The landlord is coming!

Scripture

Psalm 139: 1 & 24 “O Lord, you have examined my heart and know everything about me… Point out anything in me that offends you and lead me along the path of everlasting life”.

 

Observation

David understands that the place of examination and intent is found in the heart. He invites God to undertake an inspection of the condition of his inner man and to present him with a list of things to tackle. A little like the landlord coming and doing an inspection of his property that we may be living in. He knows the condition he created it to be in and therefore comes with an acute (not accusing) eye looking for anything amiss. David invites the inspection and now asks God to point out the things that require attention. He knows that correction and investment in maintaining a clean heart leads him along the path of everlasting life.

 

Application

Sometimes my life can be like my house. I make sure the rooms that guests see are clean and orderly, giving them a sense that everything is going well. But unbeknown to them I’ve put all of the mess and clutter in the back room and closed the door. I’d be embarrassed if a guest accidently walked into this room as they would see all of the excess, the clutter and mess untidily cast into this space. I can’t hide that from the landlord. When he comes he inspects all of his property. When I invite Christ into my life he doesn’t want to be entertained he wants to become a part of my life. Can I have the courage of David to ask him to examine all of the rooms and then to point out anything that he is concerned about? Being Lord of my life looks like this. I’ve invited Him in as Lord of all not just Lord of some.

 

Prayer

Jesus forgive me when I treat you as a person to entertain. You never asked or even offered that to me. I invited you in as Lord of my life. Therefore, examine me and point out the things that I need to invest maintenance and repairs to. Help me to have the courage to tackle the things you highlight.

 

Jim Jung

The Blessed Keepers

S – 1 Samuel 25:33

 

‘May you be blessed for your good judgement and for keeping me from bloodshed this day and from avenging myself with my own hand.’

 

O – David knew that Abigail had intervened in his life and stopped him from doing something he would regret. I wonder how many men David had killed over the years of his life and battles. What was the difference with this man Nabal? I guess it’s the difference between what was part of his life’s cause, mandate and destiny, verses what was an emotional response and for his own self satisfaction and revenge. He then blesses Abigail for her intervention. I wonder if he realised that he may have put his whole life’s prophetic purpose on the line if he had acted out of self interest. He seemed to know he had been kept or restrained from a wrong action.

 

A – Blessed are the Keepers – Those people who make good judgement and speak into others lives and perhaps save their prophetic destinies. It challenges me that I need these ‘keepers’ around my life. How easy it is to have reaction and emotions that can lead to actions that have prophetic consequences. Responses of self justification, self avenging in so many situations. Yet these responses in the natural can have such implications for the future and my effectiveness in what I have been called to do. It makes me realise how important to have these ‘blessed keepers’ around my life. They keep me from carrying consequences that I may never have thought of or understood the danger.

 

P – Lord, I pray for a protection of wisdom and ‘Keepers’ that will prevent selfish acts that will have prophetic consequences.

The Right Response

Scripture:

Abigail flew into action. She took 200 loaves of bread, 2 skins of wine, 5 sheep dressed out and ready for cooking, a bushel of roasted grain, a hundred raisin cakes, and 200 fig cakes, and she had it all loaded on donkeys.  1 Samuel 25:18

 

Observation:

Abigail knew what it meant to live in a constant state of preparation. She had been wise to store up in her pantry a considerable amount of food, so at just the right moment when a gift was required- she was ready!

Not only was Abigail prepared but she understood timing.  It says Abigail acted quickly- which means she didn’t stand there weighing it up, or running through different scenarios in her head- Abigail responded with out delay.  Because she understood timing and the significance of this man- David –she flew into action, aborting tragedy on her household.

It’s interesting to note that in both verse 18 and in 42 Abigail doesn’t linger in the moment but her response thought-filled and quick.

 

Application:

Abigail speaks to me.  She reminds me that I need to live prepared. Prepared for every and any occasion. I take this more ‘spiritually speaking’ (knowing the God knows I am not Martha Stewart!). I need to live spiritually prepared for what my God is calling me into. For the occasions when I don’t have a moment to ponder a response but when prompt action is required.  Knowing I have ‘spiritual stores’ makes this possible. I imagine for a second if Abigail didn’t live prepared, panic would have been present. I don’t want to panic when I don’t have what I need when I need it.  My spiritual pantry needs to be stocked full so I can act quickly when God requires.

 

Prayer:

Father, I can identify today that the stores I need to stock my pantry only come from Your Presence and Your Word. Help me have an Abigail spirit- prepared and wise in my timing.  Amen.  

 

Hayley

Here in Your presence...

Scripture:  Psalm 31:19a,20  “How great is the goodness you have stored up for those who fear you……You hide them in the shelter of your presence, safe from those who conspire against them.  You shelter them in your presence, far from accusing tongues.”

 

Observation:  David is in a pickle – beset on all sides, it seems!!  Yet, in spite of the pressures, he doesn’t alter his position with regard to the Lord.  No “blame game” here.  No “why are You letting this happen to me”? questions.  No “what have I ever done to deserve this?”  David’s position is clear – God is still good!!  David is going to continue to walk in the fear of the Lord – obeying Him and seeking Him for direction.  For when he does, he walks in the midst of God’s presence – and that is the only place of true safety.  God’s presence is David’s’ refuge & shelter from his enemies and their machinations.

