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 26)
In chapter 26, David spares Saul’s life for a second time. The last time we saw Saul and David face-to-face, Saul was crying, with a seemingly repentant heart, calling David his son and acknowledging that there was nothing he could do about the fact that David would be the next King of Israel and not his son Jonathan. Well, that was short-lived. In this chapter, Saul decides to gather up 3,000 of his soldiers again, this time his most elite troops, to track down and kill David. You would think that Saul would leave him alone after David spared his life, but that’s how people are sometimes. Even after you show them kindness, they try stabbing you in the back.
Saul took his men into the wilderness, close to where David was hiding, and he set up camp. David heard about it and decided to accompany a couple of his men on a recon mission. While Saul and his men were sleeping, David and his recon team slipped into their camp under the cover of darkness. David found Saul sleeping in the middle of a circle of men, next to his commander Abner. David asked Ahimelech and Abishai — the only two men with him inside a camp of 3,000 armed soldiers — “Who will go with me inside the circle?” Abishai replied, “I’ll go.” So David and Abishai snuck up right next to Saul while the king was fast asleep, with his royal spear stuck in the ground beside his head. Abner and the other Soldiers were lying asleep around them.
Abishai whispered, “God has surely handed your enemy over to you this time! Let me pin him to the ground with one thrust of the spear; I won’t need to strike twice!” But once again, David would not do it. David said, “No! Don’t kill him. For who can remain innocent after attacking the LORD’s anointed one? Surely the LORD will strike Saul down someday, or he will die of old age or in battle. The LORD forbid that I should kill the one he has anointed! But take his spear and that jug of water beside his head, and then let’s get out of here!”
Then David and Abishai got away without anyone seeing them or even waking up because the Bible says, “The LORD had put Saul’s men into a deep sleep.” And when David and Abishai were at a safe distance, David started shouting to wake everyone up. This was still a dangerous move because it was 3 vs. 3,000, but David was confident in the protection of the Lord. David then taunted Abner for not having protected his king, and he then made it clear to Saul that he had spared his life yet again, by showing him the royal spear and jug of water that was by his head. David took both as proof.
David said to Saul, “Let my lord the king listen to his servant. If the LORD has stirred you up against me, then maybe my sacrifice will change His mind. But if this is simply a human scheme, then may those involved be cursed by the LORD.” Saul had to admit that the Lord was not behind his actions. Saul confessed, “I have sinned. Come back home, my son, and I will no longer try to harm you, for you valued my life today. I have been a fool and very, very wrong.” David sent the spear and jug back with one of the Soldiers and said, “The LORD gives his own reward for doing good and for being loyal, and I refused to kill you even when the LORD placed you in my power, for you are the LORD’s anointed one. Now may the LORD value my life, even as I have valued yours today. May he rescue me from all my troubles.” Saul said to David, “Blessings on you, my son David. You will do many heroic deeds, and you will surely succeed.” Then David went away, and Saul returned home.
So, what does this mean to you today? A few things:
1. Divine Confidence Produces Supernatural Courage.
David and two scouts went into Saul’s camp. It was 3 vs. 3,000, but since the 3 had God, Saul’s men never stood a chance. It does not matter what the odds are or how stacked the deck is against you; if the Lord is leading you to do something, then do it, trusting that He has your back. You + God = VICTORY!
How this applies to you:
— Recognize that divine confidence often contradicts human reasoning.
— When you place your complete trust in God, you operate with a boldness that defies human logic.
— What David did in this passage (going into a camp of 3,000 armed men with just two companions) wasn’t reckless bravado – it was divine confidence.
— When God leads you to do something, human math or reasoning becomes irrelevant because His presence multiplies your effectiveness exponentially.
— Trust that God’s presence makes you the majority in any situation.
— Remember that with God, you, plus Him, always equal victory.
— Allow your faith to override your fears when God leads you to act.
— Embrace the supernatural courage that comes from knowing who you are and, more importantly, whose you are.
2. Integrity Is More Valuable Than Opportunity.
Twice now, David had the chance to kill Saul, but he refused to do so because he believed it was not his place. David did not want to be a part of it unless the Lord was involved in it. It takes integrity to withhold from doing things that will clearly benefit you (at least in the short term) but that you are not being led to do. A person of integrity puts God first, even when it costs them to do so. But fret not; whatever you sacrifice for the Lord turns into seed, and He will see to it that you reap a harvest.
How this applies to you:
— True integrity values God’s principles over personal advantage.
— Walking in Godly integrity is not about following rules; it’s about maintaining a heart that’s properly aligned with God’s purposes, even when doing so appears to work against your immediate benefit.
— Choose God’s principles over personal advantage every time.
— Recognize that shortcuts to success often lead to long-term failures.
— Trust God’s timing more than what seems to be a quick opportunity if you feel in your heart that it is not the will of God.
— Remember that your integrity is worth more than any temporal gain.
— Understand that God rewards those who honor His ways above their wants.
— Understand that worldly logic says “take the opportunity,” but divine wisdom says “maintain integrity.”
3. The Life of Faith is Not For Cowards.
David drew a line in the sand. He made a public declaration that if the Lord was helping Saul track him down, then he would attempt to find grace and mercy with the Lord through his sacrifices because he was on the wrong side of God. But if what Saul was doing was merely a human scheme, then David pronounced a curse on all those involved. It takes courage to both accept the wrath of God if you are wrong and to release the wrath of God on someone else when they are wrong. This is the side of God and Christianity that people don’t like to acknowledge. The same God who is a loving, caring, and sharing Heavenly Father is also a Righteous Judge who judges sin and comes against those who fight against His plans and purposes.
How this applies to you:
— True faith isn’t passive.
— Stand firm in your convictions when facing opposition.
— Trust God’s justice system more than your own vengeance.
— Speak truth to power when God leads you to do so.
— Maintain your integrity even in confrontational situations.
— Remember that bold faith often requires bold action.
— Discern between human reaction and divine response in confrontational situations.
— In 2024, this type of boldness is lacking in the Body of Christ. Today’s society is so secular that it has convinced people that standing up for what is right (holiness and virtue) and taking a stance against what is wrong (debauchery and deception) is seen as bigotry and being close-minded. But please don’t allow the labels this world uses to cause you to shut your mouth or close your heart to God. God is still God, His standards are still holy, and the path that leads to heaven is still narrow. People need to hear the truth. Don’t buckle under the pressure of this world and become a coward.
4. Your Divine Assignment Comes With Divine Protection.
God’s supernatural protection of David and his men – putting Saul’s entire army into a deep sleep – demonstrates how God shields those who are walking in His will. When you’re operating within your divine assignment, God provides supernatural protection and provision, even in the midst of seemingly impossible circumstances.
How this applies to you:
— Trust in God’s supernatural protection when walking in His will.
— Remember that divine assignments come with divine assistance (grace).
— Recognize that God’s protection often exceeds human understanding.
— Stay focused on your assignment, knowing God handles your protection. He is always on duty. His angels don’t need a break.
— Allow God’s supernatural provision to build your faith for future challenges.
— Accept that God’s protection may not make sense to human understanding.
5. Godly Wisdom Supersedes Worldly Logic.
David’s actions demonstrated a wisdom that transcends human understanding. From a worldly perspective, killing Saul would have solved all his problems. His own men saw it as a divine opportunity, even attempting to spiritualize the decision by saying, “God has delivered him into your hands.” However, David operated with a higher wisdom that understood God’s ways are not our ways. He recognized that just because something seems logical, beneficial, or even spiritually justified, doesn’t mean it aligns with God’s will.
How this applies to you:
— Learn to distinguish between worldly logic and divine wisdom.
— Don’t assume that every “open door” is God’s blessing. Many times, satan will put something in front of you that seems like a blessing, only to deceive you into getting OFF God’s path to your purpose.
— Trust God’s wisdom even when it doesn’t make sense to your natural mind.
— Remember that God’s ways often seem counterintuitive to human reasoning. So, don’t THINK your way out of God’s blessing.
— Understand that spiritual wisdom often requires sacrificing natural advantage.
— Learn to recognize when human logic is contradicting divine direction.
— Practice pausing to seek God’s wisdom before acting on logical opportunities to make sure you are in the will of God.
Declaration of Faith:
Father, I operate with divine confidence that defies human logic because my trust is completely in You.
My integrity is not for sale – I choose Your principles over personal advantage every time.
I stand firm in my convictions, knowing You are my defense!
When You lead me to confront unrighteousness, I do so with bold faith and pure motives.
I trust Your divine wisdom over worldly logic, even when it doesn’t make sense to my natural mind.
Your Spirit guides my decisions, helping me distinguish when an opportunity actually aligns with my purpose.
I maintain steadfast faith even when Your ways seem counterintuitive to human reasoning.
GREATER IS COMING because I choose to align myself with Your wisdom and not my own understanding.
I declare this by faith. In Jesus’ name. Amen!
This is Today’s Word. Apply it, and prosper!
