house of my father. For your servant knew nothing of all this, little or much.”

16 And the king said, “You shall surely die, Ahimelech, you and all your father’s house!” 

17 Then the king said to the guards who stood about him, “Turn and kill the priests of the Lord, because their hand also is with David, and because they knew when he fled and did not tell it to me.” But the servants of the king would not lift their hands to strike the priests of the Lord. 

18 And the king said to Doeg, “You turn and kill the priests!” So Doeg the Edomite turned and struck the priests, and killed on that day eighty-five men who wore a linen ephod. 

19 Also Nob, the city of the priests, he struck with the edge of the sword, both men and women, children and nursing infants, oxen and donkeys and sheep—with the edge of the sword.

20 Now one of the sons of Ahimelech the son of Ahitub, named Abiathar, escaped and fled after David. 

21 And Abiathar told David that Saul had killed the Lord’s priests. 

22 So David said to Abiathar, “I knew that day, when Doeg the Edomite was there, that he would surely tell Saul. I have caused the death of all the persons of your father’s house. 

23 Stay with me; do not fear. For he who seeks my life seeks your life, but with me you shall be safe.”

Journal:

• Have I allowed my current struggles to define how I see myself?
• What areas of my life do I need to surrender to God instead of trying to fix on my own?
• How has God already shown His faithfulness in difficult seasons of my life?
• Is there someone around me who needs encouragement instead of judgment?
• What would change if I truly believed God could use me exactly where I am today?

Speak to the Mountain part 2

For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be removed and be cast into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says.” ~ Mark 11:23

Have you ever been absolutely convinced God could do something, but wasn’t sure if He would do it for you? That’s a question many believers wrestle with. We believe God is able, but sometimes we aren’t quite as convinced that He is willing to work in our own situation.

Yesterday we talked about speaking to our mountains with the promises God has given us in His Word. Today I want to focus on the rest of this verse. Jesus said we must not doubt in our hearts and must believe that what we say will come to pass. At first glance, that sounds pretty simple. All we have to do is just don’t doubt, right?  But most of the time that is a lot easier said than done.

The first place to begin is by settling one important question once and for all. Is God’s Word the final authority in your life? If we question whether the Bible is true or whether God’s promises are dependable, we’ll never speak them with confidence. Faith grows when we’ve already settled in our hearts that God’s Word is trustworthy and true, whether our circumstances agree with it or not.

The second part of Jesus’ instruction is just as important. He said we must believe that what we are saying will come to pass. This is where many of us struggle. It’s one thing to quote a Bible verse, but it’s another thing to truly believe it applies to our own situation. Sometimes we speak God’s promises while secretly wondering if they’ll really work for us. Other times, we find ourselves talking more about our problem than His promise. Jesus wasn’t telling us to simply repeat words. He was teaching us to believe in our hearts that God’s Word is true and that He will faithfully do what He has promised.

When you speak God’s promises over your circumstances, you’re not hoping they might work. You’re standing on what God has already said. You aren’t wondering whether He’ll keep His promise, you’re believing that He always keeps His Word.

This was a huge turning point in my own walk with the Lord. I never doubted that God could do what He promised. I knew He was powerful enough. What I struggled with was believing He would do it for me.

Maybe you’ve been there too. That’s why spending personal quiet time with God every day is so important. As I started spending time with Him consistently every day, I begin to get to know Him and His character better. I discovered His integrity, His love, His faithfulness, and His goodness. It didn’t take long before I believed in a promise because I realized that He always keeps His Word. That’s when I figured out that I could 100% believe and trust the One who made the promise.

It’s the same for you.  The more you know Him, the easier it becomes to believe Him. Isaiah 55:11 assures us that God’s Word goes forth from His mouth and will not return to Him void, without results. It will accomplish what He sends it to do.

Think about that for a moment. Every promise God has ever spoken has a purpose. None of His words are empty. None of them expire or go out of style. None of them come with a disclaimer written in tiny print at the bottom that says, “Offer not valid for you.” God’s promises are dependable because God is dependable.

When you’re facing a difficult situation, ask the Holy Spirit to bring a specific Scripture to your heart. Often, He’ll remind you of a verse you’ve read before or lead you to one you’ve never noticed. As that promise settles into your heart, your confidence begins to grow because you’re no longer holding on to wishful thinking. You’re holding on to God’s Word. Keep that promise before you throughout the days. When worry or fear tries to creep back in, let it become a reminder to thank God for that promise once again. Instead of talking to all your friends about the problem, remember what God has said. Then thank your heavenly Father that He is already at work, even if you haven’t seen the answer with your natural eyes yet.

