The God who Hears, Day 51 Deadlines and responsibilities. Read 2 Samuel chapter 20. King David had given Amasa a responsibility. He’d also given him a time frame. People were moving against David, and he found himself in another difficult situation. God was going to save him, but Amasa wasn’t following through on his responsibilities in the time frame that he’d been given. Every as a result, it ended up with Amasa being killed. No matter what God gives us to do, obedience includes the timing. Obedience should happen immediately and we should follow through on the deadlines that we have been given or that we have committed to. What…

The God who Hears, Day 50 What does mercy look like? Read 2 Samuel chapter 19. David has been victorious. He has overcome the coup that his son Absalom incited. Now, as David looks to return to his throne, he is sifting through all of the people and all of their loyalties. This man, Shimei, had betrayed David and he comes to David and asks him for mercy. David grants him mercy and does not kill him. What is mercy? Mercy is receiving something positive when we deserve something negative. Mercy is what each and every one of us receive from God every day. The fact that we wake up…

The God who Hears, Day 49 How will we be remembered? Read 2 Samuel chapter 18. David’s army defeats Absalom. Then they have this verse that reminds us of how Absalom was tup be remembered. He made a monument to himself. How do we want others to remember us? Are we putting up monuments to ourselves or are we pointing people to God?

The God who Hears, Day 48 God hears us and works in ways that we don’t even realize. Read 2 Samuel chapter 17. David was God’s chosen king and since Absalom was trying to be king, he was going against God’s will. As a result, God was working to bring about his will. God worked in ways that David didn’t even realize. When we are following God’s will, he works in ways that we don’t even realize. He makes situations and circumstances happen that don’t even realize. There are no coincidences. God is the author of all that happens and he is never surprised. David might have been surprised. Absalom…

The God who Hears, Day 47 David had been kicked out of his kingdom. Read 2 Samuel chapter 16. As David’s son Absalom had staged a coup and tried to take over, David fled from his home. As he is leaving some of the people start to curse him. David, instead of telling them to be quiet, accepts what they are saying and just continues on. Why? He makes this statement in the verse today. David understood that truly blessings and curses only come from God. If God was choosing to curse him, then so be it. But if God decided to bless him through this trial, then God would…

The God who Hears, Day 46 People are swayed by the way they are treated. Read 2 Samuel chapter 15. As we read here, we see David’s son stage a coup and attempt to takeover. How did he manage it? He appealed to the people and he built up friends. He used people to gain their trust and to get them on his side. What is our motivation for why we do what we do? Why do we build relationships with others? Are we seeking to honor God and fellowship with others, or are we trying to manipulate others? Absalom used his relationships as a way to gain power and…

The God who Hears, Day 45 God hears us. What do we ask for? Read 2 Samuel chapter 14. Joab has a request and he wants the king to hear it, but he thinks the king may be too hard-headed to actually listen to the request. The amazing thing about making a request of God is that He hears us and he knows exactly what he is going to do. He never ignores our requests and he never makes light of them. He doesn’t always grant them, but he ensures that our requests are in line with God’s will and plan for us. He hears us.

The God who Hears, Day 44 How do we respond to sin? Read 2 Samuel chapter 13. So much sin in David’s family. However, even though David got angry about the sin, he did not do anything to try to correct his sons. There was no attempt to try to bring about repentance or to point them toward God. So often when we see the wrongs in this world, we are upset and angered by it, but what action have we actually taken? Do we do anything to try to correct the behaviors or bring about the holiness of God through these situations? David should have addressed the sin within…

The God who Hears, Day 43 Do we admit our sin? Read 2 Samuel chapter 12. David had sinned. We saw that very clearly in the last chapter. Here we see David get confronted by Nathan about his sin. How does David respond? He admits that he has sinned. No excuses. No justifications. Just a heart of repentance. When we are faced with or sin, How do we respond? Do we admit and repent, or are we busy trying to find other ways to justify or even get out of any consequences? God knows our sin and we are to come to him and repent.

The God who Hears, Day 42 Sin, sin, snd more sin. Read 2 Samuel chapter 11. Here we see David making choices. However these choices address all about what David wants and not about what God wants for David. Through this chapter we see David make more and more terrible choices as time goes on. God was not pleased. How does God feel about our current choices? Are they bringing glory to him, or ste they all about our own glory?