Today, we continue our series entitled “Laser Focus,” emphasizing living with a Laser Focus on the Fixed Purpose God established for us before the world began.
(Proverbs 4:25 TPT)
Set your gaze on the path before you. With fixed purpose, looking straight ahead, ignore life’s distractions.
Scriptures for today:
(James 1:2-4 TPT)
2 My fellow believers, when it seems as though you are facing nothing but difficulties, see it as an invaluable opportunity to experience the greatest joy that you can!
3 For you know that when your faith is tested, it stirs up power within you to endure all things.
4 And then as your endurance grows even stronger it will release perfection into every part of your being until there is nothing missing and nothing lacking.
(Ecc 3:1 ERV)
There is a right time for everything, and everything on earth will happen at the right time
(1 Samuel 16:21 NLT)
So David went to Saul and began serving him. Saul loved David very much, and David became his armor bearer.
Setting the stage.
I love reading about how God moved in the life of interesting people. So, I certainly love David’s story. After the shepherd boy was summoned to the palace, he was told what would be expected of him. An evil spirit was tormenting the king, and David’s job was to play the harp whenever the king needed peace. Although David knew that Samuel, the same prophet who anointed Saul to be king, had recently anointed him to be Saul’s successor, David never brought it up. He just did as he was told. David was young, probably 17 or 18 years old at this point, but he exhibited maturity beyond his years. Whenever the tormenting spirit troubled Saul, David played the harp, the spirit would withdraw, and Saul would receive peace. Saul sent word to Jesse, asking, “Please let David remain in my service, for I am very pleased with him.”
Our text says that “Saul loved David very much.” Saul loved him so much that he appointed David to be his armor-bearer. In Scripture, an armor-bearer was a servant who carried additional weapons for commanders. Abimelech (Judges 9:54), Saul (1 Samuel 16:12), Jonathan (1 Samuel 14:6-17), and Joab (2 Samuel 18:15) had armor-bearers. Armor-bearers were also responsible for killing enemies wounded by their masters. After enemy soldiers were wounded with javelins or arrows, armor-bearers finished the job with clubs or swords.
Since Saul never entered combat while David was his armor-bearer, David’s non-combat duties were more like an adjutant. This meant that David was around the king all the time, and he was exposed to the throne and the ins and outs of the monarchy. This is very important because someday David would be king, and he needed to know how to rule as a monarch. I am sure he learned things in the presence of Saul that he would have never learned in the field with his sheep.
I have mentioned many times how grace and favor will open doors that no man can close, but let me ‘pull the string’ on that thought a little further. Think about David’s life, and you will see the fingerprints of God all over it. God supernaturally promoted David in front of his family and opened a door for David to come to the palace to play a musical instrument soon after. Then, once in the palace, the Lord opened a door for David to spend more time with Saul so that he could learn all he needed to know in order to prepare himself to be Saul’s successor. Notice that David did none of this on his own. This was all being done by grace. There is no way around it: David was who he was by the grace of God. The same can be said of us.
So, what does this mean to you today? A few things:
1. Your gift (and God’s grace) will make room for you and bring you before great men (Prov 18:16).
David’s musical ability, honed in the fields while tending sheep, opened the door to the palace. This demonstrates how God can use our seemingly ordinary talents in extraordinary ways. Like David, we must cultivate and use our God-given gifts, trusting that His grace will create opportunities for us to showcase, in public, what we have been working on in private (in obscurity).
How this applies to you:
— God has given you unique gifts and talents, just as He did with David’s musical ability.
— Your gifts are not just for your benefit but to open doors of opportunity in God’s plan.
— Be faithful in developing and using your gifts, even when you don’t see immediate results. You will be glad you are prepared when the opporunity comes because, at that time, it will be too late to get prepared.
— Trust that God’s grace will position you where you need to be to fulfill your purpose.
— Remember that your current skills may be used in unexpected ways in the future. So, hone those skills today.
