The God who Hears, Day 31 Fulfillment of God’s Word. Read 1 Samuel chapter 31. Saul had continued to deny God and God had shared through prophets that he was going to lose everything. Well, God’s word came true and Saul died, along with his sons. While this chapter is tragic, it’s tragic because of the disobedience and rebellion that Saul showed. It’s tragic because of his lack of repentance. It’s always tragic to see sin ruin the lives of those around us. Sin, and our failure to repent from it, is a main reason why we experience a lot of the struggles that we do. Are we repenting to…

The God who Hears, Day 30 Ever have anyone talk badly about you? Yea, so has David. Read 1 Samuel chapter 30. David and his men are told to go home, so they do. But when they get there, they find out that the place they have been living has been raided, destroyed, and their families captured. No one is very happy with David at this point. If we’ve ever been in a position where we made desicions, then we have, at some point, made a decision that others didn’t like. There will always be people who don’t like us and who are angry with us. However, David found his…

The God who Hears, Day 29 God gets David out of a tight spot. Read 1 Samuel chapter 29. David was living in enemy territory and pretending to be on the same side as his enemies. However, he had been secretly fighting against them. However, the time has come that these Philistines are going to fight against Israel and David has to come and fight with them. However, because of rumors and David’s reputation, God uses that so that David is able to get out of the situation and not have to fight against his own brothers. As we saw yesterday, God didn’t tell David to go on this plan…

The God who Hears, Day 28 What do you do when God doesn’t seem to answer? Read 1 Samuel chapter 28. Saul was in a difficult situation. The armies were massing against him, and he didn’t know what to do. He wanted to hear from the Lord, but it seemed like the Lord wasn’t answering him. While Saul ends up going to extreme measures to try to find an answer from the Lord, what we find out is that he already knew the answer. God had already shared with him what he was going to do and there wasn’t anything new to share with him. Saul just didn’t like the…

The God who Hears, Day 27 What happens when you go somewhere that God doesn’t tell you to? Read 1 Samuel chapter 27. Nowhere in this chapter does it say that David asked God what to do. Nowhere does it say that God directed David to follow this path. David thought to himself and made a decision. Unfortunately, David’s decision resulted in him having to lie on a regular basis to the leader of the area he was in. David had been kept safe from Saul by God through this whole time, why did he feel that he had to go do something else? So often, while God is taking…

The God who Hears, Day 26 Respecting God’s calling on others. Read 1 Samuel chapter 26. Again, David has an opportunity to do harm to Saul and again, David spares his life. If we were given the opportunity to do harm to our enemies, would we? Would we seek to spare them? We are to treat people with the respect that they deserve as God’s creation.

The God who Hears, Day 25 We know that God hears us, but do we hear each other? Read 1 Samuel chapter 25. This is a great story about a very wise woman and a foolish man. Today as I read it, I am reminded of the role that David played. He was angry and his pride had been wounded. Yet, he was willing to hear Abigail and he made a better decision as a result. God hears us, but do we hear God? When we are angry or feel that we have been wronged, do we still listen or are we so focused on revenge that we fail to…

The God who Hears, Day 24 How do we treat those who treat us badly? Read 1 Samuel chapter 24. David has been chased and attacked by Saul. David has done nothing to earn this type of treatment, but yet he finds himself as the object of Saul’s anger and aggression. David runs for his life and has been spending years in caves and hideouts trying to avoid Saul. So, how does David respond when Saul, who is hunting him, is vulnerable right in front of him? David spares him. The way we treat our friends says a lot about us. But, the way we treat our enemies or those…

The God who Hears, Day 23 David gets encouraged by his friends. Read 1 Samuel chapter 23. As the battles continue, David finds himself trying to still help his country while staying away from the king. God encourages him and tells him what to do in the various situations. Plus, his friend Jonathan comes. When we are in difficult times, we need the encouragement of our friends even more. Jonathan risked a lot to come to David and be that voice of encouragement. What are we willing to risk to be there for people? Are we continuing to point them to God even through the difficulties?

The God who Hears, Day 22 How do you gain a following? Read 1 Samuel chapter 22. Well, if you’re David, the way you gather a following is by running out to a cave and hiding. Then, all the upset, discontented, frustrated people come and find you and join you. That doesn’t exactly sound like the recipe for success for most businesses or personal lives that I’ve ever heard. Yet, God used this group to bring about God’s glory and to shape David into a leader. We may not always understand how or why we are put in the position that we are. But, God brings to us the people…