Do you turn to prayer when you are overmatched?
27 Apr 26
Today's devotional: taken from YouVersion, Devotions on F.I.R.E. Year One
Readings:
2 Samuel 17
2 Samuel 18
Luke 21:1-19
And David said, “O LORD, I pray, turn the counsel of Ahithophel into foolishness!" (2 Samuel 15:31).
Do you turn to prayer when you are overmatched?
Ahithophel’s council is renowned. “Now the advice of Ahithophel, which he gave in those days, was as if one had inquired at the oracle of God. So was all the advice of Ahithophel both with David and with Absalom” (2 Samuel 16:23). This is why David petitions the Lord to “turn the counsel of Ahithophel into foolishness.” Why does Ahithophel betray David? It seems that Ahithophel is Bathsheba’s grandfather. “Eliam [is] the son of Ahithophel the Gilonite” (2 Samuel 23:34). Connect this with 2 Samuel 11:3, “Is this not Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam, the wife of Uriah the Hittite?” Nonetheless God honors David’s prayer and the counsel of Ahithophel is rejected for the advice of Hushai (2 Samuel 17:1-14) that spares David’s life from Absalom and his conspirators. Sadly, Ahithophel kills himself (2 Samuel 17:23).
Employment Point: Pray for God’s intervention when you are overwhelmed.
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Reflections
David turned to the Lord for prayers when he is faced with a strong opposition. People wanted him dead, his own son in fact. It would be in such a sad situation if I were him. However, he did not kick up or fuss. He has his priorities right and seek the Lord for His intervention over the matter.
This is a reminder to us too, that we should not like matters overwhelm us but go to the Lord and pray to Him. Let Him take over.
“But the man replied, “Even if a thousand shekels were weighed out into my hands, I would not lay a hand on the king’s son. In our hearing the king commanded you and Abishai and Ittai, ‘Protect the young man Absalom for my sake.’”
2 Samuel 18:12 NIV
- God had the power to control for He is the Sovereign Lord. Even the wise men were ignored as the Lord had wanted to protected David. It is sad however, that some mishaps such as the death of his son Absalom may happen due to men’s own folly and thoughts of self-righteousness. In reflection, sometimes we may think that we act righteously, but if it is not the will of God we actually may end up going against God. Thus it is important to trust and obey and to only do His will.
“He also saw a poor widow put in two very small copper coins. “Truly I tell you,” he said, “this poor widow has put in more than all the others. All these people gave their gifts out of their wealth; but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on.””Luke 21:2-4 NIV
- one should never judge one another’s tithes or offerings for we do not know what is going on in the background. For this poor widow, the Lord knows that is all that she has for survival and yet she gave her all. Whereas for the wealthy men, they gave out of their wealth and whatever that maybe a surplus.
- Giving may not be just in monetary terms. It can also mean our time and energy. What are we committed to doing and how much time are we spending each day for the Lord?
- Each and every one of us has 24hours a day equally but each of us gives to the Lord a portion of what we think we want to give to the Lord has our offering. Think about this for your own reflection. Are we giving like the wealthy men or are we giving like the poor widow? What takes precedence in our lives and what is taking our time away from the Lord?
“But make up your mind not to worry beforehand how you will defend yourselves. For I will give you words and wisdom that none of your adversaries will be able to resist or contradict.”
Luke 21:14-15 NIV
- it is already mentioned in the bible the things to come. The Lord has also told us not to worry for He will give us words and wisdom during those times.
- Therefore, this is good for us to keep reading the word and to remain strong in our faith so that when the time comes, we will be ready to face it as an army of God’s warriors, His children with has the love of God.
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What Do You Want?
BY OSWALD CHAMBERS
April 27
Should you then seek great things for yourself? Do not seek them. — Jeremiah 45:5
Are you seeking great things for yourself? Not seeking to become a great man or woman, but seeking great gifts from God? God wants your relationship with him to be closer than a relationship based on receiving his gifts. He wants you to get to know him. Nothing is easier than getting into a right relationship with God, except when you’re only looking for what you can get out of it.