— When God opens the door and brings you into the presence of people you can glean from or who can change your life, be thankful for the opportunity and make the most of it.
2. The Lord will expose you to people today who will help develop you into the person He needs you to be tomorrow.
David’s time in Saul’s court provided invaluable exposure to royal life and governance. God often places us in situations that, on the surface, may seem unrelated to our ultimate calling but are crucial for our development. We must remain open to learning from every experience and person God brings into our lives.
This reminds me of a tour I had in Korea from 2002-2004. I ran the communications team for a 4-Star General. My boss wore three hats. I had to understand each role and what role he was fulfilling during each meeting or email. While we were on the road, I was charged to read his classified emails and provide him with summaries in the morning. Many times, he would tell me how to respond on his behalf. I put this man on the phone with the President and the Secretary of Defense. I was in the room when he handled phone calls with international ramifications, especially concerning North Korea. Not only was I praying for him, but I was learning from him. I could have just seen this job as the “commo guy,” but since I was open to it, those two years I spent in his presence prepared me in ways no other job I ever had in the Army did.
Why is this important? During my career, I was charged with providing wise counsel to senior leaders and general officers who had been to the Captain’s Career Course, the Command and General Staff College, and the War College. As a Warrant Officer, I was not afforded the opportunity to attend any of those, but I had to provide counsel to those who did. So, I had to learn however I could learn in order to be prepared for my future.
Thankfully, I made the most of every assignment.
Make no mistake, while David was serving as Saul’s Armor Bearer, he was in the presence of the king, and he learned things that prepared him for his future.
How this applies to you:
— Be open to learning from every person God brings into your life, even unlikely sources.
— Like David learning about kingship from Saul, your current circumstances are preparing you for future roles.
— Be attentive and observant in every role, as you never know how it might prepare you for your future.
— Recognize that God may place you in situations that seem unrelated to your ultimate calling but are crucial for your development.
— Be willing to go above and beyond your job description, as this often leads to unexpected learning opportunities.
— Understand that your current position may be preparing you to offer wisdom and counsel in the future.
— Remain humble and teachable, always ready to learn from those in authority over you.
3. Don’t do all the talking When God brings you before great men. Be observant and ready to receive all the Lord wants to deposit in you. He brought you into their company for a reason: to make sure you maximize the moment.
As an armor-bearer, David had the opportunity to observe Saul closely, learning both positive and negative lessons about leadership. God will bring us into the presence of influential people. We must approach these situations with humility and a readiness to learn, maximizing every opportunity for growth.
How this applies to you:
— Practice active listening and observation when in the presence of leaders or mentors. I have learned so much from just being in the presence of greatness and keeping my ears and heart open to receive.
— Recognize that sometimes the most valuable lessons are caught, not taught.
— Be willing to serve and learn, even in roles that seem beneath your potential, as David did as an armor-bearer.
— Understand that every interaction is an opportunity for growth and preparation for your future.
— Remain teachable and humble, knowing that God is using these moments to shape you.
Declaration of Faith:
Father, I thank You for the unique gifts and talents You’ve bestowed upon me by Your grace.
I embrace every opportunity You provide, knowing it’s preparing me for my divine purpose.
I remain humble, open, and teachable, ready to learn from every person and situation You bring into my life.
I commit to being observant and receptive, maximizing every moment in the presence of those You’ve placed in my path.
I refuse to despise small beginnings, recognizing that every experience is shaping me for Your greater plan.
I choose to be faithful and excellent in my current role, trusting in Your perfect timing and preparation.
I use times of solitude to deepen my relationship with You, knowing this intimacy is crucial for my future.
I trust that Your favor will open doors that no man can close, positioning me exactly where I need to be.
I declare that I am becoming the person You’ve called me to be, making the most of every opportunity You provide.
Living this way, I know GREATER IS COMING FOR ME!
I declare this by faith. In Jesus’ name. AMEN!
This is Today’s Word. Apply it and prosper!