Here are a few practical ways to strengthen your faith today.

• Decide that God’s Word will be the highest authority in your life.
• Ask the Holy Spirit to give you a Scripture that speaks directly to your current situation.
• Read that passage several times until it becomes familiar.
• Speak that promise out loud every day with confidence and thanksgiving.
• Spend quiet time with the Lord, not just to receive answers, but to know Him better and strengthen your relationship with Him.
• When doubts come, answer them with Scripture instead of speaking them out to others.

Faith isn’t the absence of questions. It’s choosing to trust God’s character even when you don’t have every answer.

Today I want to encourage you to settle in your heart that God is faithful and that every promise He has spoken is worthy of your complete trust. Spend time getting to know Him, because faith grows naturally in the presence of the One who can never fail. Then take the promise He gives you and speak it over your mountain with confidence. As you continue to believe His Word and trust His heart, you’ll discover that your confidence isn’t built on your circumstances changing first. It’s built on the unchanging character of God, who always keeps His Word.

Today’s Scripture Reading: Mark 11:20 – 24

20 Now in the morning, as they passed by, they saw the fig tree dried up from the roots. 

21 And Peter, remembering, said to Him, “Rabbi, look! The fig tree which You cursed has withered away.”

22 So Jesus answered and said to them, “Have faith in God. 

23 For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be removed and be cast into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says. 

24 Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them.

Journal:

• Do I truly believe God’s promises are for me personally, or have I been quietly questioning whether they’ll work in my life?
• What area of my life has been the greatest challenge to trust God completely?
• What promise from God’s Word has the Holy Spirit been bringing to my attention recently?
• How can I spend more intentional time getting to know God’s character instead of only asking Him to solve my problems?
• What mountain am I ready to begin speaking God’s promises over with renewed confidence today?

Speak to the Mountain part 1

“For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be removed and be cast into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says.” ~ Mark 11:23

Have you ever noticed how mountains seem to have a way of getting all your attention? It’s hard to focus on anything else when a giant obstacle is standing right in front of you. Mountains don’t politely step aside and let you enjoy the view. They seem to say, “Everybody stop what you are doing and only look at me!” Thankfully, in today’s scripture reading, Jesus had something to say about mountains and how to deal with them.

For years I struggled with this verse. It always seemed too big and unattainable for me to grasp, mostly because I was focused on the mountain. Isn’t that what we all tend to do when trouble comes? We see the problem, the obstacle, or the impossible situation. It captures our attention and seems to block our view of everything else. That’s exactly what the enemy wants. If he can keep our eyes on the problem, he can distract us from God’s promises and purpose at that time.

Here’s what usually happened in my life. First, I’d spend some time running straight into the mountain. Then I’d try to figure out a way around it, unsuccessfully I might add. If Plan A didn’t work, I’d try Plan B, then Plan C, and somewhere around Plan Q I’d finally decide to ask God for help.

My prayer about the mountain usually sounded something like this:

“Lord, I have this huge mountain in front of me. It’s so big I don’t know what to do. I’ve tried everything I know, but nothing is working. Please do something.”

Then I’d pray that same prayer again the next day, and probably the day after that. I thought I was doing the spiritual thing. After all, I was talking to God, and He certainly could handle my mountain problem.

Then one day I noticed something I had overlooked in this passage. Jesus didn’t tell me to spend all my time talking to God about the size of the mountain. He told me to speak directly to the mountain.

Wait…what?

I’m supposed to talk to my problems? That didn’t make any sense to me and I wasn’t used to speaking God’s Word directly into difficult situations.

Then it finally clicked. Those mountains aren’t just obstacles. They’re opportunities to use the weapon God has already placed in our hands and heart, His Word. The sword of the Spirit wasn’t given to us to decorate the shelf. It was given to us to cut through the obstacles that life places in front of us.

Now, instead of focusing on the mountain, I begin speaking God’s promises over the situation. If I’m facing financial pressure, I declare, “My God shall supply all my need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus” as He already said in Philippians 4:19.

If anxiety tries to take over, I remind myself, “I let the peace of God rule in my heart, to which I am also called, and I am thankful” from Colossians 3:15.

If sickness attempts to gain ground, I proclaim, “The Lord forgives all my iniquities and heals all my diseases” as promised in Psalm 103:3.

