Don’t you realize that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God? You do not belong to yourself, for God bought you with a high price. So you must honor God with your body (1 Kings 6:19-20).

These verses came to my mind this morning as I was reading in 1 Kings of the beautiful, elaborate temple that Solomon built for God. Solomon took 20 years and many resources to build a gorgeous physical place for God to dwell and for God to be worshipped. Solomon knew that God was too big and too great to be contained in any one place but he desired to create a holy atmosphere where God would be honored.

When the temple was completed, Solomon dedicated it to the Lord and prayed:
“O Lord, God of Israel, there is no God like you in all of heaven above or on the earth below. You keep your covenant and show unfailing love to all who walk before you in wholehearted devotion. You have kept your promise to your servant David, my father. You made that promise with your own mouth, and with your own hands you have fulfilled it today…”

“But will God really live on earth? Why, even the highest heavens cannot contain you. How much less this Temple I have built! Nevertheless, listen to my prayer and my plea, O Lord my God. Hear the cry and the prayer that your servant is making to you today. May you watch over this Temple night and day, this place where you have said, ‘My name will be there.’” (1 Kings 8:23-24,27-29).

Solomon went on to pray to God for justice, protection, provision, healing, growth, deliverance and forgiveness. Then he prayed, “May your eyes be open to my requests and to the requests of your people Israel. May you hear and answer them whenever they cry out to you” (8:52).

This passage was a connection to me of the earthly temple we build within ourselves, creating a place where the Holy Spirit can dwell – a holy atmosphere where God can be honored. As we open our hearts to God’s will in our lives, He comes in and finishes the work. With His hands, He creates something beautiful and elaborate out of our plain, earthly lives.

Can God be contained in one simple place? No and isn’t that wonderful! Our God is so great and we are so unworthy of His presence yet He shows unfailing love to us when He meets with us and creates within us something holy. And then He places His signature on His artwork – My name will be there.

So this morning my prayer echoes Solomon’s – a prayer for justice, protection, provision, healing, growth, deliverance and forgiveness. Thank you, O Lord, for your faithfulness and for the unfailing love you show to all who walk before you in wholehearted devotion. With confidence I know that you will keep your promises – that the promise you make with your mouth you will fulfill with your own hands. May your eyes be open to my requests and to the requests of your people. May you hear and answer us whenever we cry out to you. Amen.

If you could ask God for anything, what would you ask Him for? If God woke you up this morning with the announcement that He wants to bless you greatly – that you are to choose a gift from Him and He will give it to you in abundance, what gift would you choose?

Remember the wish George made in the movie It’s A Wonderful Life? He wished he had never been born and an angel granted him the wish. For the next few days he saw what life would have been like for everyone else without him. The experience opened his eyes and changed his perspective on life. What if the gift you could ask for from God was one that would forever change you?

This morning I decided to continue on in the Old Testament, finishing up 2 Samuel and moving on to 1 Kings. On his deathbed, King David gives his son Solomon advice on how to lead His people. If I put myself in Solomon’s situation, I imagine he must have felt overwhelmed and unequipped for the job ahead of him. Scripture tells us that Solomon loved the Lord and followed all the decrees of his father, David. But, in addition to his obedience, Solomon worshipped God and sacrificed generously to Him. The Lord saw Solomon’s heart and asked, “What do you want? Ask, and I will give it to you!”

Solomon replied, “You showed faithful love to your servant my father, David, because he was honest and true and faithful to you. And you have continued your faithful love to him today by giving him a son to sit on his throne. Now, O Lord my God, you have made me king instead of my father, David, but I am like a little child who doesn’t know his way around. And here I am in the midst of your own chosen people, a nation so great and numerous they cannot be counted! GIVE ME AN UNDERSTANDING HEART so that I can govern your people well and know the difference between right and wrong. For who by himself is able to govern this great people of yours?”

