Devotional:
“The king has sent me on a private matter,” David said. (I Samuel 21:2)

“Oh what a tangled web we weave when first we practice to deceive.” This statement from Sir Walter Scott’s poem Marmin is true –  lies beget more lies. David is in a tough spot. He’s a fugitive, he’s hungry, and he doesn’t know whom he can trust. He chooses to sin. And just like us when we take our focus off the Provider of all things in the midst of a predicament, we tend to manipulate systems and situations for our benefit. The outcomes leave us wanting and typically wound in a mess of our own accord. The good news still remains: there is power and beauty in confession, not the obligatory, flippant, “sorry,” but the gut-wrenching, owning of our willful disobedience. A contrite heart is a broken heart. Today, check your heart. Let it be broken in repentance. God is the master rebuilder of cracked-up hearts.

Pray it:
Father, forgive me for the lies that I tell others and tell myself. Help me to be a person who seeks, spreads and stands upon the truth at all times as pursuing the truth draws me closer to you. Amen.

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Devotional:
So Jonathan made a solemn pact with David, saying, “May the Lord destroy all your enemies!” And Jonathan made David reaffirm his vow of friendship again, for Jonathan loved David as he loved himself. (I Samuel 20:16-17)

Jonathan and David are what Anne of Green Gables would affectionately deem bosom friends. Their friendship, albeit costly, is steeped in loyalty and truth. Although Jonathan had familial rights, he would never ascend to the throne because of the consequences of his father’s disobedience. Yet, Jonathan didn’t hold a grudge or despise David, the one who would rule, his best friend. If a should-be king can serve and cheer on a would-be king, why can’t we be better at serving and cheering on each other (Galatians 5:13-14)? Take stock of your friendships today. Do you have friends who exemplify loyalty and truth (even when it’s painful)? Who might the Lord be pushing you to lean into on a deeper level of accountability and authenticity? Who might He want you to prune from your inner circle?

Pray it:
Father, help me to be a loyal and truthful person and a loyal and truthful friend. Rather than viewing those around me as competitors for things, help me to be their greatest cheerleaders as I encourage them to seek and find your blessings in their lives. Amen.

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Devotional:
Then Saul sent troops to watch David’s house. They were told to kill David when he came out the next morning. But Michal, David’s wife, warned him, “If you don’t escape tonight, you will be dead by morning.” So she helped him climb out through a window, and he fled and escaped. (I Samuel 19:11-12)

Saul shows himself to be a weak, jealous and disloyal individual as he seeks to kill David. In contrast, his children, Jonathan and Michal, protect David from the attacks and schemes of their father, showing tremendous courage. Jonathan and Michal chose what was right. Meanwhile, as Saul was busy swapping out his perception and faulty narratives instead of embracing God’s reality, he permitted his head and heart to reel down the trail of untruth, which escalated his discontentment, anger and fear to the point of homicidal tendencies. If you are not leaning into God’s Word, the stories you are creating and the details you are filling in can quickly snowball into profound untruth. Be tenacious in studying God’s Word and have the courage to live in light of the true story that He tells.

Pray it:
Father, guard me against believing the untruths about myself, this world and others that I hear from various voices (including my own). Help me to cling to your truth and to act in accordance with it this day even if it causes me to walk differently than those close to me. Amen.

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Devotional:
And Jonathan made a solemn pact with David, because he loved him as he loved himself. (I Samuel 18:3)

Instead of being grateful for the friendship formed between Jonathan and David, it enraged and escalated Saul’s jealousy, envy and paranoia. He did everything within his power to manipulate and rid the nation of David. But God showed up! Not only did God spare David’s life time and again, He blessed it abundantly! No matter how we maneuver and calculate for certain outcomes, absolute control is beyond us. Let go of the myth of being independent and surrender yourself to God’s plan for you. Surrender isn’t a move of the weak – it is a move of the wise. God’s plan is higher and better than any plan you could construct for your life.