The mountain may still be standing for a while, but now it hears something different. It hears the promises of God instead of what I was afraid of.

Here are a few practical ways to begin speaking to your mountain today.

• Identify the biggest mountain you’re facing right now.
• Find two or three Bible verses that speak directly to that situation.
• Write those verses on a card, in a notebook, or on your phone where you’ll see them often.
• Speak those promises out loud every day with confidence and thank the Lord for them.
• When fear or doubt try to creep in, answer it with God’s Word instead of your emotions.
• Thank God daily that He is already working, even before you see the mountain move.

God never intended for His children to be intimidated by mountains. He has given us His Word, His authority, and His promises so we can face every obstacle with confidence.

Whether you realize it or not, your circumstances are speaking to you every day. They tell you there isn’t enough, those symptoms mean you’re sick, your situation will never change, or something terrible is going to happen to the people you love. Those thoughts may be loud, but they are not the final authority. God’s Word is. Don’t let your circumstances have the last word. Talk back to them with the truth of God’s promises and declare what He says instead of what your feelings or circumstances are trying to convince you is true.

Today I want to encourage you to stop measuring your mountain and start declaring God’s promises over it. Spend less time describing the problem and more time speaking what God has already said. Every promise in His Word reminds you that He is greater than any obstacle you’ll ever face. As you continue to speak His truth with faith, you’ll discover that mountains don’t move because they’re impressed with us. They move because they must respond to the authority of God’s Word. Keep speaking, keep believing, and watch as the Lord makes a way where there once seemed to be no way.

Today’s Scripture Reading: Mark 11:20 – 24

20 Now in the morning, as they passed by, they saw the fig tree dried up from the roots. 

21 And Peter, remembering, said to Him, “Rabbi, look! The fig tree which You cursed has withered away.”

22 So Jesus answered and said to them, “Have faith in God. 

23 For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be removed and be cast into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says. 

24 Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them.

Journal:

• What mountain has captured most of my attention recently?
• Have I spent more time talking about the problem or speaking God’s promises over it?
• What Scriptures can I begin declaring over my situation this week?
• How would my conversations change if I focused more on God’s promises than my obstacles?
• What step of faith can I take today that demonstrates I’m trusting God to move my mountain?

The Unexpected Provision

“So the priest said, ‘The sword of Goliath the Philistine, whom you killed in the Valley of Elah, there it is, wrapped in a cloth behind the ephod. If you will take that, take it. For there is no other except that one here.’ And David said, ‘There is none like it, give it to me.'” ~ 1 Samuel 21:9

Have you ever prayed for God to provide, only to discover His answer came from the last place you would have thought to look? We often picture His provision arriving neatly wrapped with a bow and a note that says, “Special Delivery from Heaven.” Instead, He sometimes reaches into yesterday’s victories to meet today’s needs.

That’s exactly what happened to David in today’s scripture reading. Only a short time earlier, David had been celebrated as the hero who defeated Goliath. Now he was running for his life. He was tired, hungry, alone, and uncertain about what tomorrow would bring. From the outside, it may have looked like everything was falling apart but from God’s perspective, everything was unfolding according to His plan.

David arrived at Nob with no food and no weapon. God met both of those needs. He received the holy bread to satisfy his hunger, and the very sword that once belonged to Goliath, the giant became the weapon he would carry into his next season of his life. Sometimes God provides exactly what we need, just not the way we expected.

Here are some truths from this chapter in 1 Samuel to hold on to.

1. God’s provision more often comes one step at a time rather than all at once.

David didn’t receive a complete roadmap. He simply received enough for that day. Bread for his hunger, a sword for protection and the next step. Sometimes we’d love for God to hand us a five-year plan complete with diagrams, calendars, and highlighted notes. Instead, He says, “Trust Me with today.”

Maybe you’re praying about your future, wondering where your next job will come from, how you’ll pay a bill, or what decision you should make. God may not answer every question today, but He will faithfully provide what you need for today’s step. Tomorrow’s grace will come right on time tomorrow.

2. Don’t overlook yesterday’s victories.

Isn’t it interesting that David’s next weapon was Goliath’s old sword? The very evidence of one of God’s greatest miracles became part of David’s future. God has a wonderful way of reminding us what He’s already done in our lives.

