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 25:35-44)
In 1 Samuel 25, we find the story of Abigail, a woman the Bible describes as “intelligent and beautiful” (v.3). She was married to Nabal, a wealthy but harsh and foolish man. When David sent messengers requesting food after protecting Nabal’s shepherds, Nabal responded with insults. Nabal was ungrateful, and it made David furious. This put Nabal and his entire household at risk. David was so upset that he was prepared to kill them all. However, Abigail’s quick thinking, wisdom, and action saved her husband’s life and prevented David from acting in a way he would later regret. Her story teaches us powerful lessons about godly character, wisdom, and the tremendous impact a virtuous woman can have.
Today, I will do something a little different. While we are studying the life of David, I want to dedicate today’s message to Abigail. We will examine how I believe she was a virtuous woman (see Proverbs 31), how she operated in both grace and wisdom and how she became an instrument of divine purpose for both of her husbands (Nabal and David).
So, what does this mean to you today? A few things:
1. A Virtuous Woman Takes Initiative in Crisis.
When disaster was looming over her household because of her husband’s foolishness, Abigail didn’t sit back and watch the destruction unfold. She immediately gathered provisions and intercepted David before he could carry out his plans for vengeance. This demonstrates how a virtuous woman operates with wisdom and courage when facing challenging situations. She had the wisdom to know what to do and fast to do it, and she had the courage to confront a man, face to face, who was prepared to kill her entire household. She wound up feeding David’s men, defusing the situation, and saving her husband’s life.
How this applies to you:
— Learn to recognize when immediate action is necessary to prevent a catastrophe.
— When action is needed, there is no time to “study the problem.” In a case like this, paralysis by analysis can lead to terrible outcomes. It takes divine wisdom to know when to study the problem, when to pray, and when you just need to act!
— Abigail could not wait on her husband. He was drunk and partying, while David was angry and en route to kill them all. So, she did not even ask her husband. She did what she needed to do.
— Don’t wait for others to solve problems you know you have the wisdom and grace to address yourself.
— Take initiative while maintaining proper respect and protocol.
— Don’t ask for permission when you have the authority and the resources to address something that needs to be addressed immediately. One of the life lessons I learned as a PFC (Private First Class) in the Army in Germany in 1991 was to do what my career could handle at my rank and authority. Abigail knew what she could do, and she did it without her husband’s help. In doing so, she actually saved her husband and everyone else.
— Trust God’s guidance when stepping into difficult circumstances. The Holy Spirit will lead you in what to do and how to do it.
2. A Virtuous Woman Operates in Humility and Wisdom.
Despite being married to a wealthy man and managing a large household, Abigail maintained exceptional humility. When approaching David, she bowed low and took responsibility for a situation she didn’t create. Later, when David proposed marriage, she humbly offered to wash the feet of his servants.
How this applies to you:
— True virtue is marked by genuine humility, not self-promotion.
— When you know who you are, you don’t have to flaunt it.
— God can give you the wisdom to know how to handle difficult situations without compromising your character.
— Your response in crisis reveals your true character. In other words, you don’t know who you truly are until the pressure is on. At that point, what is in you abundantly will come out of you excessively.
— God exalts those who maintain a humble heart, and since they are humble, they are in a position to hear the divine promptings of the Holy Spirit. If you are full of pride, you won’t hear what God is saying, because you are too caught up in yourself.
— Nabal could not hear God. He was full of himself, so he was partying while God was speaking. The same God who warned Abigail, I am sure God warned Nabal, but Nabal was not in a position to listen. Abigail heard God’s voice; she knew what to do; she sprang into action and saved her household. That’s an excellent example of a virtuous woman. A woman who hears from God for her family, even when her husband is being hard-headed and stiff-necked.
3. A Virtuous Woman Brings Success to Her Household.
Proverbs 31:11-12 says, “The heart of her husband safely trusts in her; so he will have no lack of gain. She does him good and not evil all the days of her life.” This perfectly describes Abigail. Despite Nabal’s foolishness, her wisdom contributed significantly to his wealth and status. Later, with David, she continued this pattern of bringing wisdom and success to her household. Like the Proverbs 31 woman who “considers a field and buys it” and “plants a vineyard from her earnings” (Prov 31:16), Abigail demonstrated exceptional management skills and business acumen that brought prosperity to her household.
How this applies to you:
— Like the Proverbs 31 woman who “works with eager hands” (v.13), your diligence and character can be catalysts for success in your home and within your sphere of influence.
— Good management and wise decisions create pathways for prosperity.
— The virtuous woman’s influence extends beyond her home as “she opens her arms to the poor and extends her hands to the needy” (v.20). When you walk with God and listen to His voice, you will wind up helping others fulfill their divine purpose. In turn, when you add value to others, you will increase in influence and wealth.
— The more value you provide the world, the more valuable you will become, and the more wealth God will grace you to steward.
— “Her children arise and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her” (v.28). When you operate in wisdom, everyone around you benefits.
4. A Virtuous Woman Remains Consistent Through Life’s Transitions.
When Nabal died suddenly, Abigail found herself in a completely different situation. She went from being the wife of a wealthy but foolish man to being a widow in a matter of days. Then, just as suddenly, she received a marriage proposal from the future king of Israel. Through it all, Abigail maintained her virtuous character. She didn’t try to capitalize on her husband’s death or secure her portion of his wealth. She remained humble and servant-hearted, even when presented with the opportunity to become royalty. This consistency of character speaks volumes about who she truly was.
How this applies to you:
— True virtue isn’t situational; it’s who you are, not what you do.
— When you know who you are, life’s changes won’t change your character.
— Your response to transition reveals what’s truly in your heart.
— Divine promotion comes to those who remain faithful in every season. God is looking for consistency.
— God can trust you with more when you’ve proven faithful with less.
— When you walk with God, He will lead you in navigating all of life’s changes (twists and turns).
— God has already been to your future, so trust Him. When Abigail’s rich husband died, instead of trusting in riches, she trusted in God and married David. This worked out well for her.
5. A Virtuous Woman Makes Everyone Around Her Better.
Abigail’s influence was evident in both her marriages. Despite Nabal’s foolishness, his household prospered under her wisdom and management. Later, she became one of David’s most trusted advisors, helping to temper his warrior spirit with wisdom and discretion. Her virtuous character made both men better – one despite himself, and the other because he recognized and valued her wisdom. This demonstrates how a virtuous woman doesn’t just maintain her own excellence; she elevates everyone around her.
How this applies to you:
— The grace and anointing on your life should be a blessing that impacts others positively.
— When you walk in divine wisdom, you become a valuable asset to those around you.
— God can use your character to help others fulfill their destiny.
— Your presence should make situations better, not worse.
— Like Abigail, you can be used by God to prevent others from making serious mistakes.
Declaration of Faith:
Father, I thank You for giving me the wisdom and courage to take initiative when facing critical situations.
My life is marked by genuine humility and Godly wisdom as I operate in Your grace daily.
No matter what changes come my way, my character remains consistent because it is rooted in You, Father.
I make every environment better by walking in the wisdom and virtue You have placed within me.
My decisions and actions bring prosperity and blessing to everyone in my sphere of influence.
I maintain a servant’s heart even as You elevate me to higher levels of influence and authority.
Like Abigail, I walk in divine wisdom, knowing that GREATER IS COMING for me and for all those connected to me!
I declare this by faith. In Jesus’ name. Amen!
This is Today’s Word. Apply it, and prosper!