The Lord was pleased that Solomon asked for wisdom. So God replied, “Because you have asked for wisdom in governing my people with justice and have not asked for a long life or wealth or the death of your enemies – I will give you what you asked for! I will give you a wise and understanding heart such as no one else had or ever will have! And I will also give you what you did not ask for – riches and fame! No other king in all the world will be compared to you for the rest of your life! And if you follow me and obey my decrees and my commands as your father, David, did, I will give you a long life.” -1 Kings 3:5-15, NLT

That is the God we serve! Our God gives us what we ask for and also what we do not ask for. God sees the heart of His people and blesses them accordingly. In Solomon, God saw great humility and a desire to serve God well. In response to the sacrificial life Solomon was living, God offered him the opportunity to ask for ANYTHING and Solomon asked for wisdom. Solomon could have asked for something for himself and instead he asked for something that would help him serve God and his people better. Solomon’s request was selfless and generous. God’s response matched Solomon’s as he generously gave him very great wisdom and understanding, and knowledge as vast as the sands of the seashore… He was wiser than anyone else. (1 Kings 4:29-31).

But we know that about God, right? We know he LOVES to give gifts, especially wisdom. Let’s look back to our recent study of the book of James to find a verse that just keeps coming back: If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him (1:5).

So my favorite barista asks me this morning, “What would like in your morning coffee?” And my response is, “I would like a Venti coffee with LOTS of wisdom as well as an understanding heart, please!”

So, what are you asking the Lord for today?

As I finished up 2 Samuel this morning, my heart responded to David’s psalm of thanksgiving as he finished his reign as King. I thought of the times when I have called out to God in my distress and felt His presence swoop in and surround me with peace. I thought of my own healing and the healing of others as I read of God’s emotions when death and the grave lay traps in the path before us. This psalm has beautiful imagery so I pray you are able to place yourself in this beautiful song and picture the love of the God who rescues you!

He sang: “The LORD is my rock, my fortress, and my savior;
3 my God is my rock, in whom I find protection.
He is my shield, the power that saves me, and my place of safety.
He is my refuge, my savior, the one who saves me from violence.
4 I called on the LORD, who is worthy of praise, and HE SAVED ME from my enemies.

26 “To the faithful you show yourself faithful; to those with integrity you show integrity.
27 To the pure you show yourself pure, but to the wicked you show yourself hostile.
28 You rescue the humble, but your eyes watch the proud and humiliate them.
29 O LORD, you are my lamp. The LORD lights up my darkness.
30 In your strength I can crush an army; with my God I can scale any wall.
31“God’s way is perfect. All the LORD’s promises prove true.
He is a shield for all who look to him for protection.
32 For who is God except the LORD? Who but our God is a solid rock?
33 God is my strong fortress, and he makes my way perfect. – 2 Samuel 22:2-33

David thought he could have Uriah killed and no one would notice, no one would care. But God cared! God cared about Uriah and God cared about the choices David was making. God loved David enough that He desired to find a way to bring David back to Himself and continue to bless David. God desires the same for us when we fall away from Him.

All of us must die eventually. Our lives are like water spilled out on the ground, which cannot be gathered up again. But God does not just sweep life away; instead, he devises ways to bring us back when we have been separated from him (2 Samuel 14:14).

These were the words of a woman from Tekoa who had a reputation for great wisdom. Her words came to David at a time when he was angry with his son Absalom for killing his half-brother Amnon, even though he had good reason to administer justice (Amnon had raped Absalom’s sister, Tamar, and then sent her away in shame) – 2 Samuel 13.

In response to Tekoa’s words and the request of Joab, David chose to extend grace to Absalom by letting him return to Jerusalem but he continued to ban his son from his presence. Even when Absalom rebelled against David and tried to take the kingdom from him, David’s heart had been changed by the knowledge that God values life. He commanded Joab, “For my sake, deal gently with young Absalom” (18:5). When Absalom was killed in battle, Joab knew this would not be good news for David, even though Absalom had been so disloyal to his father (18:20). At the news of Absalom’s death, David cried, “O my son Absalom! My son, my son Absalom! If only I had died instead of you! O Absalom, my son, my son.” – (18:33)

The way in which God loves us and values each life changed David and it can change us too. Perhaps we have good reason to stay angry or refuse to forgive someone, but we must remember that we have sinned against God yet he loves us enough to continue to draw us to Him – to want a personal relationship with us. If God is willing to forgive us, will we allow him to do a miracle in our hearts, giving us the strength to forgive others?

