Defeat Following Victory

OK Lord, as I continue to read about the life of David, I have to chuckle that just at a time when he is learning to trust in You and to let You be his defender, he takes matters into his own hands and he flees to Ziklag. He isn't trusting in You there. He is fighting the battles against his enemies but lying to Achish about what he is doing. Lord, help me to continue to trust in You and do things Your way!

Letting God be Your Defender

Psalm 56

God, show me your favor. Men are chasing me. All day long they keep attacking me.

2 Those who tell lies about me chase me all day long. Many proud people are attacking me.

3 When I'm afraid, I will trust in you.

4 I trust in God. I praise his word. I trust in God. I will not be afraid. What can people do to me?

5 All day long they twist my words. They are always making plans to harm me.

6 They get together and hide. They watch my steps. They hope to kill me.

7 Make sure you don't let them escape. God, bring down the nations in your anger.

8 Write down my poem of sadness. List my tears on your scroll. Aren't you making a record of them?

9 My enemies will turn back when I call out to you for help. Then I will know that God is on my side.

10 I trust in God. I praise his word. I trust in the Lord. I praise his word.

11 I trust in God. I will not be afraid. What can mere men do to me?

Psalm 120:1-4 I call out to the LORD when I'm in trouble, and he answers me. Lord, save me from people whose lips tell lies. Save me from people whose tongues don't tell the truth. What will the LORD do to you, you lying tongue? And what more will he do? He will punish you with the sharp arrows of a soldier. He will punish you with burning wood from a desert tree.

1 Samuel 25:26 "Sir, the LORD has kept you from killing Nabal and his men. He has kept you from using your own hands to get even. May what's about to happen to Nabal happen to all of your enemies. May it also happen to everyone who wants to harm you. And may it happen just as surely as the LORD and you are alive

1 Samuel 26:10 You can be sure that the LORD lives," he said. "And you can be just as sure that the LORD himself will strike Saul down. Perhaps he'll die a natural death. Or perhaps he'll go into battle and be killed.

Dear Lord,

I have been reading about the life of David and the thing that continues to cross my mind is how David trusted You to be his defender. He didn't take matters into his own hands, he waited on you to vindicate him. I know that is what You want for me, You want me to trust in You to be my defender. To raise me up to the place You have chosen me to be, at the time of Your choosing.

I have worked for my school district for 8 years. I have taught my students faithfully, learning more and more everyday about how to be better at my job. And although it has been 8 years, I am still a temporary teacher. I am still subject to lay-off at the end of every year.

As I read these passages about the life of David and how he waited for You to raise him up to the place and position You anointed him for, I can only hope that You will be my defender. I hope and pray that this will be the year that You will change my circumstance. That my value will be seen and that You will reward me for my faithfulness by making me permanent. Oh Lord, I ask that this will be the year, it seems impossible, but you are the God that makes the impossible possible.

1 Samuel 26:23-25 "The LORD rewards everyone for doing what is right and being faithful. He handed you over to me today. But I wouldn't lay a hand on you. You are the LORD's anointed king. Today I thought your life had great value. In the same way, may the LORD think of my life as having great value. May he save me from all trouble." Then Saul said to David, "My son David, may the LORD bless you. You will do great things. You will also have great success." So David went on his way. And Saul returned home.

God, please, bless me that I may do great things for my students in Jesus' name.