Sunday 6 Oct 2013

Sunday Reading: 2 Samuel 24:1-10

Key Verse: 2 Samuel 24:10
10  David was conscience-stricken after he had counted the fighting men, and he said to the Lord, ‘I have sinned greatly in what I have done. Now, Lord, I beg you, take away the guilt of your servant. I have done a very foolish thing.’

Devotion:
How do you know if you are doing things according to God’s wishes or whether you are doing something because of your own desires? Sometimes it is a very hard line to find and sometimes the only way we spot it is when we cross the line or are pushed over the line. None of us like to be squeezed up against the wall or pushed into a corner where we feel like we have no escape, but if that is the only way that God is going to get your attention, then don’t be too surprised if you do find yourself in the corner!

King David was pushed into a difficult place where he felt angry because of all that the people had been doing against God. His reaction was to do something out of character, something that would make God angry! David was reacting rather than spending time going over things with God and his reaction was to take a census and find out how many men he had that would fight for him! It was his pride that came out instead of God’s will. It was what he thought and not what God was trying to get him to do.

When things get tough we do have to listen more intently to God and we need to make sure that we are not doing something just because we are cross or upset; spending more time in prayer and reading God’s Word more often will help you to work things out. Whilst you may well feel like the last thing you want to do is to get stuck into reading your bible, it is a more sure way of finding out God’s will in your life than guessing! You may not like where God does lead you, but because His Word is true, you need to trust it in where it leads you.

Recently I seemed to be caught in a rough place and it was only through God’s Word that I gained that peace again from Him. It was only through God’s Word that I learned the changes that He wanted me to make in my life. It put me in a very uncomfortable place because it was not at all what I had expected; but once I submitted to that will, I felt that peace come back that only God can give us!

Points to Ponder:
Do you feel squeezed?

Are you getting deeper into your bible?