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.
Scriptures we have been looking at all year:
(Proverbs 4:25 TPT)
Set your gaze on the path before you. With fixed purpose, looking straight ahead, ignore life’s distractions.
(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.
Focus for today:
Setting the Stage. (From 1 Samuel 22:5-8)
In yesterday’s message, David was in the cave of Adullam. After spending some time there, he built a stronghold. This means he fortified his position because he was going to be there for a while. With a stable location, David established himself as the leader of a band of misfits, 400 men in all.
The Lord blessed David in that cave, and he stayed there until he heard from God to move. Remember, when David put his parents in his own form of ‘witness-protection,’ he told the king of Moab that he was waiting to find out what God was going to do for him. David did not know what was next but knew that God was up to something.
David continued to wait on the Lord, and then, one day, the Lord moved upon the prophet Gad to go to David to give him a word. The prophet said, “Leave the stronghold and return to the land of Judah.” Just like that, God gave David clear instructions. David received this as Word from the Lord, so he obeyed immediately. David went to the forest of Hereth. It was not long before the news of his arrival in Judah reached King Saul.
When King Saul received the news about David, he was sitting beneath the tamarisk tree on the hill at Gibeah, holding his spear and surrounded by his officers. Saul immediately lost it. The king shouted, “Listen here, you men of Benjamin! Has that son of Jesse promised every one of you fields and vineyards? Has he promised to make you all generals and captains in his army? Is that why you have conspired against me?”
Here you have the sitting King of Israel expressing his frustration to his own men. Saul was no longer stable. He knew the Lord was no longer with him, he knew the Lord was with David, and it was driving him crazy. Saul continued shouting, “For not one of you told me when my own son made a solemn pact with the son of Jesse. You’re not even sorry for me. Think of it! My own son—encouraging him to kill me, as he is trying to do this very day!” Saul wanted his Soldiers to feel sorry for him, and he thought his own son was conspiring to kill him. This is a picture of what happens to those who fight against God’s plans and purposes.
So, what does this mean to you today? A few things:
1. Hearing from God is essential.
David knew God was up to something, but he did not know what it was, so he stood pat until he heard from God. Today, as Born-Again believers, we have God’s Spirit inside of us, and the Father can lead us through His Spirit. God can also speak to us through others.
A question I get all the time is, “How do you hear from God?” While God can speak to you in a myriad of ways, one thing I have learned is that you cannot be in a hurry. Hearing God’s voice requires intentionality and patience. It’s not about rushing through a quick prayer but about creating space in our lives for deep, meaningful interaction with God. The more time we invest in this relationship, the more attuned we become to His voice and leading.
How this applies to you:
— Prioritize regular, unrushed time with God in your daily schedule.
— Set time and make time to spend in God’s presence.
— Practice stillness and silence to better discern God’s voice amidst life’s noise. You can’t hear if you are always talking.
— Be patient and persistent in seeking God’s guidance, trusting His perfect timing.
— Journal your prayers and the impressions you receive to track God’s communication over time.
— Regularly study God’s Word to familiarize yourself with His character and ways of speaking. The Spirit of God will never leave you contrary to the Word of God, so knowing the Word is essential to discerning when something comes from Him.
— Like David, be open to receiving a Word from God when it comes through someone else.
— God can give you dreams while you are asleep and open visions while you are awake. He can speak to you directly through the Holy Spirit or indirectly through others. God can speak to you while you are reading His Word or driving your car. The point is that God speaks, and we must learn to discern His voice in order to maximize our purpose and potential while we are in the land of the living.
2. God can speak to you through others.
God sent the prophet Gad to David to provide a Word (a message), and He can still do the same today. Some Christians believe the time for prophecy is over, but I don’t know where they get that from. God has spoken to me through many who were anointed to release prophetic words into my life. While some may argue that certain forms of prophecy have ceased, scripture and experience show that God continues to speak in diverse ways. This underscores the importance of maintaining an open and discerning heart to recognize God’s voice, whether it comes through other people, circumstances, His Word, or directly through the Holy Spirit. Open yourself up to hear from Him and you will.
