May 04, 2022
God created men and women in His image. We have been fearfully and wonderfully made with amazing uniqueness and abilities. But none of us were designed to run without God. Millions have tried, with disastrous results. But when a man--particularly a leader--relies upon God with simple, consistent dependency, he discovers that God is waiting to lead him and those who follow him with amazing clarity.
EXHIBIT A
David, the great Shepherd-King of Israel, should be studied, for he lived this humble, dependent life—not perfectly, but more consistently than others.
David inquired of God, saying, “Shall I go up against the Philistines? And will You give them into my hand?” Then the Lord said to him, “Go up, for I will give them into your hand.” So they came up to Baal-perazim, and David defeated them there. (1 Chronicles 14:10-11)
The Philistines made yet another raid in the valley. David inquired again of God, and God said to him, “You shall not go up after them; circle around behind them and come at them in front of the balsam trees. (1 Chronicles 14:13-14)
God led David by communicating with His young leader in prayer. God knew, and David knew that great leadership depends upon simple faith. A willingness to inquire of the Lord and an expectancy that God would hear and direct. Each time David came to the Lord in prayer, God heard and spoke.
Each situation called for new faith and fresh intercession. Every circumstance demanded this dependency and individual instructions. At one point, God told David to go up. In another, to circle to the back and wait for His direction. Only these specific, heeded instructions would bring success.
God is the same today and waits for us to come to Him in prayer. To depend upon Him for direction and to worship Him as He faithfully provides, over and over and over again. He is as ready to lead us as He was to lead David. And if we are people like David who pray and obey with no intermission, we will see the same success.
Father, thank You for Your willingness to speak to us and lead us uniquely. Give us the humility and wisdom to look to you without ceasing throughout today. To hear Your directions on every word that proceeds from our mouths, every direction we need, every instruction for our battles. And give us grace to obey explicitly and worship fully.
January 15, 2025
Imagine a child created by God and for whom He had sent His only begotten Son to redeem and His Spirit to indwell. And then imagine that child ignoring Him, never communing, never praying, never listening, never obeying. And then realize how an attentive, unceasing life of prayer would delight the heart of the Father who made you.
January 14, 2025
Spending hours in solitude with God alone is foreign to us. We are not familiar with God. He is, for most, a distant entity, not an every day Father.
January 13, 2025
What is more important to you than anything else? Check your values, for they will drive you this year. And what value is it if a man gains the whole world but loses his soul?