Pray it:
Father, thank you for sending Jesus to do what only he could do and to free me from the penalty and power of sin. Help me to do the things that you have equipped and called me to do in the name and through the power of Christ. Amen.

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Devotional:
“Don’t worry about this Philistine,” David told Saul. “I’ll go fight him!” (I Samuel 17:32)

This well-loved story might actually be more about David vs. Saul than David vs. Goliath. Saul should have been the one to go out and fight. While Saul was not equal to the stature of Goliath, Saul stood much taller (well over 6’) than any other man in Israel. He also had the fancy and sturdy bronze armor for battle. Outwardly, he was prepared, but once again, Saul’s heart betrays him as an unfit leader. The Lord chose young David, who didn’t have the height or the right armor to fight, on behalf of Israel because his heart and his lips honored the Lord (verse 26). What does God see when He measures your heart? Does He see a fierce and obedient reliance on Him? If you are God’s child, live your life out loud with such an undeniable confidence in Him that it causes people to ask whose kid you are!

Pray it:
Father, thank you for sending Jesus to do what only he could do and to free me from the penalty and power of sin. Help me to do the things that you have equipped and called me to do in the name and through the power of Christ. Amen.

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Devotional:
Now the Lord said to Samuel, “You have mourned long enough for Saul. I have rejected him as king of Israel, so fill your flask with olive oil and go to Bethlehem. Find a man named Jesse who lives there, for I have selected one of his sons to be my king.”

But Samuel asked, “How can I do that? If Saul hears about it, he will kill me.” … (I Samuel 16:1-2)

God was ousting a leader. And not just any leader. Saul looked and stood like a leader and had scads of followers. All boxes were checked EXCEPT that one about owning the character and conviction of God’s heart. But God sees what we miss. Regardless of the impending chatter of others (and there is always chatter), God sometimes has us do hard things. Samuel chose to be obedient and do the hard, unpopular thing of unseating a king who was a disobedient poser. Yet, God knew the inner-workings and devotion of David’s heart, who was only a young shepherd tending the sheep. Today, heed a simple tip: questioning God’s divine wisdom and track record are a waste of your energy. Pour your energy into taking one more step in trusting Him and His plan, especially if it doesn’t make sense to you!

Pray it:
Father, give me a heart that is willing to step out and do the hard things that you ask, things that may not make sense to the world’s eyes but reflect the way you do things differently from the ways of this world. Amen.

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Devotional:
Then the Lord said to Samuel, “I am sorry that I ever made Saul king, for he has not been loyal to me and has refused to obey my command.” Samuel was so deeply moved when he heard this that he cried out to the Lord all night. (I Samuel 15:10-11)

We, much like our Old Testament friends, are a forgetful people. In addition to our self-dependence, we have a strong pull toward intentional defiance. Our behavior betrays us, leaving us helpless and undeserving, YET God chooses to bless us and pour down His good gifts into our lives anyway. Have you ever given thought to whether God regrets the abundant blessings He has rained down on you? Can it be said that you follow the LORD? (No, showing up once a week to bow your head, raise your hands and toss some coins into a basket doesn’t count.) Do you heed His spirit inside you and jump at what He prompts you to do? What a grace it is that His love isn’t dependent on us but is solely based on the faithfulness of who He is. May He not regret His abundant goodness to us!

Pray it:
Father, thank you for your abundant and amazing grace to me, an undeserving sinner. Help me to respond to your grace with obedience and love, living into the good works that you have saved me to do in your name. Amen.

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Devotional:
“My father has made trouble for us all!” Jonathan exclaimed. “A command like that only hurts us. See how refreshed I am now that I have eaten this little bit of honey. (I Samuel 14:29)

In this text we see leadership matters. Character matters. While Jonathan was a wise, thoughtful leader, his father, King Saul, was not. Saul was hasty and rash, which led him to make foolish and costly mistakes. We are all simultaneously followers and leaders. Take a hard look at whom you’re following. They will influence who you become. Does their character noticeably align with God’s Word? Do they push you forward in truth? You also have influence whether it be at the workplace, in the home, on the court or at the playground. How do you use your influence? Maybe there’s work to be done. Let’s get after it! Are you brave and humble enough to beg the Lord to take a chisel to your life and refine your character to resemble His? He will . . . if you are audacious enough to ask!

