Promise for Today - One King to Another

But when David’s ambassadors arrived in the land of Ammon, the Ammonite commanders said to Hanun, their master, “Do you really think these men are coming here to honor your father? No! David has sent them to spy out the city so they can come in and conquer it!” So Hanun seized David’s ambassadors and shaved off half of each man’s beard, cut off their robes at the buttocks, and sent them back to David in shame.

2nd Samuel 10:2c-4 NLT

David had only attempted to return the loyalty of King Nahash - one king to another - to offer condolences at the time of his death, but David's actions were egregiously misinterpreted.

Hanun's council of commanders gave him the wrong counsel. When he realized how angry David was, Hanun became more defensive and set himself for battle. He even went so far as to hire 43,000 additional men to fight. Forty-three thousand! And that was only for the first defensive round. They hired still more for the next battle - one in which 40,700 of Hanun's warriors were killed.

I wonder what would have happened if Hanun had admitted his mistake in following the wrong counsel, humbled himself to David, and made restitution to those he had shamed, then tried to seek peace... I'm inclined to believe that David would have forgiven him because David would have sought the counsel of God. After all, he often liked to show and share the kindnesses of God.

How often do we misinterpret someone's actions toward us, seek ungodly counsel, then get angry and vindictive? How long do we carry a grudge or some form of unforgiveness? Do we "hire" others to be angry with us?

Whose counsel will you follow?

Prayer:

Father,
          We choose to walk in forgiveness rather than bear the wrath of unforgiveness. Open our hearts to hear and follow only the counsel from the King of kings. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Promise for Today - From His Heart

O my people, trust in him at all times. Pour out your heart to him, for God is our refuge.
Psalm 62:8 NLT

Have you ever gotten into a rough patch of your life and not quite known which way to turn? You know who God is. It's not that you're walking away from Him, but it feels as though you are a million miles away. That dry place. The desert. Barren. Where it seems no matter what you do, it's not coming out right. It's hard to pray. It's hard to praise. It's hard to breathe...

King David knew how that felt - he wrote about it in Psalm 63..."My soul thirsts for you; my whole body longs for you in this parched and weary land where there is no water."  David had such a unique way of stating facts, but then he always followed it with Truth. He goes on to write, "I have seen you in your sanctuary and gazed upon your power and glory. Your unfailing love is better than life itself; how I praise you! I will praise you as long as I live, lifting up my hands to you in prayer. You satisfy me more than the richest feast. I will praise you with songs of joy."

In other words, this is how I feel - but what I feel does not affect who God is. No matter what I think or see or feel, no matter the feelings of isolation, no matter the pain level - these temporal circumstances DO not change - absolutely CANNOT change - the righteousness, the holiness, the character, the very nature of God. And just when you think you cannot stand one more minute, someone calls with a 'Hi, I was thinking about you!' Or you receive a text or email, 'hey, love u - just wanted u 2 know!'

And the friend prays for you and/or with you, and speaks Truth - God's Truth - born out of His love for us. Proverbs 27:9 in the Amplified, reads, "Oil and perfume rejoice the heart; so does the sweetness of a friend's counsel that comes from the heart." And God in His infinite mercy and grace does not become exasperated with us, He sends someone to be His hand extended, to touch us with His great love - the love that lifts us up, up, out of the quagmire of our souls.

I never cease to be amazed at the faithfulness and goodness of God's love. It comes from His heart...

Prayer:

Father,
           We pray as King David prayed, Let all that I am wait quietly before God, for my hope is in You. You alone are my Rock and my Salvation, my fortress where I will not be shaken. My victory and honor come from You, God, alone. You are my refuge, a rock where no enemy can reach me. Your unfailing love is better than life itself; how I praise you! I will praise you as long as I live, lifting up my hands to you in prayer. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Promise for Today - And Yet

Lord, save me from people who are evil. Protect me from those who are cruel, from those who plan to do evil and always cause trouble. Lord, you are my God. Lord, listen to my prayer. My Lord God, you are the powerful one who saves me. You protect my head in battle.
Psalm 140:1-2, 6-7 ERV

Lord, help me control what I say. Don’t let me say anything bad. Take away any desire to do evil. Keep me from joining the wicked in doing wrong.
Psalm 141:3-4 ERV

Being a follower of Christ is the greatest privilege and blessing, but it does not exclude us from trials or tribulations. That's why I love the Psalms - especially those written by David both before and after he was king. David is known as a man after God's own heart. He is one of the most "real" prophet kings in the Bible, and yet, he has some very strong opinions and emotions.

David acknowledges his feelings and the issues he wrestles with, and he is quite transparent about what he'd like to happen to those who are plucking his last nerve. And yet, in the process, he always comes back to acknowledge God. Adonai. David always recognizes who God is, no matter what. Psalm 142:5 NLT, he writes, Then I pray to you, O Lord. I say, “You are my place of refuge. You are all I really want in life."

That, too, is my prayer for all of us. 

Father, 

         Save us from evil people. Protect us from those who are cruel, from those whose plans are evil. You are our God, protecting our heads - our thoughts, feelings and desires - when we are in battle. Make us ever mindful of the words we are about to say.Let only Your Words come out of our mouths, those words which are good for building up and not tearing down, good for speaking life and not death, to encourage and not discourage. Please put Your hand over our mouths and help us to choose and SPEAK gratitude and thanksgiving. Father, You truly are our place of refuge and all we really want in life. Holy Spirit, please continue to guide us into all Truth with spiritual understanding. For this and SO much more, we give You praise and glory and honor. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Friends' Favorites - Can You Relate

Quick, God, I need your helping hand! The last decent person just went down, All the friends I depended on gone. Everyone talks in lie language; Lies slide off their oily lips. They doubletalk with forked tongues. Slice their lips off their faces! Pull the braggart tongues from their mouths! I'm tired of hearing, "We can talk anyone into anything! Our lips manage the world." Into the hovels of the poor, Into the dark streets where the homeless groan, God speaks: "I've had enough; I'm on my way to heal the ache in the heart of the wretched."
God's words are pure words, Pure silver words refined seven times in the fires of his word-kiln, Pure on earth as well as in heaven. God, keep us safe from their lies, From the wicked who stalk us with lies, From the wicked who collect honors for their wonderful lies.

Psalm 12 The Message

If I didn't know better, I'd think King David had been listening to talk radio and the politicians of his day. Slice their lips off their faces! Pull the braggart tongues from their mouths! Boy, howdy - I can relate to that feeling! I don't want to offend anyone, but I have to admit, there are many times throughout the Psalms that I can relate to the general theme of "Kill 'em all - let God sort 'em out."

However, just when I've worked myself into a self-righteous lather, in my heart of hearts I hear, "His mercy endures forever" and "Blessed are the merciful for they shall obtain mercy" and I read how God built the mercy seat for us in the holiest because of His great love for us...

And it's then that I want to relate to David in a whole new Light. I related to him in his sin and flesh nature, but I want to be just like him in his role (as the Lord Himself described) as a man after God's own heart. Can you relate?

Prayer:

Father,

        I pray Your Word in Psalm 5, But as for me, I will come into Your house in the multitude of Your mercy; In fear of You I will worship toward Your holy temple. Lead me, O LORD, in Your righteousness because of my enemies; Make Your way straight before my face. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen