David at Ziklag is one of my favorite scriptures (I Samuel 30). This scripture describes a time that David went out to battle and when he and his men returned their home was desolate, burned and empty. Their wives and children had been kidnapped and their belongings had been taken. When the men took all of the loss and tragedy in they began weeping and cried until they no longer had strength to cry. The men were angry and upset with David and were ready to stone him. 1 Sam 30:6 And David was greatly distressed; for the people spake of stoning him because the soul of all the people was grieved ... but David encouraged himself in the Lord his God.
What is interesting about this scripture is the mention that David encouraged himself in the Lord his God. In this scripture the word for encouraged is translated from the Hebrew word chazaq pronounced (khaw-zak'). This word actually translates to mean to grow firm or strong. Instead of this situation bringing David down, he gained strength in the Lord. Why is this lesson important? Because so many situations occur in our lives and we become discouraged, disappointed and down. This happens because we are looking at the people involved or the tragedy that happened rather than looking to God as our source for deliverance. It happens because we do not seek God first. Let's be real; David's men wanted to kill him because they had just been robbed. Imagine how you would feel if someone came into your home took all your stuff and then kidnapped your family and to add insult to injury burned your house down and you didn't know where they were or why they did it. You didn't know which way to turn for answers. You would understandably be angry, sad, hurt and upset.
But the measure of your faith, your maturity in Christ and the development of your relationship with God is how quickly you are able to snap back and recover. Instead of this tragic situation continuing to grieve David, he had this epiphany in the middle of it all. He said to himself that God could handle the situation. David recognized that he couldn't solve this problem, but because of all that God had done for him, he knew that God could solve it! All of a sudden where David was weak, God's strength was made perfect.
As the story goes, David sought God and asked Him what to do. God told David to pursue the enemy and to do it quickly. While obeying the command of God, David and his men ran into the break that they needed in the case. There was an Egyptian servant out in a field on the brink of death. David fed him and gave him something to drink and found the information that he needed. He learned where the enemy was. As a result David was able to recover all! He got his family back. He got his stuff back and he took the enemy's stuff too! If David had hesitated at all the Egyptian would have died because he hadn't eaten or had water to drink in days.
What does this mean? You've got to seek God first. Then you must obey God's command. If you hesitate at all the information that you need or the door of opportunity may not be available. When you realize that God has the solution to whatever situation you encounter then you can proceed with confidence knowing that along the way your opportunities will be revealed to you. So what the enemy has taken something from you. Dig in and encourage yourself in the Lord. Seek God diligently and obey His command. When you do this you can recover all quickly.
Know today that God is your source. He is a loving God who desires to that you prosper even as your soul prospers. He is a righteous God who is moving behind the scenes on your behalf. He is working it out for your good. He sits high and He's looking at your situation. He knows you and how you operate. Think about how you've responded to situations in the past? Is that working for you? If not then this time--this time do something different. Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not unto your own understanding. No you don't have enough money to make the ends meet. Yes your bills are all due and folks are calling you. No you can't save your family member. No you are not able to make yourself have the job and the house and the car that you want. No you cannot stop cancer, aids or diabetes. The answers are not in our power or in our might. We cannot even cause ourselves to grow with our thoughts, but we can do all things through Christ who strengthens us! There is deliverance in Christ. There is healing in Christ. Bills get paid and you don't know how in Christ. Depression is turned to joy in Christ. His strength is made perfect in our weakness.
Today choose to recover quickly!
No comments:
Post a Comment