If, in your walk in faith, you’ve only come as far as asking God for blessings, you haven’t begun to approach full abandonment to him. You’ve become a Christian, but you’ve become one on your own terms rather than his. “I asked God for the Holy Spirit,” you say, “but he did not give me the peace I expected.” God puts his finger on the reason at once: you aren’t seeking him at all; you’re seeking things for yourself.
Jesus says, “Ask and it will be given to you” (Luke 11:9). You cannot ask if you are not asking for a right thing. Are you asking God for the great gift of the Holy Spirit? If he has not given it, it is because you are not abandoned enough: there is still something you will not do. Are you prepared to ask yourself what you want from God and why you want it? “Your Father knows what you need before you ask him” (Matthew 6:8). Then why ask? So that you may get to know him. When you draw near to God, you will stop asking for anything other than him.
God ignores present perfection for ultimate perfection. He isn’t concerned about making you blessed and happy right now. He is working out his ultimate perfection: “That they may be one as we are one” (John 17:11).
WISDOM FROM OSWALD
The great thing about faith in God is that it keeps a man undisturbed in the midst of disturbance.
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Reflections
My favourite verse or lyrics of all times goes like this..
“But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith.”
Philippians 3:7-9 NIV
Lyrics of the song ‘Reward’
Come and be my exceedingly great reward
You’re the treasure that I would give my whole life for
What would it profit me to gain the world but lose my soul?
I know my life is not my own.
I stumble upon this write up by the Singer himself. Quite worth the read:
https://www.joshyeoh.com/reflect/how-much-is-he-worth-to-you
So while reading the devotional, this verse came to mind. It is the focus on Him and nothing else. Throughout our time on earth, He is teaching us to learn and relearn from Him. To stay away from the norm and what the world thinks but to seek a new heaven on earth. To do things which we had never done before as we follow His commands and His calling.
Quite similar to the sermon that was preached last week about asking the Lord according to His will, we are to ask truly in submission to His will. There’s no point in saying “Your will be done,” but still trying to do our will. There seems to be a fine line of being the persistent widow and being the submissive servant. At what point do we stop and truly let thy will be done?
For a recent issue I encountered, I almost thought that by persisting in prayers, the Lord will be able to change their minds and bring about a positive outcome. However, what we prayed for did not happen and He kind of told me He closed that door, for whatever reasons I do not understand. Ultimately, I surrender the outcome into His hands and understand that this is for the best of all of us.
We need to ask the Lord, what He wants from us and not what we want from Him. The focus should be on Him and not on ourselves. At times I find myself asking for the obvious, like as if He doesn’t know and yet we know that He does, since He is our Lord God. Why then do we still need to ask? It is still, an expression of reliance and also love and respect.
Imagine a kid who asked their parents for their favourite sweet. Would the parents not know what their liked best? But sometimes they have to withhold it and not give it to them all the time. Why? Because there is a need for discipline, for the training of self control, grace and learning to surrender. Imagine a parent who just kept giving in whenever the kid asks for things, how would it end up? A kid who will become self entitled, unforgiving, no self control, selfish human being.
We may not fully understand everything but we ought to focus on our Father LORD. The One who will only give us the best and train us to look at things from His point of view. A whole new different perspective. But first, we need to dump our own perspective in order to relearn the new concepts. We need to have an open heart and be willing to undergo objective criticism. Take everything with humility. That’s how we can learn to be like Him.
Came across this and I think it is true.
https://youtu.be/0RSg9i4RRTM?si=kJ5ZjYRDcONrREvV
Let’s pray:
Father may we commit to look up to You. To seek You always and not on our own understanding. Help us to be teachable and lower of pride so that we are able to learn to be more like You. Teach us patience and self-control so that we remain unfazed by challenges and yet to pause and inquire You of our next steps. Help us not to be afraid but just come with a full reliance on You alone. Having You lead the way from everlasting to everlasting. Amen 🙏🏻
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