Written By TWFT
Sunday, January 29
“The only way to escape from him is to go to Philistia.” 1Sa 27:1 CEV
The Bible says, “[David] thought to himself, ‘One of these days, Saul is going to kill me. The only way to escape from him is to go to Philistia’” (v. 1 CEV). Now, in times past, David had “inquired of the Lord” (See 23:2, 4 NIV). He also sought advice from experienced, proven counselors. But this time, he was guided by his fears and ended up defecting to enemy territory. And it gave him a temporary sense of relief. Looking to the wrong source can do that—but it doesn’t last. Solomon said: “You may think you are on the right road and still end up dead. Sorrow may hide behind laughter, and happiness may end in sorrow. You harvest what you plant, whether good or bad…be smart and know where you are headed” (Pr 14:12–15 CEV). Eventually, the Philistines rejected David because they couldn’t trust him. They said, “Send David back to the town you gave him. We won’t have him going into the battle with us. He could turn and fight against us!” (1Sa 29:4 CEV). Be careful when you’re in a spiritual slump, because the decisions you make can have long-lasting ramifications. Rejected by the Philistines, with no country and no family to come home to, here is what we learn from David: (1) Instead of listening to your fears, listen to God. Standing among the ruins of his life, “David found strength in the Lord” (1Sa 30:6 NIV), and you will, too. (2) Seek wise counselors. It’s the last thing you will feel like doing because misery loves company, but “the more wise counsel you follow, the better” (Pr 11:14 MSG).
Sunday, January 29
“The only way to escape from him is to go to Philistia.” 1Sa 27:1 CEV
The Bible says, “[David] thought to himself, ‘One of these days, Saul is going to kill me. The only way to escape from him is to go to Philistia’” (v. 1 CEV). Now, in times past, David had “inquired of the Lord” (See 23:2, 4 NIV). He also sought advice from experienced, proven counselors. But this time, he was guided by his fears and ended up defecting to enemy territory. And it gave him a temporary sense of relief. Looking to the wrong source can do that—but it doesn’t last. Solomon said: “You may think you are on the right road and still end up dead. Sorrow may hide behind laughter, and happiness may end in sorrow. You harvest what you plant, whether good or bad…be smart and know where you are headed” (Pr 14:12–15 CEV). Eventually, the Philistines rejected David because they couldn’t trust him. They said, “Send David back to the town you gave him. We won’t have him going into the battle with us. He could turn and fight against us!” (1Sa 29:4 CEV). Be careful when you’re in a spiritual slump, because the decisions you make can have long-lasting ramifications. Rejected by the Philistines, with no country and no family to come home to, here is what we learn from David: (1) Instead of listening to your fears, listen to God. Standing among the ruins of his life, “David found strength in the Lord” (1Sa 30:6 NIV), and you will, too. (2) Seek wise counselors. It’s the last thing you will feel like doing because misery loves company, but “the more wise counsel you follow, the better” (Pr 11:14 MSG).
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January
ENJOY EACH DAY OF THIS NEW YEAR (1)ENJOY EACH DAY OF THIS NEW YEAR (2)THIS YEAR THINK “POSSIBLE” (1)THIS YEAR THINK “POSSIBLE” (2)THIS YEAR THINK “POSSIBLE” (3)LET GOD LEAD YOUGOD IS YOUR PROVIDERYOUR OVERFLOWING CUP OF BLESSINGSTEPS TO OVERCOMING YOUR WORRIESFOCUS ON YOUR GOD-GIVEN VISIONTHE STORY OF YOUR BIBLEHOW GOD LEADS USHOW JESUS DEALT WITH SINARE YOU JOY-DEPRIVEDIT’S TIME TO PRAY (1)IT’S TIME TO PRAY (2)FAITH THAT BRINGS RESULTSBE FAITHFUL TO GOD AT WORKWHEN YOUR BEST ISN’T GOOD ENOUGHTODAY, GIVE YOUR PROBLEM TO GODSTEPS TO FORGIVENESS (1)STEPS TO FORGIVENESS (2)THE JOYS OF HEAVEN (1)THE JOYS OF HEAVEN (2)THE JOYS OF HEAVEN (3)LEARN TO CONTROL YOUR ANGERSEEK GOD FOR DIRECTIONTRY A POWER NAPGO TO THE RIGHT SOURCEHOW GOD SEES YOUYOU HAVE TO “WALK OUT” THE PROCESS
February
GUARD THESE THREE AREAS OF VULNERABILITYSIMPLIFY YOUR LIFEONWARD AND UPWARDYOU NEED EACH OTHER (1)YOU NEED EACH OTHER (2)YOU NEED EACH OTHER (3)SHOWING GRACE TOWARD THOSE WHO DIFFER WITH YOUARE YOU HAVING A NIGHTIME EXPERIENCE?A HEART FILLED WITH GOODNESSCHRIST’S LOVE FOR YOUGIVE GOD ALL THE GLORYYOU’RE A REFLECTORYOU MUST CARE FOR THE NEEDY (1)YOU MUST CARE FOR THE NEEDY (2)YOU MUST CARE FOR THE NEEDY (3)DON’T GIVE UP ON YOUR SAULRECOVERING FROM BURNOUTSETTING THE CAPTIVES FREE (1)SETTING THE CAPTIVES FREE (2)HE WILL DO IT AGAIN!BEWARE OF SELF-PITYTODAY, CHOOSE THE RIGHT ATTITUDEBUILD A RELATIONSHIP WITH YOUR CHILDREN“SERVANT” FOR LIFECHANGE YOUR EXPECTATIONSSTART MEMORIZING SCRIPTURESCHRIST IS COMING AGAIN!FRIENDSHIP
March
EXPERIENCING GOD’S PRESENCE AND PLEASUREDON’T WAIT; ENJOY YOUR LIFE NOWMONEY MATTERS IN MARRIAGEUSE YOUR GOD-GIVEN CREATIVITYA PRAYER OF FORGIVENESSWHEN GOD SENDS YOU AN ANGEL (1)WHEN GOD SENDS YOU AN ANGEL (2)WHEN GOD SENDS YOU AN ANGEL (3)WHEN GOD SENDS YOU AN ANGEL (4)A PRAYER FOR FINANCIAL CONTENTMENTA PRAYER OF COMMITMENT TO GODHAVING A VISION FOR YOUR LIFECHANGE YOUR THINKING, CHANGE YOUR LIFE (1)CHANGE YOUR THINKING, CHANGE YOUR LIFE (2)CHANGE YOUR THINKING, CHANGE YOUR LIFE (3)DOES IT GLORIFY GOD?LESSONS FROM A BROKEN HEARTWHAT YOU MUST GIVE UPYOU NEED OTHERSREBUILDING YOUR MARRIAGE (1)REBUILDING YOUR MARRIAGE (2)REBUILDING YOUR MARRIAGE (3)REBUILDING YOUR MARRIAGE (4)THROUGH CHRIST, YOU CAN DO ITDEPEND ON GOD MORESTART SAYING, ‘I CAN’REFUSE TO LIVE IN FEAR (1)REFUSE TO LIVE IN FEAR (2)REFUSE TO LIVE IN FEAR (3)REFUSE TO LIVE IN FEAR (4)PREPARE IN ADVANCE