1 Samuel 11:6 – “The Spirit of God rushed upon Saul when he heard these words, and he became very angry.”

1 Samuel 15:10-11 – “Then the Lord’s message came to Samuel: ¹¹ “I regret that I have made Saul king, for he has turned away from me and has not done what I told him to do.” Samuel became angry, and he cried out to the Lord all that night.”

As I read, prayed, and mused on the Word of God today, my heart overflowed. Many things tugged at my heart as reminders and challenges.  Uncontrolled anger is destructive, but Holy Spirit-induced anger is constructive. 1 Samuel 11:6 & 15:11.

Explicit Obedience is the only acceptable response to God.  In 1 Samuel 15:22-23, this is made glaringly clear. God equates ignoring or disobeying His commands with rebellion and compares it to divination and witchcraft. It is rejected. It cost Saul the kingdom.

The Anointing brings empowerment to serve!  1 Samuel 16:12-13, “The Spirit of the LORD rushed on David from that day forward.”   The word rushed means to be empowered!

The focus is the foundation of faith.   Faith enables us to perform the purposes of God.  1 Samuel 17:32-42, David & Goliath operated with two opposing focuses. Goliath viewed things in the natural; David viewed things in the supernatural. Goliath focused on his ability; David on God’s.

The key is what we focus on. David’s focus gave him faith, which enabled him to declare the finish from the start. (1 Samuel 17:45-47.)   We can’t have the faith needed to fulfill God’s purposes if we focus incorrectly or divide our focus. David declared the end before the battle began. He went into battle victorious. How do we go in? Most go hopeful and even wishful, not assured!

Focus is the seedbed for faith.  Faith is the fuel for the fight.  Hebrews 10:35-36 reminds us that we have to finish the race to receive the prize. Focus enables and inspires us to persevere to the end!

LORD, help us to become inspired to be angry at the things we should be angry at and focus on the task at hand!