Pray it:
Father, thank you for the good examples of leaders with godly character that you have placed in my life. Help me learn from their examples and present a similar example to those around me who look to me. Amen.

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Devotional:
“How foolish!” Samuel exclaimed. “You have not kept the command the Lord your God gave you. Had you kept it, the Lord would have established your kingdom over Israel forever. But now your kingdom must end, for the Lord has sought out a man after his own heart. The Lord has already appointed him to be the leader of his people, because you have not kept the Lord’s command.” (I Samuel 13:13-14)

We are a hurry-up, instant gratification kind of people. Saul didn’t like to wait either, and his impatience cost him a dynasty. Taking matters into your own hands and going against the Lord almighty is never a good idea. Taking matters into your own hands and going against the Lord almighty and then heaping up the excuses and blame (the “if only” and the, “yes. . .but”) is an even worse idea. We so easily want to speed up God’s plan with our better ideas because it’s hard to sit and wait for it all to be revealed in His perfect timing. Scripture repeatedly reminds us that not only are we to wait but to wait patiently! God works in our waiting, so today sit back, hang tight and discover what needs to be learned while you wait upon the Lord.

Pray it:
Father, forgive me for my impatience, for not waiting for your plans and doing things according to my will instead of yours. Thank you that there is forgiveness for my impatience and that I am forever a child of God through faith in Christ. Amen.

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Devotional:
“As for me, I will certainly not sin against the Lord by ending my prayers for you. And I will continue to teach you what is good and right. (I Samuel 12:23)

The people’s cry for a king could have left Samuel an embittered individual, as they had rejected his sons as their leaders (see 1 Samuel 8:4) and ultimately rejected God as their king, undercutting all that Samuel stood for in his life and ministry. Rather than depart this life as a bitter man, we see here that Samuel has remained faithful. He has not taken any bribes or mistreated others. He pledges to continue to pray for the people and to teach them the good and right way since he knows the ways in which they have rejected God. May we remain just as committed, both in following God’s way and interceding for those around us no matter what the circumstances.

Pray it:
Father, thank you for all the people who have prayed for me both when I have asked but also when I was not asking. Help me to be a more faithful interceder for those around me both when they ask and when you lay them on my heart. Amen.

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Devotional:
Then the Spirit of God came powerfully upon Saul, and he became very angry. (I Samuel 11:6)

Saul was going about his daily business when troubling news regarding the plight of his people reached him. The power, wisdom and strength of God Himself were leveled on Saul, and Saul’s newfound leadership mojo and object lesson jolted the Israelites into action and swept over even Saul’s most critical nay-sayers. When we heed God’s spirit, we have access to His strength. Our strength on its best days is fickle and lacking, but His strength never leaves us wanting. It not only bolsters us to tackle the improbable and impossible, but also inspires others to be on mission with a God who gets things done! Whose strength are you operating in? If you’re relying on your own strength, you will be depleted. Choose to operate in the Lord’s strength, and you will be renewed and empowered to accomplish His good work.

Pray it:
Holy Spirit, I thank you for not just empowering the leaders of old but taking up residence in me and every believer in Christ. Help me to follow your leading and work in your power each day and in each task that comes my way. Amen.

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Devotional:
As Saul turned and started to leave, God gave him a new heart, and all Samuel’s signs were fulfilled that day. (I Samuel 10:9)

The old adage, ‘Be careful what you wish for,’ is realized in this chapter. God gave the people of Israel what they desired, knowing the pain, devastation and destruction a king would bring (verses 17-29). Saul was not a man after God’s own heart, yet once again, God showed mercy and grace to His people by giving Saul another heart . . . a heart that made him a distinctively different man to those who knew him. Have you allowed God to radically and completely transform you, OR are you complacently content to be who you always were? Do you long to be so distinctively different that others wonder about the change in you? If you’re still breathing, it’s not too late for a character overhaul. Knock your powerless self off the throne of your life and insist the Most High, all powerful God take residence upon it. A change in kingship is the very thing we all need!

