1 Samuel 30:6 – “And David was greatly distressed; for the people spake of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and for his daughters; but David encouraged himself in the LORD his God.”

As I read, prayed, and meditated on the Word of God today, I was reminded of the goodness of God and the requirement of purity of heart to enjoy Him and hope in Him.   In that, there is always a reminder to avoid self-deception.

In 1 Samuel 30:6, David and his band of misfits came home to discover that the Amalekites had raided and taken everything!   Keep in mind that Amalek is a type of the flesh.   His men got angry at David and wanted to stone him. Leadership has rewards, but also consequences, even when it is not your fault and beyond your control.   Here we read, “But David strengthened himself in Adonai his God.” (Some render it encouraged). Either way, the question is, “How?”

If we review David’s life, we quickly realize it was by rehearsing his past victories, reminding himself of the Covenant, and praising God. He set the LORD before him. (Psalm 16:8).

The result is seen in the next few verses.  He inquired of God.  He acted on God’s directive. Then in verses 18-19 we find that David recovered Everything!

Romans 15:4 tells us that what was written aforetime was for our instruction. Therefore, God provided this account to give us a pattern for complete victory and full restoration.   David’s pattern would be a good pattern for us!

We have a world to win, an assignment to complete, a call to carry out.  How do we achieve it? Romans 13:12-14 gives us the pathway to victory.

1. Realize the hour and urgency.

2. Take action in two directions:

3. Put off the works of darkness.

4. Put on the armor of light.

What does that look like? We see the answer in verses 13-14.   Stop yielding to the flesh.   End carousing and drunkenness.   Stop sexual impropriety. Stop envy and strife. Then, pursue Jesus.   Stop making provisions for the flesh and focus on Jesus!  Let the Love of God fill our hearts and minds.

Romans 13:7-10 says that if Love fills our hearts, hate will not fill our hands.   We are each personally accountable for our actions.  All will stand before God. No excuses will survive.   If we are overflowing in Love for God and others, “just as” Jesus loves, we will put off the flesh and put on the pure!  Victory is ours; let us take it!  Make the choice and rejoice!

LORD, help us to encourage ourselves in You!

1 Samuel 18:7-9 – “This was their song: “Saul has killed his thousands, and David his ten thousands!”  8  This made Saul very angry. “What’s this?” he said.  “They credit David with ten thousands and me with only thousands.  Next, they’ll be making him their king!” 9 So from that time on Saul kept a jealous eye on David.”

As I read, prayed, and pondered the Word of God today, I was brought face-to-face with two truths desperately needed today.

1. Open Doors, open doors.

2. What makes Grace Grace is Grace.

Confused yet?  I hope not.   Open doors let things in, both good and bad. For example, in 1 Samuel 18:7-8, King Saul opened the door to jealousy toward David, and through that door walked Fear, Hate, and Murder.   A seed sown produces much fruit.

Even in his corrupted state, King Saul (1 Samuel 19:18-24) encountered the power of the anointing and conviction.   No, he did not repent, but when he came into the presence of the anointing, he stripped off his clothes and prophesied.   There is symbolism in his act.  He removed his covering (identity) and sought to be clean in God’s presence.

It was a spirit-driven reaction, not a change of heart.  Just because someone prophesies does not mean their heart belongs to God; it might simply be the presence of the anointing.  It is not what we do in church but in the marketplace that reveals the heart.

What about the second thing?   What makes Grace Grace is Grace.   Romans 11:6 – “But if it is by Grace, it is no longer works; otherwise, grace would no longer be Grace.”

The evidence of our salvation is visible in our lives.   If we persist in submitting to the flesh, we testify that God is secondary to us.   If He is secondary, He is not LORD.  If He is not LORD, we are not His.

Romans 8:5 reminds us that the unsurrendered life focuses on the flesh, the self, pleasure, etc.   The focus is on self.   The surrendered life focuses on God and takes steps to present our lives and actions to Him in ways that honor Him.

I had a drunk tell me, “I love Jesus!”   Not according to Jesus.   He said, “If you love Me, keep my commandments.”   His commandments are not just His words but the inspired words of the Bible. “Be not drunk with wine (any intoxicant)…”

We are told to shun the very appearance of evil.  Living in adultery, using God’s name in vain, allowing hate, bitterness, and anger to prevail, and presenting an image that does not glorify God is not keeping His commandments.

Here is the beautiful thing.  If we come to Him in genuine repentance, He gives Grace!  He transforms with our cooperation.

Romans 12:1-2 speaks of transformation.  How are we transformed?  A renewed mind!  We become what we focus on.  If we focus on our desires, hurts, pains, or pleasure, we conform to the flesh.  If we focus on Jesus, we are transformed into His image and develop His character.  Grace produces transformation by Grace.  What makes Grace Grace is Grace!

Which will describe us?   Flesh or Spirit?   Heart or hand?   Grace or Law? The ball is in our court; Jesus stands at the door, waiting.   Will we open the door and fully surrender, receiving transformation, or keep it closed and be conformed to the desires of the flesh?   He has done His part; will we do ours?

LORD, help us to embrace grace and walk through your open doors.

Romans 6:12-14 – “Do not let sin control the way you live; do not give in to sinful desires. 13  Do not let any part of your body become an instrument of evil to serve sin. Instead, give yourselves completely to God, for you were dead, but now you have new life. So, use your whole body as an instrument to do what is right for the glory of God. 14  Sin is no longer your master, for you no longer live under the requirements of the law. Instead, you live under the freedom of God’s grace.”

As I read, prayed, and meditated on the Word of God today, I was stopped in my tracks regarding how seriously God regards obedience and trust.   Many seem to miss it and live like King Saul in self-deception, justifying and excusing sin.   There is no justification or excuse!

