1 Samuel 30:6b. …but David encouraged himself in the Lord his God.
Ah mih people, I don’t know what to say nuh, except that the best laid plans of mice and men usually go astray. (smile) My schedule yesterday was unexpectedly busier than I foresaw, and consequently I fell behind in accomplishing all that I wanted to.
But even then, I never expected to rise this late, because I had gotten some sleep in between. It just goes to show that I’m still not accustomed to this new me, what with all the different medications I’m taking, and I can’t judge the needs of my body correctly. Apparently I’m not as strong as I seem to think I am. Ah Lord eh!
But nonetheless, we’re here now and motoring on. And we’ll do so with a positive, uplifting prayer from Gramps Schuller’s (Dr. Robert H. Schuller) Hour of Power Devotional. Many of us have prayed it before, but it’s ever so appropriate for the foggy day that’s happening in my area.
Please pray with me. ‘Thank you, Father, for the beautiful surprises you are planning for me today. So often in my life, when it looked like the day would be dismal, depressing and dark, an unexpected burst of golden sunshine exploded through a black cloud sending inspiring shafts of warm, beautiful sunshine into my life.
Father, it is happening now! I can already feel the power of your LOVE, through Christ my Lord. Amen!’
Ah friends, I’m certainly feeling the power of God’s LOVE now! I certainly hope that you are too. And I’m not joking. Just typing that prayer raised my spirits a whole lot. And my people, do we ever need stuff to positively raise our spirits in this selfish, evil, wicked and war-mongering world!
Consider Bruh David nuh, when his previously loyal people wanted to stone him, after they discovered that the Amalekites had burned their city of Ziklag and carried away all their families and goods captive.
He was alone. No one sat with him. No one seemed concerned that he had lost his family too. How was he going to proceed? How was he going to prevent the imminent disaster that stared him straight in the face eh?
But before we answer that, let’s ask ourselves, how would we have handled that situation, and how do we handle similar situations in our lives; the ones where we seem to have no avenue of escape, and it all depends on us?
I sincerely hope that we do like Bruh David did in our Bit: ‘ …but David encouraged himself in the Lord his God.’
Yes my brethren, that’s the first reaction to all our troubles! Or at least it should be the first one. And it’s all a matter of faith, of true and sincere belief my friends!
But unfortunately, before we can get to that state of maturity, before we can develop such strong faith we have to undergo many trials and tribulation, because it’s only those negative situations that build our faith.
Most likely, if Bruh David had not been dealing with the Lord on a personal basis for a long time and remembered his awesome works in his life, he would have fallen apart, even perhaps given up. But that strong trust in the God of his forefathers caused him not to fall over and be consumed by the anger and resentment of his hitherto loyal followers.
And I contend again friends, that in this disloyal, untrustworthy and hateful world, we need that kind of strong, trustworthy, unbreakable relationship with our heavenly Father, if we want to successfully walk this earth.
And many of us have it, but when the rough times come, we simply forget about all the other times when the Lord bailed us out of trouble, and instead we moan and groan and gnash our teeth, wondering how we’re going to get out.
My precious people of God, please remember we serve an ever-faithful God, and if He bailed us out before, there’s no reason He won’t bail us out again. And furthermore, if He’s the Creator of the universe, the most powerful Being therein, then whom else better to turn to in times of trouble eh? NOBODY!
Now listen to this uplifting story of strengthening and brotherly LOVE. On one of the many times Bruh David was out in the wilderness hiding from Saul, the Good Book tells us: ‘And Jonathan, Saul’s son arose, and went to David into the wood, and strengthened his hand in God (encouraged him).
And he said unto him, Fear not: for the hand of Saul my father shall not find thee; and thou shalt be king over Israel, and I shall be next to thee; and that also Saul my father knoweth. And the two made a covenant before the Lord: and David abode in the wood, and Jonathan went to his house.’ (1 Sam.23:16-18)
Ah mih breddren, those are the kinds of relationships we should ideally have, but sadly, they are very few and far between, thus the necessity of turning to almighty God, FIRST and FOREMOST! If He wants us to turn to people, then He will direct our steps in that direction.
And since it’s Wednesday, let’s end by wailing our Wednesday Wail in all truth and sincerity. All together now: ‘Wednesday, Wednesday, Wednesday: I’m so glad to be alive on this Wednesday! Wednesday, Wednesday, Wednesday: Thank God the breath of life is still flowing through me on this Wednesday!
I am halfway home. My hands are fixed securely on the plough, and I’m not turning back. I’m not looking back at the past, not focusing on what has gone before. But my eyes are fixed straight ahead; straight ahead to a glorious future with Jesus. Glory Hallelujah!’
Much LOVE my precious people of God!
…remember…FIRST God…then man…
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