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 16-26; 11 chapters)
This week, we have been doing a recap of what we have learned over the past few months and 11 chapters. As we conclude the recap, I will deal with this major characteristic of those who pursue their God-given purpose: they have Unwavering Faith.
At this point in his journey, David’s faith is being tested in more complex ways than ever before. It’s no longer just about believing he will be king someday; it’s about maintaining faith while leading others, seeking God’s guidance for critical decisions, and trusting God’s timing even when presented with tempting shortcuts. What stands out is David’s pattern of “inquiring of the Lord” (1 Samuel 23:2,4,10-12). His faith wasn’t just about believing; it was about constant communion with God.
David did not want to do anything without hearing from God, so he could ensure he was in the center of God’s will. Now, that did not mean things would always be easy. But it meant that David could rest assured that God was with him every step of the way. Let’s learn about faith from David today.
So, what does this mean for you today? A few things:
1. Purpose-Driven Faith Seeks Divine Guidance.
Before attacking the Philistines at Keilah, David inquired of the Lord twice (1 Samuel 23:2,4). Even when his men were afraid, David’s faith led him to seek God’s direction. This is mature faith. It’s not just assuming and then believing God will; it’s asking God if you should.
How this applies to you:
— When you’re walking in purpose, your faith is expressed through consistent communion with God.
— Walking with God means you are literally hearing from Him every step of the way. You may not pray for an hour, but you probably won’t go an hour without praying!
— Like David, your faith is demonstrated through seeking God’s guidance. Living by faith means you attempt to align with your desires, will, and actions with God, His will, and His purpose for your life.
— Purpose-driven faith asks questions before taking action because true faith begins where the will of God is known.
— Where there is no grace, there can be no faith. This means you check with God first to ensure His grace is there because you attempt to launch out in faith. If God’s grace is not present, then what you may think is faith can wind up being nothing more than a selfish pursuit.
— David’s men were afraid, but he led them through their fears because he heard from God. This means that for you to walk by faith effectively, you must know you heard from God for yourself, and you cannot allow the fear of others to cause your faith to be stifled or stagnant.
— The reason why you are not afraid when you walk by faith is because you know: What God directs, He protects; Where He leads, He feeds; Where He guides, He provides.
— Lastly, like David’s, your faith grows through constant communion with God.
2. Knowing Your Purpose Produces Patient Faith.
David had the perfect opportunity to become king in the cave by killing Saul (1 Samuel 24). His men even spiritualized it, saying this was God’s promised day. David had another chance while Saul was sleeping. But David’s faith was patient enough to wait for God’s timing. Purpose-driven faith refuses shortcuts, even when they appear divinely orchestrated.
How this applies to you:
— When you are fully persuaded of what God promised you, then like David, you will trust God’s timing more than convenient opportunities.
— Faith waits for God’s way, not just God’s promise.
— Faith understands that every promise from God has a timing component.
— Faith knows that the right thing, pursued the wrong way, can make the right thing the wrong thing.
— Patient faith refuses to force divine timing.
— True faith knows you cannot MAKE it happen, nor can you force God’s hand.
— When you walk and live by faith, you realize that sometimes what looks like a divine setup might be a divine test.
— Genuine faith, like David’s, is proven over time, through patience.
— The writer of Hebrews urged us to learn from those who went before us. He said that through “faith and patience,” they obtained the promises of God (Hebrews 6:12). We need both.
3. Long-Term Faith Requires Long-Term Vision.
David was anointed as a teenager but didn’t become king of all Israel until he was about 37 years old. Twenty years passed between the promise and its complete fulfillment. During this time, David had to maintain his focus on God’s promise while dealing with life-threatening situations. Purpose-driven faith maintains its grip on God’s promise, no matter how long it takes.
How this applies to you:
— When God gives you a promise, He doesn’t always give you the timeline.
— Your faith must be strong enough to outlast delays, detours, and disappointments.
— Long-term faith sees beyond current circumstances to focus on God’s eternal purpose.