Pray it:
Father, thank you for being the one who changed hearts back then and changes hearts today. May you continue to work to change my heart to be directed towards you. Help me believe that you have the power to change the hearts of those around me. Amen.

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Devotional:
And don’t worry about those donkeys that were lost three days ago, for they have been found. And I am here to tell you that you and your family are the focus of all Israel’s hopes.” Saul replied, “But I’m only from the tribe of Benjamin, the smallest tribe in Israel, and my family is the least important of all the families of that tribe! Why are you talking like this to me?” (I Samuel 9:20-21) 

If our tall, dark and handsome Saul lived today, he’d have graced the covers of TIME and PEOPLE magazine repeatedly. Indeed, he was pretty (v. 2), but even those we deem as “the beautiful people” are not exempt from internal struggles. Saul wasn’t a tough, gritty guy with a fierce determination and a ‘come hell or high-water’ resolve; he was the kind of guy who was ready to bail on the rescue-the-donkeys initiative. His looks far outweighed his leadership. But God still had a call on his life and like so many others (Moses, Gideon, David, Jeremiah), Saul felt inadequate for that call. What about you? If you are God’s child, He has a call on your life. Have you lived into your call or have you shied away from it? Lean into His strength today to accomplish His good work.

Pray it:
Father, help me to remember that my worth and value does not come from what I have done or from my natural abilities; rather, they are found in your goodness and grace in calling me in spite of sin, failure and weakness. Help me to overcome my feelings of inadequacy by reminding me that you have called me and promise to be with those you call. Amen.

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Devotional:
But the people refused to listen to Samuel’s warning. “Even so, we still want a king,” they said.  “We want to be like the nations around us. Our king will judge us and lead us into battle.” (I Samuel 8:19-20)

Side-eyes always get us in trouble! When we start casually glancing at what’s in our peripheral vision, right then and there the never-ending game of comparison begins, resulting in discontentment steeped in jealousy, envy and covetousness. It’s of our own doing and leads to our own undoing (James 3:14-16). When Israel’s side-eyes lingered at other nations’ structure of rule, discontentment (and whining) crept in. God heard the inner workings of the Israelites’ hearts, and He hears the inner workings of our hearts, too. Unfortunately for us, sometimes He gives us exactly what we ask. How much smoother life would be if we left our lives in His hands to guide and direct us. Today, stop praying for your will and pray for God’s will to be done because what you want may not be what you actually need!

Pray it:
Father, I confess that like the Israelites I often look to and covet what other people have and forget what I have in you. Help me to remember that you are my king and that I have all that I could ever need and want in you. Amen.

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Devotional:
Then Samuel said to all the people of Israel, “If you want to return to the Lord with all your hearts, get rid of your foreign gods and your images of Ashtoreth. Turn your hearts to the Lord and obey him alone; then he will rescue you from the Philistines.” (I Samuel 7:3)

Samuel’s words offer a beautiful picture of truth AND love. Samuel didn’t belittle or shame the people when they longed for God. He didn’t demand, and he didn’t yell. He simply told them what they needed to do, calling them to a 180-realignment by putting away their false gods to worship the true God. The truth is, we have seen God’s good hand time and again and just like our Old Testament friends, we quickly turn away, knocking God off His rightful place while we skid down the road to disaster. We need a 180 now with ALL of our heart. Let us seek the Lord. Serve Him only.

Pray it:
Father, show me if there is anything that I need to “put away” to have a heart fully devoted to you. Help me to rid myself of those things and those ideas that pull me away from you so that I might experience the joy and goodness that is found in worshiping you alone and only you. Amen.

