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 18:28-30 NLT)
When Saul realized that the LORD was with David and how much his daughter Michal loved him, Saul became even more afraid of him, and he remained David’s enemy for the rest of his life. Every time the commanders of the Philistines attacked, David was more successful against them than all the rest of Saul’s officers. So David’s name became very famous.
Setting the Stage. (From 1 Samuel 18:28-30)
After everything David had been through in the months following his triumphant victory over the giant, I am sure his wedding day was special. David married the king’s daughter, Michal; the second daughter offered to him, but the first that he loved. David and Michal were happily married and madly in love, David’s brother-in-law Jonathan was his best friend in the world, David’s men were willing to follow him to the ends of the earth, and the public could not get enough of David, loving everything he did. If this happened today, David and Michal would be followed by the paparazzi, David would be on the cover of every magazine, and we would watch David tell his rage-to-riches story on an Oprah special. This unknown eighth son from Bethlehem had taken Israel by storm. From the outside, you would say his life was amazing, and it was, but from within the palace gates, the people saw something else brewing… Saul’s resentment towards David.
Our text says, “Saul became even more afraid of him, and he remained David’s enemy for the rest of his life.” Another translation says, “Saul’s fear of David increased and settled into hate. Saul hated David.” Isn’t that sad? David was experiencing supernatural victory after supernatural victory in his life. Still, the man who was supposed to have the most power in the entire kingdom, a man David had done nothing wrong to, hated him. But while it is sad, the flipside is that Saul, who had earthly power, could do nothing to stop David. The more the Philistines attacked, and the more David went out to fight, the more David was able to outshine everyone else, and the text says his name “became very famous.”
How did this happen? How did a nobody from nowhere become so famous that he was outshining the king? How did a kid from a lowly family come into the palace and win over the king’s kids? How did a teenager who had never served a day in the Army become the General on the cover of Israel’s Time magazine? I’ll tell you how: GRACE! While David had something to do with it, David could not take all the credit. This was God’s handiwork. The hand of God was evident on David, and he experienced overwhelming, immeasurable, and undeserved grace. Guess what? That same grace is available to you.
So, what does this mean to you today? A few things:
1. God’s Grace Magnifies Your God-Given Purpose.
When you align with God’s purpose for your life, His grace becomes evident in everything you do. David wasn’t just good at what he did; he excelled supernaturally. This wasn’t merely human talent or effort; God’s grace empowered David to fulfill his divine destiny.
How this applies to you:
— Seek God’s purpose for your life through prayer, studying His Word, and spending time with the Holy Spirit.
— Recognize that your talents and abilities are gifts from God to fulfill His purpose.
— Acknowledge the fact that God is a completely purposeful God, and He sent you to this planet at just the right time to accomplish what He purposed for you to accomplish. This means that your life is not about you. It is about the purpose God planned before the world began.
— When you are led by the Holy Spirit to do something, even if it seems crazy, step out in faith, knowing that God’s grace will empower you beyond your natural capabilities.
— Expect supernatural results when you operate in your God-given purpose.
— Remain humble, acknowledging that your success is due to God’s grace, not your own strength.
2. Success Often Attracts Opposition.
David’s increasing success and fame led to Saul becoming “even more afraid of him.” This teaches us that walking in God’s purpose and experiencing His grace doesn’t mean a life free from challenges. In fact, it often attracts opposition, especially from those who feel threatened by your God-given success.
How this applies to you:
— Don’t be surprised when your success attracts criticism or opposition.
— Since God moves in your life in ways that don’t make sense to the wisdom of this world, when God’s favor is on you, people will criticize what they do not understand.
— While many believers think opposition is a sign that they are off course, many times, opposition actually confirms you’re on the right path.
— Respond to opposition with grace and integrity, as David did. Knowing that their poison cannot stop your purpose.
— Use challenges as opportunities to demonstrate God’s power in your life.
— Remember that opposition cannot prevent God’s plan for your life.
— When you are flowing with God (His grace and His Spirit), stopping you would mean stopping God, and God cannot be stopped!
3. God’s Grace is Unstoppable.
Despite the fact that Saul was supposed to be the most powerful man in Israel and he hated and feared David, David continued to succeed. Every time the Philistines attacked, David outperformed all of Saul’s officers. This demonstrates that no human opposition can stop what God has set in motion when God’s grace is upon you.
How this applies to you:
— Trust in God’s grace more than your own abilities or others’ opposition.
— Keep moving forward in your purpose, regardless of the obstacles you face. The only way you can lose is if you quit.
— Expect continued success when you’re walking in God’s will and grace. Because your confidence is in God, not yourself.
— Use your success as a testimony to God’s faithfulness and power. Make sure you deflect the glory upwards toward God.
— Remember that your ultimate victory is assured in Christ, no matter what temporary setbacks you may face. Paul said, “Now thanks be unto God, who always causeth us to triumph in Christ… ” (2 Cor 2:14).
— God is not going to lead us to failure. So, when we know we are being led by the Holy Spirit, we can rest assured that He is leading us to experience the victory He already secured.
— When you understand God’s grace and our requirement to walk and live by faith, you realize you are not striving for victory. You are simply receiving the victory Jesus already provided.
— David was not making his way prosperous, per se. He was walking into His divine purpose, and as he did, he got to experience the victories God had already provided. Now, his path was not pain-free. This is a reminder that we will have to endure and overcome. But just as long as we don’t quit, we will experience the victory God planned for us before the world began.
— Nothing and no one can stop God’s grace!
Declaration of Faith:
Father, I thank You for Your unstoppable grace that is working in my life.
I declare that I am walking in the purpose You ordained for me before the foundation of the world.
Your grace magnifies my efforts, causing me to excel beyond my natural abilities, and when it does, I am quick to give YOU the glory!
I am not deterred by opposition, knowing that it often accompanies divinely ordained success.
I trust that no human resistance can hinder what YOU have purposed for my life.
Your favor surrounds me like a shield, protecting me from those who might seek to harm me.
I choose to respond to challenges with grace and integrity, reflecting YOUR character in all I do.
My success is a testimony to YOUR faithfulness and power working through me.
I remain humble, knowing that all my achievements are because of YOUR grace, not my own strength.
I press forward with confidence, assured that GREATER IS COMING FOR ME as I continue to walk in Your unstoppable grace.
I declare this by faith. In Jesus’ name. Amen!
This is Today’s Word. Apply it and prosper!????????????????