 

Application:  When “bad things happen to good people” – as they clearly did in David’s case – how do I respond?  I haven’t had to literally flee for my life, as David did – and through no fault of his own!!  But there are times when things happen which are “not fair” .  Situations arise which cause  distress, grief, heartache – and through no fault of one’s own!!  What then?  Blame God?  Ask “why me, Lord”?  No!!  Like David, there is only one place to be in those times.  There is only one place of safety and security.  In the presence of the Living God.  Convinced of His goodness at all times….even in the bad times.  That’s not to say I ignore the situation or pretend everything’s wonderful when it’s not……Just read the Psalms to see how David & others poured  out their sometimes grieving, sometimes angry,  hearts to God.  Yet that was just the starting point.  For the truth of God’s goodness, of His unfailing love, of His mercy & His ability & willingness to answer our prayers are all characteristics of my Heavenly Father that can never be ignored or forgotten.  And when I remind myself of those things – even in the midst of an “unfair” situation – I place myself back into the safety of His arms, into the shelter of His presence, as David did!!

 

Prayer:  Dear Heavenly Father,  thankyou for David’s reminder today that Your presence is the place I need to be at all times.  May I never stray for the truth of You goodness, love & faithfulness, even when my enemies seem to be surrounding me!!  May I live a life which  continually abides in Your presence.  In Jesus’ name.  Amen

 

 

Sue Otto

 

'No Look a likes'

S – 1 Samuel 17: 39

 

‘David fastened on his sword over the tunic and tried walking around, because he was not used to them – ‘I cannot go in these’ he said to Saul, ‘because I am not used to them,’ so he took them off.’

 

O- David was acting upon his conviction that he was to engage Goliath in battle. It was both a surprise and unexpected that he would be their representative and as such they were not sure how to prepare him for the battle with Goliath. Their first response was to dress him in armour to look like any other soldier. David’s conviction though was, ‘I cannot go in these.’ This conviction no doubt saved his life and ensured the supernatural victory for the Israelites. His response to Saul that ‘I am not used to them’ reflected that he knew he couldn’t fight the greatest challenge of his life looking or dressed like someone else. His response that ‘I cannot go in these’ was more than a wardrobe or an armament issue. He knew he had to be himself, use the equipment that was in his hand and had held him in good stead in his upbringing and life circumstances. This was such wise discernment knowing that the Lord wanted him to fight Goliath as himself and not trying to look like or imitate someone else.

 

A – A great challenge to be confident in who I am. Not trying to look or sound like someone else. I need to have the same conviction as David; when I am chosen or challenged to step up in any area of my life then I need to have the same confidence. David’s response was a rejection of a man’s or popular method, in contrast to what the Lord requires and equips us in. It was David’s simple but strategic methods that the Lord chose and used to defeat Goliath. It teaches me to be confident in who I am; the skills developed along the journey and to never doubt there effectiveness in God’s hand.

 

P – Lord help me not to be an imitator but an implementer of the things you have equipped me with. Thank you for the Life skills and circumstances that have been deposited along the journey. May David’s response be mine; ‘I cannot go in these’

The secret passage

Scripture

Psalm 77:19 “Your road led through the sea, your pathway through the mighty waters – a pathway no one knew was there” (NLT).

 

Observation

Asaph stirs himself with a song to the Lord. He begins by highlighting his sadness about the days gone by and the harshness of the times he currently lives. They don’t appear the same! But then his faith stirs and he remembers the walls of the Red Sea. Opposition and blockage – everything before the people looked like a dead end. But there was a secret passage that God had prepared beforehand – a pathway no one knew was there. And as the people believed the sea was cut in half and they walked o to their next level of life with God via His secret passage.

 

Application

To me the secret passage – prepared by God beforehand – represents a true image of faith. When I approach impenetrable walls – believing that this is the way that God called me to walk – there must be a secret opening – a pathway no one else has yet seen. The walls or circumstances blocking the way are real. But faith in my Father to lead me through keeps me starring at the rockface until He is ready to show me the crack off to the side or the goat track through the maze. My task is to trust Him who led me here. I can imagine Moses and Aaron thinking, “Great!! The Red Sea. Good one God. I suppose your not going to show up and admit you got it wrong huh??!!” Unbeknown to them God had prepared a pathway – a secret passage (covered by water!!) He asked them to trust Him and in turn he asks Asaph and me to do the same.

 

Prayer

Lord, as I look back over my life and reflect on the number of times the secret pathway you had prepared beforehand was opened to me. Through impenetrable pain, opposition, impossibility you provided a way through when I put my hope in you. Faith and trust and your leading is all I need to concern myself with. Next time I see a dead end, I’m going to have a wry smile as I await the secret passage to be revealed.

 

Jim Jung

No more seperation

Scripture

2 Corinthians 3: 16 “But whenever anyone turns to the Lord, then the veil is taken away”.

 

Observation

The people of Israel understood separation well. They had been chosen by God as a “separated people”, chosen by God to be holy, set apart. The tabernacle had a place within it called the holy of holies which only the high priest could enter at certain times and it was out of bounds, separated by a veil to anyone else. Paul uses this analogy with the Corinthians to drive home his point. When you accept Christ the veil of separation is torn down. The Holy Spirit opens the eyes of the believer to see the mysteries of heaven and the reflection of encountering the presence of God is now meant to shine out from a life impacted by Christ.

 

Application

I can never take for granted the importance of this gift from Christ. His sacrifice tore the veil in half and exposed the glory of heaven to all who are willing to accept it. As I read the bible, as I meditate on its words, as I pray, as I listen to what God is saying, I am able to come into His presence unhindered because there is no separation any longer. My sins have been forgiven. My unworthiness has been taken by Jesus and replaced with clothes of righteousness. The veil was ripped apart by Christs’ act of love and I need to continually remind myself that I am a very privileged person to have received this gift. It is available to everyone who turns to the Lord.

 

Prayer

Thank you God for this wonderful privilege of entering into your very throne room, like a child with permission to see his father. During this Easter season may I be aware of this even more than I ever have before. Jesus, you tore the veil with your sacrifice, thank you.

 

Jim