Memory Verse: Seek the LORD and his strength, seek his face continually (I Chronicles 16:11).

Song of The Day: What A Friend We Have In Jesus

In today’s reading, David prayed to God before going into battle with the Philistines. By being in communication with God, he secured victory over his enemies. How simple, right? Although God always knows our future, He enjoys our communication with Him. Asking for God’s divine counsel is appreciating His omniscience. He wants to be acknowledged in your daily walk, consulted in your rare dilemma, praised in your changing circumstance, and worshiped in your triumph.

The Psalmist Joseph M. Scriven (1820-1886) wrote the classic hymn, “What a friend we have in Jesus.” The first verse includes, “… oh what peace we often forfeit; oh what needless pain we bear; all because we do not carry everything to God in prayer.”

The omniscient God also knows what will be the coming and going of those who would do you harm. His counsel can steer you away from trouble. David had went to battle the Philistines before. He could have said, “I got this. My army has won this fight before.” Had David been haughty, he would have compromised the kingdom. In the second battle of this reading, God instructed David not to go up to battle in the obvious direction. He instructed David to take another route.

When we follow God’s leading, we also enlist his divine help (Isaiah 52:12, Psalm 50:15). God told David that not only would he not lose the battle, there would be a “moving” in the trees that would let David know that God was going before him in the battle. David needed help to fight the Philistines. God was willing and waiting to provide that help. David had only to include God in His plans. In so doing, he opened the door for God to reveal His own plan for David’s triumph.

The Word says that when making plans, we should be mindful that our plans are subject to change, according to the will of God. We should say that if the Lord is willing, we will do this or that, because tomorrow is neither promised nor shown in advance unless it be revealed by God.

James 15:13-17

13 Go to now, ye that say, To day or to morrow we will go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and get gain:  14 Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.  15 For that ye ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that.  16 But now ye rejoice in your boastings: all such rejoicing is evil.  17 Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.

When the Philistines heard that David had been anointed King, they immediately plotted against him. They had no idea who they were dealing with. Does this remind you of anyone? You might call them, “haters.”  David had not asked to be King over Israel. He was simply hated for being chosen by God and placed in a position of power. Michal, the daughter of Saul, also despised David in her heart (I Chronicles 15:29) when she saw him praising God in a dance.

Following God’s plan provides protection. It guarantees that “God’s got your back” (Isaiah 52:12). Jesus said,

If the world hate you, you know that it hated me before it hated you. John 15:18

When the hater huddle sizes you up, they usually get it wrong. Unbeknownst to the Philistines, David had the testimony that he was a praying man – despite his imperfections. When we walk in God’s will, He promises that when the enemy comes in like a flood, the LORD will lift up a standard against him.

Whether therefore you eat, or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. I Corinthians 10:31