Saul began right but drifted to the point of no return.   Romans 6:19 reveals something we need to embrace.   Acts of sin produce more sin, and acts of righteousness produce more righteousness.

Romans 6:12-14 exposes the flawed view that even if we fall short somehow, God will still accept us.   If we surrender to the flesh, the flesh rules, and if the flesh rules, Satan rules.

Romans 6:2 exposes the reality that a person who claims to be transformed but continues in sin (yielding to the flesh) is an impossibility.   Whatever we yield to owns us.  We are either God’s or ruled by sin.  We cannot be dead to sin and continue to yield to sin.

Romans 6:12-14 brings to the forefront the responsibility we have.   Allowing sin to rule is a choice.  In verse 16, Paul forces us to face reality: “Do you not know that to whatever you yield yourself as slaves for obedience, you are slaves to what you obey-whether to sin resulting in death, or to obedience resulting in righteousness.”

It is a choice, and God wants the heart.   We dare not convince ourselves we love Him when we repeatedly disobey Him.   Romans 3:30 debunks the idea that because we know the Word, we are somehow excused.   That knowledge will become our judge!   He who knows to do good and does it not, to him it is sin.

Romans 6:23 is a sobering passage. “For sin’s payment is death, but God’s gracious gift is eternal life in Messiah Yeshua our Lord.”   Too many excuse the first part and claim the second while living lives yielded to the flesh.   Be sure your sin will find you out!   Make the choice to give all to Jesus, and His grace will transform you.

LORD, help us to reject Self-Deception and fully surrender to You!

1 Samuel 1:12-13 – “As she was praying to the LORD, Eli watched her. 13 Seeing her lips moving but hearing no sound, he thought she had been drinking.”

A warmth of love and compassion for the lost, hurting, and needy is growing in my heart today.  As I read, prayed, and pondered the Word of God today, I could not help but notice something that reveals the heart of God.  God is compassionate.  He operates in unique but often predictable ways. He always requires a surrendered heart.

In 1 Samuel 1:12-13, we see something needful.  Prayer is vital, but prayer cannot be pressed into a box, limited by human understanding, or become ritualistic.  Hannah prayed non-verbally from her heart.  The key is “from” or “in” the heart.  The only prayers that have any hope of moving the heart or hand of God are FROM THE HEART!

Prayers from the heart are rooted in recognition of God’s person, confidence in God’s graciousness, and faith.  Prayers of ritual are, at best, wishes and usually attempts to check the boxes. Religiosity, not relationship.

In Paul’s experience on the Damascus Road, we are brought face-to-face with the reality of the Body of Christ. If we touch believers (even those we disagree with), we touch Jesus!

Acts 28:26-27 is a powerful reminder and warning that unless we hear or read without preconceived ideas and bias, we will never be convinced otherwise.  We judge other members of the Body through the grid of our doctrinal position.  Therefore, before anything is said, we have decided. We categorize people, and if someone falls into a rejected category, nothing they say is acceptable or heard. We do this to our loss.

The warning in Romans 2:1-6 is needed. When we judge others and are guilty of similar practices, we open the door to deception. In Romans 1, we see that prejudicial deception often leads to a life of perversion.

Our hope is repentance coupled with total Surrender. Repentance, or, in most cases, remorse, is insufficient without a positive commitment to God. Saying “I’m sorry” is meaningless without the full reality of repentance (doing a 180-degree shift).   We not only admit and feel remorse but also take definitive steps to live differently.

God’s Grace empowers us to live righteously and receive God’s full deliverance. It is a dual effort. God’s Grace and our Action.   Basically, it is Surrender.   It is to decide to go ALL IN with God.   It is to DIE to self.  It is to resign as master of our fate and captain of our ship. It is to choose to become a Doulos of Jesus.

What we choose determines our now and eternity.

Joshua 24:15 – “But if you refuse to serve the LORD, then choose today whom you will serve. Would you prefer the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates? Or will it be the gods of the Amorites in whose land you now live? But as for me and my family, we will serve the LORD.”

As I read, prayed, and mused on the Word of God today, choice became a focal point.   Life is a series of choices, and each choice has a consequence or benefit, and maybe both.

Commitment is a choice!  In Joshua 24:15, Joshua challenged Israel to make a decision (choice).  They were to choose between the world with its seeming offerings and benefits and God.  We face the same choice, often daily.  No wonder Jesus said, “If anyone is going to be My disciple, they have to take up their cross DAILY and follow me.” (Luke 9:23).

Total commitment requires total obedience. The accounts in Judges 1 & 2 reveal the danger and damage of failing to follow through on God’s directive. God said that they were to dispossess and drive out the enemies.  They did, but not completely.  Some tribes left remnants of the occupants in place. Judges 2:2-3 gives the results. “They will be thorns in your sides, and their gods will be a snare to you.”

If we do not break clean with the old way, it will be a source of trouble and draw us back, preventing us from having full victory.  That is EVERYTHING, from habits to actions and associations. Victory requires commitment, and commitment requires choice.

Make the commitment, and God will provide the help.  Acts 19:18 is an example of commitment by choice and victory. Action is required. Repentance is to do a 180-degree turn.  Repentance is to change course. Repentance is to take action. “Many also who had believed came confessing and recounting their practices.”

50,000 pieces of silver were worth over 135 years of wages and, depending on the coinage, would be worth millions today.  It was a significant act. They were totally transforming and redirecting their lives.  It was All In with God. True Conversion involves total commitment and action. If we keep doing what we did, thinking like we thought, going where we went, we have not made the choice or commitment; we are just deceiving ourselves.

Jesus offers freedom, but freedom requires commitment! As Joshua challenged Israel, “Choose you today whom you will serve.” The ball is in your court. What is your choice?

LORD, help us to make the choice daily to follow you completely!