“Once again David inquired of the LORD” - 1 Sam 12:4 (NIV).
How often have you taken on a huge task without first inquiring from the Lord? Sometimes it works out; in other instances, we go out headlong and then hit disaster, rush back to God, beaten and bruised badly. Fortunately we always receive mercy from Him-.though that shouldn’t be the case.
If we could follow King David’s example, he always inquired of the Lord first before any huge undertaking. When told of the Philistines attack against Keila, he inquired of the Lord first, pleading, “Shall I go and attack these Philistines?” (1 Sam 23:2). Again later when he learned Saul was plotting against him he went to the Lord to know how to respond (1 Sam 23:9-12).
Not always did David get the answers he wanted. For example, when he felt he should build a temple, a good thing, and he inquired of the Lord, the response was not him but his son (2 Sam 7:12-13)
In our faith walk let us practice the habit of always seeking the Lord first even with the least of undertaking. And here like David we should go to Him with an open mind, not to force our way.
Prayer for today: Lord Father in heaven, today I pray in the mighty name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth that I always seek your out first before engaging even in the least of undertaking.
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08/05/2024 - 09/05/2024 All day“Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!” (2 Corinthians 9:15)
The culture of sharing gifts runs through scriptures and is at the heart of the Gospel. Upon realizing that Jesus Christ had been born the three wise main did not just go empty handed. “On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh” (Mathew 2:11).
When Jacob decided to return to his country, he went with gifts to soften the heart of his twin brother Esau, whom he had left maddened at him for various wrongs. “Then he selected these gifts from his possessions to present to his brother, Esau: 200 female goats, 20 male goats, 200 ewes, 20 rams, 30 female camels with their young, 40 cows, 10 bulls, 20 female donkeys, and 10 male donkeys” ( Genesis 32: 13-15). The reason was, Jacob thought, “I will try to appease him by sending gifts ahead of me. When I see him in person, perhaps he will be friendly to me.” So the gifts were sent on ahead, while Jacob himself spent that night in the camp” (vv 2—21).
Esau was already a wealthy man and had no need of the gifts presented. But Jacob pleaded with him. “Please take this gift I have brought you, for God has been very gracious to me. I have more than enough.” And because Jacob insisted, Esau finally accepted the gift” (Genesis 33: 11). This symbol of good touched Esau, brightened his heart, burying the old acrimonious relation.
Taking after these two instances believers should be in the habit of sharing gifts. We should visit each other not empty handed but like the wise men with gifts, not so much that those we are gifting are lacking, but as a way of blessing them. Proverbs 11:25-26, says, “Whoever brings blessing will be enriched, and one who waters will himself be watered.”
Most importantly we bless each other with gifts because we have received the most important gift there is in life, the gift of salvation. “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16).
Prayer for today: Lord Father God of Abraham, maker of heaven and earth, today I thank you for the most precious gift of all that you gave me of eternal life through faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, and so I pray that I may not hesitate to share this gift and bless those with as much whom you enable me to meet, this I pray in Jesus’ name.