The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. – 2 Peter 3:9

Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven. – Luke 6:37

Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of evil behavior. Instead be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you. – Ephesians 4:31-32

God does not just sweep life away. When I was a teenager, I asked God to break my heart at what breaks His. I believe in response to that prayer, God called me to the prolife ministry. I believe it breaks the heart of God when the lives of the unborn are devalued. I also read the above scriptures and know in my heart that God loves the mothers who have chosen abortion. He loves them enough to want them to come to repentance so that He can forgive them and restore them.

If you are in need of forgiveness today, know that your Savior loves you. Know that God is not done with you, He does not just sweep your life away. As He loved David, He loves you! As He forgave David, He wants to forgive you. He has not given up on you but continues to devise ways to draw you back to Him. Perhaps today is the day to stop resisting His pull and allow God to change your heart as He changed the heart of David.

One of the most common plotlines in movies and television sitcoms is also one of the most frustrating to watch. The main character makes a mistake and tells a lie to cover up the truth, but then they have to tell another lie and then another lie to cover up the first lie. Everything becomes a mess, the truth comes out, and they realize it would have been better to just tell the truth right away. I think this is the plot of every “I Love Lucy” episode.

This morning David is that main character. David takes a break from the battlefield and goes up on his roof to walk around. From there he sees Bathsheba, the wife of Uriah, taking a bath. In this moment, David makes a choice. God is telling him to look away but the enemy is telling him to look closer. God is telling David you can’t have that and the enemy is telling David you need that, you deserve that – after all, you’re the king!

This is the moment when David makes a huge mistake – not an accident but a choice. He gives in to temptation and to his own fleshly desires instead of listening to the Spirit. David’s behavior is self-serving, instead of God-serving. David did not fall into sin, he stepped into it. When Bathsheba becomes pregnant with David’s child, David makes another choice. Instead of confessing his sins, he tries to cover up his indiscretions through manipulation and lies and then murder.

If you read through this story in 2 Samuel 11, take notice that Uriah the Hittite is not even an Israelite and yet he is so dedicated that he refuses to go home and be with his wife as long as the Ark and the army are out on the battlefield. David, on the other hand, is less concerned about his soldiers and the safety of the Ark and more concerned about himself.

When did this shift happen? In 2 Samuel 6:14, David is dancing before the Lord with all his might, rejoicing that the Ark of God was coming to the City of David. In Chapter 7, the Lord is reminding David of where he was and to what God has brought him – “I took you from tending sheep in the pasture and selected you to the leader of my people Israel. I have been with you wherever you have gone, and I have destroyed all your enemies before your eyes” (7:8-9). It would have been wise for David to remember all had done for him. It would have helped David to remember that God was with him wherever he went – even when he was sinning in secret, God knew all.

So the Lord sent Nathan the prophet to tell David this story: “There were two men in a certain town. One was rich, and one was poor. The rich man owned a great many sheep and cattle. The poor man owned nothing but one little lamb he had bought. He raised that little lamb, and it grew up with his children. It ate from the man’s own plate and drank from his cup. He cuddled it in his arms like a baby daughter. One day a guest arrived at the home of the rich man. But instead of killing an animal from his own flock or herd, he took the poor man’s lamb and killed it and prepared it for his guest.” David was furious…Then Nathan said to David, “You are that man!” – 2 Samuel 12:1-7a

David confessed his sin and suffered greatly due to the consequences of his first sin and the many sins he committed in an attempt to cover up the first. God forgave David but there were consequences and David’s baby lived only 7 days. This is where the movie might end but David’s story continues. God forgives David and still has a plan for his life.

The enemy has plans for us today, plans to trip us up and lead us into temptation. God has another plan – a plan that involves keeping our focus on Him and saying “no” to temptation. God will give us the strength to follow Him today. We were just worshipping and praising God yesterday, weren’t we? Let’s not forget who He is, who we were and who we now are in Christ! Let’s make a choice today – let’s choose God and walk away from sin.

After Saul and his sons were killed in a battle against the Philistines, David wept. Israel anointed David king and he led them in battle against the Jebusites, capturing Jerusalem which is now known as the City of David. David became more and more powerful – BECAUSE GOD WAS WITH HIM (2 Samuel 5:6-10).