How this applies to you:
— Remain open to God speaking through unexpected sources or individuals.
— Develop discernment to test and verify messages against Scripture and God’s character.
— Seek counsel from mature believers to help confirm what you believe God is saying.
— Pay attention to recurring themes or messages across different aspects of your life.
— Always weigh prophetic words or impressions against the truth of God’s Word.
Here are two scriptures that support this:
(1 Thes 5:19-22 TPT)
Never restrain or put out the fire of the Holy Spirit. And don’t be one who scorns prophecies, but be faithful to examine them by putting them to the test, and afterward hold tightly to what has proven to be right. Avoid every appearance of evil.
(1 John 4:1 NLT)
Dear friends, do not believe everyone who claims to speak by the Spirit. You must test them to see if the spirit they have comes from God. For there are many false prophets in the world.
3. God will deal with your enemies.
David did not have to fight Saul. Saul was losing his mind under the pressure of being against God and his anointed. When people come up against you, God has a way of removing His protection from them and allowing them to feel the weight and pressure that comes when someone fights against God’s Kingdom plans and purposes. You will stand by and watch as they buckle under the pressure.
How this applies to you:
— David’s situation with Saul illustrates God’s sovereign handling of those who oppose His plans. As Saul’s mental state deteriorated, it became clear that fighting against God’s will led to self-destruction.
— Resist the urge to retaliate against those who oppose you; trust God to handle the situation.
— Focus on your own obedience to God rather than on the actions of your opponents.
— Pray for those who oppose you, recognizing that their fight is ultimately against God.
— Stay encouraged by remembering that God’s plans will prevail despite opposition.
— Use opposition as an opportunity to demonstrate God’s love and grace to others.
4. The balance between patience and obedience.
David’s willingness to wait and then immediately act upon receiving God’s word through the prophet Gad exemplifies the balance between patience and obedience. This alignment with God’s timing and purpose is crucial for experiencing the fullness of His plan for our lives. It requires both the humility to wait and the courage to act promptly when God speaks.
How this applies to you:
— Cultivate patience during seasons of waiting, trusting that God is working behind the scenes.
— Be prepared to move quickly when God gives clear direction. Delayed obedience is disobedience.
— Regularly assess your life to ensure you’re not running ahead of or lagging behind God’s timing.
— If you are ahead of God, you are out there without the protection of His purpose. If you are behind God, you run the risk of missing out on divine opportunities.
— Seek wisdom in discerning between times of waiting and times of action.
— Trust that God’s timing, though sometimes seems mysterious, is always perfect for your growth and His glory.
— Lastly, know that there is a certain level of mystery to walking with God. God won’t tell you everything when you want to know it. You won’t have everything perfectly mapped out. You will need to learn to get comfortable with a certain level of discomfort because walking with God requires faith and trust.
Declaration of Faith:
Father, I tune my heart to hear Your voice clearly and consistently.
I embrace every method You choose to communicate Your will to me.
Your timing is perfect, and I trust Your guidance in every season of my life.
I stand firm in faith, knowing You handle those who oppose Your plans for me.
My ears are attentive to Your Spirit, ready to receive divine direction at any moment.
I move forward with confidence, assured that Your words and Your Spirit light my path.
In times of uncertainty, I find peace in waiting for Your clear instruction.
I am discerning, testing every word against the truth of Your Scripture.
My life aligns with Your purpose as I obey Your promptings without delay.
Your wisdom flows through me, guiding my decisions and actions for Your glory.
GREATER IS COMING FOR ME as I align myself with Your will and rely on Your unfailing grace.
I declare this by faith. In Jesus’ name. Amen!
This is Today’s Word. Apply it and prosper!????????????????