When we’re facing new challenges, it’s easy to forget how faithful He’s been. We remember today’s problems more easily than yesterday’s victories. Take time to remember the prayers He’s already answered, the doors He opened, the healing He brought and the provision that arrived right on time. Those memories build confidence for today’s battles.  Keep the promises in His Word close to your heart and read them often to get you through your struggles. Besides, if God defeated one giant, He certainly will do it again.

3. God’s presence is your greatest source of security.

David had bread and a sword, but what David really needed was the Lord. The bread would eventually be eaten. The sword would eventually wear out but God’s presence would never leave him.

The same is true for us. It’s easy to place our confidence in our savings account, our job, our abilities, or even the people around us. Those things are blessings, but they aren’t our source. God and His Word is. When our confidence rests in Him, we can face uncertain times with peace because our security isn’t based on changing circumstances. It’s based on our unchanging heavenly Father.

Here are a few practical ways to begin applying these truths today.

• Thank God for the ways He has already provided in your life.
• Write down three past victories that remind you of His faithfulness.
• Focus on today’s assignment instead of worrying about every future detail.
• Pray specifically for your current needs, water it with thanksgiving, then trust God to provide in His timing.
• Keep your eyes open for unexpected answers to prayer.
• Spend time with the Lord every day, remembering that His presence is your greatest provision.

One of my favorite parts of this chapter is that David didn’t know how the story would end. He didn’t know where he would sleep the next night and he didn’t know when Saul would stop pursuing him. He simply kept moving forward with what God had provided. Sometimes that’s exactly what faith looks like. It’s taking the bread God gives today, picking up the sword He places in your hand, and trusting Him for tomorrow.

Today I want to encourage you to trust God’s provision, even when it arrives in unexpected ways. Don’t become discouraged if you can’t see the entire journey ahead. God has never asked you to carry tomorrow’s burdens today. Instead, receive what He has placed in your hands, remember His faithfulness in the past, and confidently take the next step He is showing you. The same God who fed David, armed David, and protected David is faithfully caring for you. He already knows what you’ll need before you even ask, and He is more than able to provide everything necessary for the journey He has called you to walk.

Today’s scripture reading: 1 Samuel 21

1 Now David came to Nob, to Ahimelech the priest. And Ahimelech was afraid when he met David, and said to him, “Why are you alone, and no one is with you?”

2 So David said to Ahimelech the priest, “The king has ordered me on some business, and said to me, ‘Do not let anyone know anything about the business on which I send you, or what I have commanded you.’ And I have directed my young men to such and such a place. 

3 Now therefore, what have you on hand? Give me five loaves of bread in my hand, or whatever can be found.”

4 And the priest answered David and said, “There is no common bread on hand; but there is holy bread, if the young men have at least kept themselves from women.”

5 Then David answered the priest, and said to him, “Truly, women have been kept from us about three days since I came out. And the vessels of the young men are holy, and the bread is in effect common, even though it was consecrated in the vessel this day.”

6 So the priest gave him holy bread; for there was no bread there but the showbread which had been taken from before the Lord, in order to put hot bread in its place on the day when it was taken away.

7 Now a certain man of the servants of Saul was there that day, detained before the Lord. And his name was Doeg, an Edomite, the chief of the herdsmen who belonged to Saul.

8 And David said to Ahimelech, “Is there not here on hand a spear or a sword? For I have brought neither my sword nor my weapons with me, because the king’s business required haste.”

9 So the priest said, “The sword of Goliath the Philistine, whom you killed in the Valley of Elah, there it is, wrapped in a cloth behind the ephod. If you will take that, take it. For there is no other except that one here.” And David said, “There is none like it; give it to me.”

10 Then David arose and fled that day from before Saul, and went to Achish the king of Gath. 

11 And the servants of Achish said to him, “Is this not David the king of the land? Did they not sing of him to one another in dances, saying: ‘Saul has slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands’?”

12 Now David took these words to heart, and was very much afraid of Achish the king of Gath. 

13 So he changed his behavior before them, pretended madness in their hands, scratched on the doors of the gate, and let his saliva fall down on his beard. 

14 Then Achish said to his servants, “Look, you see the man is insane. Why have you brought him to me? 

15 Have I need of madmen, that you have brought this fellow to play the madman in my presence? Shall this fellow come into my house?”

Journal Questions

• Where have I seen God’s unexpected provision in my life before?
• Am I focused more on tomorrow’s uncertainties than today’s blessings?
• What past victory reminds me that God is still faithful today?
• What has God already placed in my hands that I may be overlooking?
• What is the next step of faith God is asking me to take today?