— The size of your vision determines the amount of strength you will require for your endurance. In God’s Kingdom, a big vision often requires a long wait. Abraham waited 25 years for Isaac. Joseph waited 22 years for his dream to come to pass. Caleb waited 45 years for his mountain. David waited 20 years to become the King of Israel. Many believers today can’t wait 20 days. We need FAITH and PATIENCE!
— Vision will fuel your patience. As you develop the ability to see beyond your present circumstances long enough to focus on the promise God gave you, your ability to see God’s future will keep you hopeful and peaceful in the present.
— The Bible teaches us that for God, one day is like 1,000 years on earth. So, His timeline is obviously not the same as ours. Therefore, you must learn to see your life and His promises from His point of view. If He said it, it shall come to pass, and it is only a matter of time.
— I always tell you that your legs will never take you where your soul has never been. You must SEE IT to BE IT, but you must then HOLD ON to the promise long enough for it to come to pass.
4. Sustained Faith Develops Spiritual Muscles.
Just as David grew stronger through each challenge – from lions and bears to Goliath to wilderness survival to leading an army – your faith grows stronger through each test of endurance. When you maintain your faith through long waiting periods, you develop spiritual “muscles” that prepare you for greater assignments. Like a marathon runner who builds endurance through consistent training, your faith becomes stronger and more resilient through sustained believing.
How this applies to you:
— Faith that endures becomes stronger with each challenge you overcome.
— It’s not that you need more faith (God has given you faith, Romans 12:3). It’s that your faith must be developed. The more you use it, the more it grows.
— Like physical muscles, your faith grows stronger each time you put it to work, especially during extended waiting periods.
— The longer you maintain your faith, the easier it becomes to believe God for bigger things.
— Your capacity to believe God expands as you successfully navigate lengthy waiting periods.
— Today’s endurance prepares you for tomorrow’s greater challenges and opportunities.
— Faith requires consistent exercise through standing on God’s Word, speaking His promises, and maintaining your confession regardless of circumstances.
— The development of your faith comes through putting it to work daily, whether facing small challenges or standing for long-term promises.
— There are some things I had to believe God for years, and since I did not give up, they came to pass. Right now, I have something significant (to me, anyway) that I have believed God for years. I refuse to give up, cave in, or quit. The more I exercise my faith for short-term wins and long-term ones too, the more my faith will develop and grow over time.
— In 2 Corinthians 5:7, the Bible teaches us that we are called to walk by faith and not by faith. In Habakkuk 2:4, Romans 1:17, Galatians 3:11, and Hebrews 10:38, the Bible tells us that the just shall live by faith. In James 5:15, the Bible tells us that we can pray the prayer of faith and see the sick healed. In 1 Timothy 6:12, the Bible tells us that we are called to fight the good fight of faith; and a good fight is one where WE WIN! In 1 John 5:4, the Bible tells us that every person who is born of God has overcome the world, and we actually overcome the world with our faith. So, if you are a believer, the Bible teaches you that after you were saved by grace (through faith), you are supposed to walk by faith, live by faith, pray by faith, fight by faith, and overcome the world by faith. It’s hard to walk with God effectively if you don’t have a functional understanding of faith. I hope today helped you.
Declaration of Faith:
Father, I thank You for the measure of faith You have already given me.
I don’t need more faith; I develop the faith You have provided by exercising it daily.
My faith serves me as I put it to work, standing firmly on Your promises no matter how long it takes.
I maintain the vision You gave me of my future. I focus on Your promises, seeing beyond my present circumstances to Your eternal purpose.
Like David, I grow stronger through each challenge, developing spiritual muscles that prepare me for greater assignments.
I refuse shortcuts and trust Your timing, knowing Your way is always the best way.
My faith grows more efficient and effective with each test of endurance I face.
I maintain my confession regardless of circumstances, knowing that sustained believing produces supernatural results.
Every waiting period strengthens my faith muscles and expands my capacity to believe You for bigger things.
GREATER IS COMING because I refuse to give up, cave in, or quit until I see Your promises manifest!
I declare this by faith. In Jesus’ name. Amen!
This is Today’s Word. Apply it, and prosper!
