2 Samuel 11:27 (NLT) … But the LORD was displeased with what David had done.

It is easy to get caught up in all the platitudes and accomplishments of David’s life.  We would all like to do half of what he did during his lifetime.  His writings of the Psalms have impacted multitudes of people over the centuries.  But there is this one mark of sin that has forever tarnished the journals of his life.  It is his adulterous sin with Bathsheba and his corresponding sin of murder with her husband Uriah.  The scriptures are clear that God is not pleased with David’s choices by saying that the LORD was displeased with what David had done.  It is sad that David’s repentance didn’t come until he was confronted by the prophet Nathan in regards to his sin.  Psalm 51 records David’s plea for repentance by recording in v.4 … Against you, and you alone, have I sinned; I have done what is evil in your sight. In v.10 David prays for God’s cleansing upon his life.  We know God forgave him (Praise God for that) but this will forever be a mark upon David’s life.  I know that I’ve failed often and I know immediately when I’ve displeased the Lord.  It weighs heavy on my heart.  When sin happens in my life (and it will) I need to immediately deal with it and repent so that I can be in right relationship with my heavenly Father.  Thank God for His mercy and grace in my life.

Psalms 20:1-5 (NLT) ^20:1 In times of trouble, may the LORD answer your cry. May the name of the God of Jacob keep you safe from all harm. ² May he send you help from his sanctuary and strengthen you from Jerusalem. ³ May he remember all your gifts and look favorably on your burnt offerings. Interlude ⁴ May he grant your heart’s desires and make all your plans succeed. ⁵ May we shout for joy when we hear of your victory and raise a victory banner in the name of our God. May the LORD answer all your prayers.

Every one experiences times of trouble in their lives.  At those time – it is sometimes hard to know how to pray and how to react.  David wrote this Psalm during a difficult season in his life.  Notice his plea:

In Times Of Trouble…

1-    May the Lord answer your cry

2-    May God’s name keep you safe

3-    May God send you help

4-    May God strengthen you

5-    May God give you the needed gifts

6-    May God look favorably on you

7-    May God grant your hearts desires

8-    May God make you successful

9-    May others shout for joy when they hear of your victory

10-  May God answer ALL your prayers

Perhaps it would be important for us to meditate on this today – knowing that God so wants to help us in our times of trouble and He so wants us to walk in the totality of His blessings.

Psalms 31:19-20 (NLT) ^31:19 How great is the goodness you have stored up for those who fear you. You lavish it on those who come to you for protection, blessing them before the watching world. ²⁰ 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.

Every one needs a safe place – away from all the troubles life brings us.  It’s one thing to say that we trust God.  It’s another to believe that He is actually going to do what He says.  Our eyes see the bad in situations and in people.  We don’t see God’s provision and blessing that God promises to His children.  The world can be very harsh at times.  It can drain you of your physical and spiritual energy.  We need to realize that God wants to “hide” us in His presence – away from those who would try to harm and accuse you.  Our hearts should be like David – “How great is the goodness you have stored up for those who fear you.”

1 Samuel 17:45-51 (NLT) ^17:45 David replied to the Philistine, “You come to me with sword, spear, and javelin, but I come to you in the name of the LORD of Heaven’s Armies—the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. ⁴⁶ Today the LORD will conquer you, and I will kill you and cut off your head. And then I will give the dead bodies of your men to the birds and wild animals, and the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel! ⁴⁷ And everyone assembled here will know that the LORD rescues his people, but not with sword and spear. This is the LORD’s battle, and he will give you to us!” ⁴⁸ As Goliath moved closer to attack, David quickly ran out to meet him. ⁴⁹ Reaching into his shepherd’s bag and taking out a stone, he hurled it with his sling and hit the Philistine in the forehead. The stone sank in, and Goliath stumbled and fell face down on the ground. ⁵⁰ So David triumphed over the Philistine with only a sling and a stone, for he had no sword. ⁵¹ Then David ran over and pulled Goliath’s sword from its sheath. David used it to kill him and cut off his head. Israel Routs the Philistines When the Philistines saw that their champion was dead, they turned and ran.

Goliath had been taunting the Israeli army for a long time.  No one seemed confident enough to take him on in battle.  David didn’t see it that way.  He knew his God and he knew what his God had done for him in the past.  Brazenly he took Goliath on knowing that it wasn’t with his strength that he battled him but with the strength of the Lord.  David relied on that and God gave him a great victory over Goliath.  I wonder how often we try to fight our battles on our own strength and how often we move into enemy territory without the strength or hand of the Lord.  Every battle that we face, whether big or small, needs to rely on the strength of the Lord.  It is only then that our battle will be complete and victorious.

1 Samuel 16:7 (NLT) But the LORD said to Samuel, “Don’t judge by his appearance or height, for I have rejected him. The LORD doesn’t see things the way you see them. People judge by outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.”

I have to admit that I’m guilty in regards to this.  I have often judged people before getting to know them.  I think that over the years I’ve gotten better at not doing this but I still slip every once in a while.  It’s disgusting.  It’s shameful.  I don’t want people doing that to me and I don’t want to do it to others.  I’m so glad that God sees beyond that and sees us through His eyes and not my own.  I am so blessed to be surrounded by people who love me just for who I am and I want to do the same for others.  There are so many awesome people that have such good and huge hearts.  It’s not about the appearance – contrary to worldly standards.  It’s about the heart that is right with God and loving toward others.  I want that heart in my life and I want to develop that heart toward others.

2 Corinthians 13:11-14 (NLT) ^13:11 Dear brothers and sisters, I close my letter with these last words: Be joyful. Grow to maturity. Encourage each other. Live in harmony and peace. Then the God of love and peace will be with you. ¹² Greet each other with Christian love. ¹³ All of God’s people here send you their greetings. ¹⁴ May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.