Next the Philistines came in an effort to capture David. Now David knew his victories were not because he was a great man but because he served a great God, so he went to the Lord for direction:

So David asked the Lord, “Should I go out to fight the Philistines? Will you hand them over to me?”
Then the Lord replied to David, “Yes, go ahead. I will certainly hand them over to you.”
So David went to Baal-perazim and defeated the Philistines there. “The Lord did it!” David exclaimed. “He burst through my enemies like a raging flood!” So he named that place Baal-perazim (which means “The Lord who bursts through”) – 2 Sam. 5:19-20

While Israel’s first reaction was to celebrate what David had accomplished, David’s first reaction was to celebrate what God had done! He recognized his human abilities vs. the powerful and mighty strength of the God who called him. David knew that once again the battle belonged to the Lord and not to him.

But after a while the Philistines returned and again spread out across the valley of Rephaim. And again David asked the Lord what to do. “Do not attack them straight on,” the Lord replied. “Instead, circle around behind and attack them near the poplar trees. When you hear a sound like marching feet in the tops of the poplar trees, be on the alert! That will be a signal that the Lord is moving ahead of you to strike down the Philistine army.” So David did what the Lord commanded, and he struck down the Philistines all the way from Gibeon to Gezer. – 2 Sam. 5:22-25

Do you hear it? Do you hear the sound of the Lord moving ahead of you? Whatever is ahead of you, inquire of the Lord – ask God for wisdom and direction. Then listen closely to the sound of our great and powerful God going before you, prepared to fight your battles for you. That is the kind of God David served and that is the same God we serve – Praise His name!

I will praise the Lord, who counsels me;
Even at night my heart instructs me.
I have set the Lord always before me.
Because he is at my right hand, I will not be shaken – Psalm 16:8

I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go;
I will counsel you and watch over you – Psalm 32:8

I lift up my eyes to the hills – where does my help come from?
My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth.
He will not let your foot slip – he who watches over you will not slumber.
Indeed, he who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.
The Lord watches over you – the Lord is your shade at your right hand;
The sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon by night.
The Lord will keep you from all harm – he will watch over your life;
The Lord will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore – Psalm 121

For years Saul continued to chase David in an attempt to kill him. Time after time David was given the opportunity to retaliate and end Saul’s life but he refused. David saw value in Saul’s life by looking at him through the eyes of God instead of through his own victim eyes. He showed no signs of hatred or vengeance towards Saul but instead pleaded with him time after time to see his heart – to see that he loved the king and would be loyal to him.

“Some of my men told me to kill you, but I spared you. For I said, ‘I will never harm the king – he is the Lord’s anointed one’” (1 Samuel 24:10b).

David’s men encouraged him to take advantage of these opportunities by killing Saul, but David was looking to God for his reward, not for the praise of men. “The Lord gives his own reward for doing good and for being loyal, and I refused to kill you even when the Lord placed you in my power, for you are the Lord’s anointed one. Now may the Lord value my life, even as I have valued yours today. May he rescue me from all my troubles” (26:23-24).

Because of Saul’s jealousy, David was forced to live among the Philistines – who also rejected him. He tried to join their army, but they sent David and his men back home because they were foreigners and the rulers did not trust them. When David and his men returned to their home, it had been destroyed and their families captured. His men wept and became bitter, but David “found strength in the Lord his God” (30:6). God was faithful and gave David and his men victory over those who had raided their homes, and they were reunited with their family members receiving back all of their possessions and more.

So what can I find in my morning coffee to energize me spiritually today? To value life as God values life, and to trust God with all He has given me, finding my strength in God and God alone. There may be times when we suffer due to the choices of others. There may be times when we would be justified in our retaliation or anger. But my soul will not find rest in hatred or self-pity. It will find rest in God alone. God is God and if we truly trust Him, we will leave justice in His hands and look to Him for our reward and for our rescue.

In the words of David:
My soul finds rest in God alone; my salvation comes from him.
He alone is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will never be shaken.
How long will you assault a man?
Would all of you throw him down – this leaning wall, this tottering fence?
They fully intend to topple him from his lofty place; they take delight in lies.
With their mouths they bless, but in their hearts they curse.
Find rest, O my soul, in God alone; my hope comes from him.
He alone is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will not be shaken.
My salvation and my honor depend on God; he is my mighty rock, my refuge.
Trust in him at all times, O people; pour out your hearts to him, for God is our refuge…
One thing God has spoken, two things have I heard:
That you, O God, are strong, and that you, O Lord, are loving.
Surely you will reward each person according to what he has done (Psalm 62:1-8,11-12).