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Devotional:
“Send the Ark of the God of Israel back with a gift,” they were told. “Send a guilt offering so the plague will stop. Then, if you are healed, you will know it was his hand that caused the plague.” (I Samuel 6:3)

The Philistines did not get it right, yet God still used their ignorance to accomplish His purposes. The priests called upon the absolute wrong people for advice, and their instructions were not in line with the mandatory handling of the Ark (mice are unclean and the transport method was not sanctioned). Yet, God in His mercy used their flawed method to carry on His means. When done in the right spirit, God honors our intentions. God knows we are flawed, but He also deciphers the heart that chases after Him. We may get it wrong sometimes, but let us not grow weary in doing good (Galatians 6:9) for His glory!

Pray it:
Father, I confess that I have not treated you and your name with the respect and honor that you deserve. Thank you for sending Jesus to be my sin offering, to heal me from my guilt and to allow me to be reconciled to you. Amen.

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Devotional:
When the people realized what was happening, they cried out, “We can’t keep the Ark of the God of Israel here any longer! He is against us! We will all be destroyed along with Dagon, our god.” (I Samuel 5:7)

Sometimes we get it so wrong! The Philistines wrongly concluded their capture of the Ark of the Covenant meant their god, Dagon, was victorious over the one true God. The Lord set them straight in a visible way, leaving their statue of Dagon lying before the Ark. What a display of the Lord’s power and a reminder of the only One to be worshiped! The Philistines’ fear of the Lord launched a game of hot potato, which resulted in doom to whichever city housed the Ark. Today, be reminded all idols will bow to the Lord. Whatever you have placed ahead and before the Lord will be leveled. Realign your life so the Lord doesn’t have to do it for you . . . it’ll be much less painful to do it of your own accord.

Pray it:
Father, I might not bow down to named idols like the nations around Israel, but I, too, am prone to look to other people and things as being more important or more powerful than you. Help me to turn away and tear down these idols in my life so that I might savor in your goodness rather than suffer the humiliation of pursuing something that is empty. Amen.

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Devotional:
Then she said, “The glory has departed from Israel, for the Ark of God has been captured.” (I Samuel 4:22)

Have you ever had a no-good, terrible day that you’d eagerly edit out of your life’s highlight reel? Israel did. Israel was losing on the battlefield and decided to then reduce the Lord to a lucky charm by bringing the ark to the battle. Israel found out the hard way; the LORD MOST HIGH will not be mocked. At the end of the day, Israel lost thousands of men, surrendered the Ark of the Covenant (which infers the glory of God leaving His people), lost their priest and judge, Eli, and others. When we leave God out of our plans or use Him to further our plans, so much can go so very wrong. Make it right with God. Have the honest conversation of who’s been in control of your agenda and be thankful for God’s endless grace, His forgiveness, and those new morning mercies He promises each day.

Pray it:
Father, I confess that I often forget you or think that your job is to make my life go better or more smoothly. Help me to remember your glory and your grace and treat your name and your ways as holy.

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Devotional:
And the Lord came and called as before, “Samuel! Samuel!” And Samuel replied, “Speak, your servant is listening.” (I Samuel 3:10)

What a beautiful picture of our God, the God who comes and stands near. He doesn’t shout. He calls. He invites. He whispers. And as He does, He addresses us personally, knowing our names even before we ever recognize His. If you are God’s child and are questioning whether God speaks to you, He does — just as a dad has conversations with his child. But just as kids are prone to do, we practice selective hearing. We drown out what is essential for what is temporary, fleeting and pleasurable. Today, clean your ears, but not with a  Q-Tip. Get honest and own that you have chosen not to listen. Then be quiet; you’ll be surprised at what you might hear.

Pray it:
Father, open my ears so that I might hear your words and open my mouth so that I might speak your truth. Help me to be both attentive and obedient to your word and to praise you for your great patience and mercy towards me. Amen.

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Devotional:
No one is holy like the Lord! There is no one besides you; there is no Rock like our God. (I Samuel 2:2)

Hannah recognized the truth of who the Lord was. Her view of God wasn’t dependent on her circumstances; it didn’t fluctuate based on her emotions. She worshiped in times of both petition and praise. Her legacy of fearing the Lord lived on through Samuel as she entrusted him to be parented by the Lord, her sure and steady foundation. What might happen if we entrusted to God those we most treasure, believing His Word to be the ultimate authority and truth? How drastically might our lives change?

Pray it:
God, you truly are holy and one of a kind. Help me to fear and trust you like Hannah. Help me to resist the urge to honor other things or other people – even good things and my own family – ahead of you. Amen.

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Devotional:
As she was praying to the Lord, Eli watched her. Seeing her lips moving but hearing no sound, he thought she had been drinking. (I Samuel 1:12-13)

The narrative of Samuel opens with Hannah who longed for a child. In her deeply personal heartache, she sought the only One who could help. She went directly to the Lord, pleading with Him to remember her. She spilled the contents of her heart so intently that no words were spoken, and it mattered not who was watching. When was the last time you spilled the contents of your heart to the only One who can help? (Audible words are not needed and it doesn’t matter who is watching.)

Pray it:
Father, thank you for not just listening to my prayers but delighting in hearing from me. Help me to offer you honest and humble prayers, seeking your help and remembering that you see me at all times. Amen.

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Devotional:
Praise him for his mighty works; praise his unequaled greatness! (Psalm 150:2)

I praise and thank God because of His excellent greatness and His mighty deeds. In this Psalm the people of God are called to the sanctuary – a consecrated place of protection and refuge for the purpose of worship. God loves when we gather together to proclaim His mighty deeds and praise His holy name, while we raise our hands and voices and play instruments. Let everything that has breath praise the Lord! Remember, if we don’t praise Him, the rocks will!

Pray it:
Father, help me to praise you as long as you give me breath on this earth, knowing that every breath that I breathe is a gift from you. Amen.

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Devotional:
For the Lord delights in his people; he crowns the humble with victory. (Psalm 149:4)

I praise and thank God because His people give Him pleasure. Have you considered that your existence gives God pleasure? Verse four says that he “adorns” His people with salvation. The word “adorn” means to enhance the appearance of or decorate as if with ornaments similar to a Christmas tree. Amazing, isn’t it, that the Lord of the universe thinks about us in that way? He takes great delight in people who honor Him and praise His name. When you are feeling low, remember that you are “the apple of God’s eye” (Psalm 17:8). Wear your salvation with honor and humility. Thank God for it.

Pray it:
Father, it amazes me to know that you, the God who made all things, takes pleasure in me. Help me to take pleasure in you and find my ultimate delight in knowing you and following you. Amen.

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Devotional:
Let them all praise the name of the Lord. For his name is very great; his glory towers over the earth and heaven! (Psalm 148:13)

I praise and thank God because His name, alone, is exalted. The only name to be praised is the name of the Lord. The Psalmist beckons all created things to praise God from the heavens, to the earth and to the depths of the seas. All people of the earth are called upon to praise the name of God. In Acts 4, Peter and John were asked “by whose name” they healed the lame man. They boldly answered, “let it be known to all of you and all of the people of Israel that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth…there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.” Praise God!  

Pray it:
Father, you alone are worthy of praise, and you are worthy of all praise. Help me to join all of your creation in heaven and earth in praising you this day as we look forward to the day when Christ returns and your praise covers the whole world. Amen.

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Devotional:
He heals the brokenhearted and bandages their wounds. (Psalm 147:3)

I praise and thank God because He heals the brokenhearted. Often, when the Psalmist mentions Zion and/or Jerusalem, he is referring to the people of God. Are you brokenhearted? If so, then place yourself in the Lord’s hands. He understands you like no other, and He will care for your wounds as they heal. The same God who commands the weather and feeds the animal kingdom takes pleasure in one thing – those who fear Him. Hope rightly placed in God’s steadfast love is a balm for the soul God heals! “Praise the Lord, O my soul!”

Pray it:
Father, thank you for healing me when I am brokenhearted. May those whom I know who feel heartbroken this day experience the power of your healing in their lives as well. Amen.

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