What would you say to someone knowing that it would be your last words to them?  We might say, “Hang in there” or “Good Luck” or “I’m praying for you,” etc.  Those are all good but notice what Paul tells the Corinthians:1- Choose Joy 2- Keep growing 3- Be an encourager 4- Live in peace.  In doing these things he gives a promise that the God of love and peace would be with them.  We all make choices in our lives whether good or bad.  It’s interesting though that Paul tells us that Joy is a choice that we make for ourselves. Life might be hard or perhaps life has thrown you a lot of curves.  Choose joy.  Decide to keep growing in the Lord.  Keep giving of yourself to others.  Make it your highest priority to live in peace.  Finally – Paul says… “May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.”

2 Corinthians 12:8-10 (NLT) ^12:8 Three different times I begged the Lord to take it away. ⁹ Each time he said, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me. ¹⁰ That’s why I take pleasure in my weaknesses, and in the insults, hardships, persecutions, and troubles that I suffer for Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

Let’s be honest – there are trials and difficult situations that don’t go away just because you pray.  We are often praying for smoother paths when God is desiring for us to pray for stronger shoes. There are some things that God has designed for our growth personally and with the Lord.  We pray for deliverance but God tells us that we need to pray for His grace to help us.  It is what we need in order to be the man or woman that God wants us to be.  Paul knew this.  He began to rejoice in “trials.”  He took pleasure in his weaknesses, insults, troubles, etc. because he knew that it would bring growth in him to make him more like Christ.  Instead of being mad at God – perhaps we need to start rejoicing in the fact that He loved us enough to allow us to go through these seasons and times in order for us to grow spiritually.  Yes, it can be hard at times but keep looking to Christ who is the author and finisher of our faith.  His grace is “enough” for you today.

1 Samuel 3:1-10 (NLT) ^3:1 Meanwhile, the boy Samuel served the LORD by assisting Eli. Now in those days messages from the LORD were very rare, and visions were quite uncommon. ² One night Eli, who was almost blind by now, had gone to bed. ³ The lamp of God had not yet gone out, and Samuel was sleeping in the Tabernacle near the Ark of God. ⁴ Suddenly the LORD called out, “Samuel!” “Yes?” Samuel replied. “What is it?” ⁵ He got up and ran to Eli. “Here I am. Did you call me?” “I didn’t call you,” Eli replied. “Go back to bed.” So he did. ⁶ Then the LORD called out again, “Samuel!” Again Samuel got up and went to Eli. “Here I am. Did you call me?” “I didn’t call you, my son,” Eli said. “Go back to bed.” ⁷ Samuel did not yet know the LORD because he had never had a message from the LORD before. ⁸ So the LORD called a third time, and once more Samuel got up and went to Eli. “Here I am. Did you call me?” Then Eli realized it was the LORD who was calling the boy. ⁹ So he said to Samuel, “Go and lie down again, and if someone calls again, say, ‘Speak, LORD, your servant is listening.’” So Samuel went back to bed. ¹⁰ And the LORD came and called as before, “Samuel! Samuel!” And Samuel replied, “Speak, your servant is listening.”

I think most people identify with this story in one way or another.  We have all found ourselves in a place where God was trying to speak to us but we weren’t listening.  Sometimes we are distracted with other things.  Perhaps, it could be that we, like Samuel, have not trained ourselves to hear the voice of the Lord.  It also might be because of sin in our life that we don’t want to deal with.  Whatever the reason – we should know that God is wanting to speak to us and wanting us to hear his voice.  It’s interesting – when Samuel final said, “Speak, your servant is listening” that God actually had something to say to Him.  I am praying for God to speak to me in a fresh and new way and that I wouldn’t do anything to hinder his voice in my life, however quiet it might be.  Speak Lord, your servant is listening.

2 Corinthians 6:11-13 (NLT) ^6:11 Oh, dear Corinthian friends! We have spoken honestly with you, and our hearts are open to you. ¹² There is no lack of love on our part, but you have withheld your love from us. ¹³ I am asking you to respond as if you were my own children. Open your hearts to us!

I love my job but it can at times be a little frustrating.  I believe that God has given me a big heart to love others but oftentimes people don’t want to be loved.  Instead they push you away.  Past hurts, past trust issues, and sin all become factors in this.  I try to reach out in love to everyone I come in contact with.  There are those who respond back and there are those who push you away.  It’s absolutely amazing when people let their walls down and let you into their “space.” It breaks my heart to see people pull back and not want any relationship or help.  I see the hurt that they are in but feel helpless because they are so closed down.  Paul’s plead – “Open your hearts to us” is often my cry.  I pray that people would drop their walls and let others in so they can be made whole.

Psalms 61:1-4 (NLT) ^61:1 O God, listen to my cry! Hear my prayer! ² From the ends of the earth, I cry to you for help when my heart is overwhelmed. Lead me to the towering rock of safety, ³ for you are my safe refuge, a fortress where my enemies cannot reach me. ⁴ Let me live forever in your sanctuary, safe beneath the shelter of your wings! Interlude

Have you ever felt overwhelmed?  Have you ever felt like you just wanted to get away from everything and from every body?  David felt this and knew that his only help was from God.  He knew that God was the only one who could answer him and the only one who could guarantee his safety.  He knew that his safety was in the shelter of God’s wings – in God’s sanctuary.  Like David we have often felt overwhelmed.  God hears our cries.  He hears our prayers. He is your fortress today.  Run to Him with all your heart.  Let Him surround you and protect you today.  Let His love be your strength and let it give you courage.  God is your rock today.  Trust in Him.