But the Lord said to Samuel, “Don’t judge by his appearance or height, for I have rejected him. The Lord doesn’t see things the way you see them. People judge by outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart” (1 Samuel 16:7).

I love the humble servant attitude with which David started out his reign. He had just been anointed King and, although God saw his heart, everyone around him continued to define him by his age, appearance and past. Instead of stepping into power, David became the harp player for King Saul. When told about David’s musical talented, Saul was also told that David was a brave warrior, a man of war, and had good judgment – that he was a fine-looking young man, and that the Lord was with him (16:18). But Saul only saw a servant who could meet his own needs. David humbly accepted this servant position.

Saul was not the only one who did not see David as a brave warrior and a man of war. When David arrived at the battle against the Philistines, his brothers asked him, “What are you doing around here anyway? What about those few sheep you’re supposed to be taking care of?” When David volunteered to fight Goliath, Saul’s reactions was, “Don’t be ridiculous! There’s no way you can fight this Philistine and possibly win! You’re only a boy, and he’s been a man of war since his youth” (17: 28, 33).

David could have announced to all of them in that moment that he was the new King of Israel but, instead of informing them of who he was, he pointed out to them who God is! “I have been taking care of my father’s sheep and goats. When a lion or a bear comes to steal a lamb from the flock, I go after it with a club and rescue the lamb from its mouth. If the animal turns on me, I catch it by the jaw and club it to death. I have done this to both lions and bears, and I’ll do it to this pagan Philistine, too, for he has defied the armies of the living God! The Lord who rescued me from the claws of the lion and the bear will rescue me from this Philistine!” (17:34-37a).

When Goliath referred to David as a “stick” whose body would soon be eaten by wild animals (17:43), David informed Goliath of his own future. “You come to me with sword, spear, and javelin, but I come to you in the name of the Lord of Heaven’s Armies – the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. Today the Lord will conquer you, and I will kill you and cut off your head. And then I will give the dead bodies of your men to the birds and wild animals, and the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel! And everyone assembled here will know that the Lord rescues his people, but not with sword and spear. This is the Lord’s battle, and he will give you to us!” (17:45-57).

After this battle, Saul no longer saw David as a humble servant but as a threat to his own popularity and throne. David spent the next few years running from Saul’s anger and attempts to kill him, a time when he possibly wrote many of the Psalms that now help us when we face hard times. Saul hunted him day after day, but God didn’t let Saul find him (23:14). Once more, God was protecting David.

It will help me today to remember that no matter what I face, this is the Lord’s battle. Titles aren’t important, but a humble servant heart is – a heart willing to do whatever God asks me to do today. And it is important that my head remain focused on who God is and not on who I am or on who others say I am. God defines me – no one else. Because when it comes right down to it, it is not about who I am but about who He is.

I love you, O Lord, my strength.
The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge.
He is my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.
I call to the Lord, who is worthy of praise, and I am saved from my enemies. (Psalm 18:1-3)

In the next few chapters of 1 Samuel, there are three different scenarios of someone inquiring of the Lord, each different in the timing.

The first is found in King Saul’s statement (13:12), “The Philistines are ready to march against us at Gilgal, and I haven’t even asked for the Lord’s help!” Have you ever found yourself part way into a decision or situation or simply into your day and then realize you haven’t even asked God what He wants you to do or asked for his help? I can relate to Saul in this situation. There have been times when it has dawned on me that I am charging ahead without inquiring of the Lord. In this situation, Saul finds himself reacting out of panic and making a bad choice because he had not taken the time to involve God sooner. Been there, done that.

Then there is Saul’s son, Jonathan. His statement in 14:6 describes a slightly different scenario: “PERHAPS the Lord will be us, for nothing can hinder the Lord. He can win a battle whether he has many warriors or only a few!” Jonathan did not take the time to consult with Saul or with the Lord. Instead he came up with his own plan. Jonathan’s attitude was one of – I’m going to do what I want to do and hopefully the Lord will bless it. Ouch! I’m afraid I have been guilty of this one too. Fortunately for Jonathan and all the Israelites, God did choose to use the immature actions of the king’s son to confuse the Philistines and help the Israelite army of 600 men defeat the large Philistine army (as many warriors as the grains of sand on the seashore – 13:5).

Lastly let’s look at a statement made by the priest Ahijah, Eli’s great-grandson: “Let’s ask God first” (14:36). Now this is more like it. Thankfully I can relate to this statement as well and this is where I want to start my day as I drink my morning coffee, going to God is prayer.

Saul and Jonathan were both doing a good thing. After all, they were putting their life at risk by leading the Israelite army in efforts to protect all of the people – they were prepared to fight to defend the freedom of their families. But in the words of Samuel in 15:22, “Obedience is better than sacrifice, and submission is better than offering the fat of rams.”

What I plan to do with my day today may be a GOOD thing or even a sacrificial thing but, if I have not consulted with God to see what He wants me to do today, then I may miss out on what is better – the opportunity to do a GOD thing!

Precious Father, before I get any farther into my day, I submit to your plan – to your sovereignty. Guide me down the paths you want me to walk today. Use me in whatever way you desire. I want to do more than just make sacrifices for what seems like a good purpose, I want every action to be in obedience and submission to your leading. God, nothing can hinder you. You can win a battle whether you have many warriors or only a few! Choose my battles for me and lead me into your will. Thank you for living in me and working through me today. Amen.

I see now when pastors’ kids first started getting a bad reputation. Just like Eli’s sons were wicked in the sight of the Lord, Samuel’s sons “accepted bribes and perverted justice” (1 Samuel 8:3). The people of Israel saw this and, because they had their eyes on other nations instead of on God (8:20), they asked for a king. Samuel did what all of us should do – he “went to the Lord for guidance” (8:6).

God’s people were asking for something that was outside of His plan for them. He warned them they would someday beg for relief from this king they were requesting, no – more like demanding (8:18). But God, being a merciful God, heard the cries of his people and gave them what they were asking for – a king.

On Monday we talked about how each year Samuel would have to discard of the comfortable coat he had finally grown into and replace it with the new “bigger coat” that his mother had brought him (2:19). We now meet a young man who is about to receive a “bigger coat” and his reaction might be similar to our reaction when God moves us into a situation that seems to us beyond what we can handle.

I guess you could say Samuel told Saul that he would receive a “bigger coat,” more like a kingly robe, and Saul’s reaction was one of humility and fear. He did what many of us have a history of doing when God tries to stretch us – he told God he had the wrong person. “But I’m only from the tribe of Benjamin, the smallest tribe in Israel, and my family is the least important of all the families of that tribe! Why are you talking like this to me?” (9:21).

But just like God promises us, He equipped Saul for what He was calling him to do. Saul was “changed into a different person.” Samuel encouraged Saul to do what must be done – the thing God was calling Saul to do – for God would be with him. God “gave him a new heart” and everything God had promised would happen, happened (10:6-9).

As I drink my morning coffee, I know the “bigger coat” God is placing on me right now, but what is God calling you to that seems beyond what you are capable of? Are you nervous or scared or intimidated by God’s plan? So was Saul. When they went to crown Saul king, they found him hiding among the baggage (10:22). Are you hiding or resisting?

Friend, please know that God is with you. The first situation that came up during his reign, “the Spirit of God came powerfully upon Saul, and he became very angry” (11:7). Just one month after being placed in the position of King, Saul was finding his way and stepping into the leadership for which God was equipping him – just like He will equip you.

So let me do what Samuel did in his farewell speech to God’s people, let me remind you of all the great things the Lord has done for you and for your family (12:7). Look back and see how faithful God has been time and time again. Consider Samuel’s words of reassurance to the Israelites: “Don’t be afraid. You have certainly done wrong, but make sure now that you worship the Lord with all your heart, and don’t turn your back on him” (12:20).

God understands that you are not feeling worthy or that you are uncomfortable with what is happening around you against your choice. He knows you haven’t lived a perfect life or that you want things back to the way they used to be. But what God is asking for is that you worship Him with ALL your heart. Don’t hold back or turn away from what He is asking you to do but worship God by accepting His plan.

“And I will continue to teach you what is good and right. But be sure to fear the Lord and faithfully serve him. Think of all the wonderful things he has done for you” (1 Samuel 12:23b-24).