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 16-29)
Recently, I was having a discussion with a Pastor friend of mine, and we discussed these chapters (and the message from Today’s Word from them for the past few months). We talked about how David’s story perfectly illustrates the difference between religious performance and living by grace. While many religious institutions might have condemned David for his failures, God’s grace continued to sustain him. This reveals a profound truth: God’s Kingdom operates on grace, not performance. Too often, believers are weighed down by religious expectations and conditional acceptance, leading to condemnation when they fall short. However, David’s story demonstrates that God’s grace is liberating and powerful, enabling us to rise above our failures and continue pursuing our divine purpose.
So, what does this mean to you today? A few things:
1. God Uses Imperfect People for His Perfect Purpose.
God doesn’t call perfect people because there aren’t any. He calls imperfect people and then perfects them through the process of living out their purpose. David was called “a man after God’s own heart,” not because he was perfect, but because his heart was positioned towards God, even in his imperfection.
How this applies to you:
— Your imperfections don’t disqualify you from your divine purpose. Especially when you consider the fact that you never qualified. Jesus qualified for you.
— God’s power is actually perfected in your weakness.
— Paul said he gloried in his weakness. Why? He went on to say, “so that Christ’s power may rest on me… For when I am weak, then I am strong.”
— Your calling is based on God’s grace, not your performance.
— God knew about your flaws before He called you, and He called you anyway.
— If God only used perfect people, there would be no people for Him to use.
2. Grace Liberates While Religion Condemns.
Throughout David’s journey, we see the stark contrast between living under grace and living under religious performance. While others might have condemned David for his mistakes, God’s grace provided the power for him to keep moving forward. This same grace is available to us today.
How this applies to you:
— Religious performance leads to condemnation and fear, but God’s grace leads to liberation and empowerment.
— When you understand grace, you can recover after every fall.
— God’s grace provides the power to overcome what religious performance cannot fix.
— Living by grace means your identity is secure even when your performance isn’t perfect.
— The Grace Life frees you to pursue God’s purpose without the burden of religious expectations. David was not trying to live up to anyone’s expectations but God Himself.
— David kept pushing forward because he knew he was called to be king. The point is that when you know your purpose, and you know your CALLING is CALLING you, you don’t have time to wallow in guilt, shame, or condemnation.
— When you mess up, you repent and receive forgiveness from God, you forgive yourself, and you keep going!
3. Your Humanity Doesn’t Nullify Your Destiny.
Throughout these chapters, we see David experiencing the full range of human emotions and reactions. He was afraid when running from Saul. He made poor decisions when hiding among the Philistines. He even had moments of deep despair. Yet none of these human moments changed God’s divine plan for his life.
How this applies to you:
— Your moments of weakness don’t cancel God’s moments of power.
— God’s plans for your life factor in your humanity.
— Your destiny is established by God’s grace, not your perfection.
— Your human moments don’t surprise God; He knew about them before He called you.
— God’s purpose prevails even when your humanity fails.
4. Real Faith Operates in Real Life.
David’s story shows us that walking with God isn’t about living in a spiritual bubble. It’s about dealing with real-life situations while maintaining your faith. Sometimes David got it right and sometimes wrong, but he kept walking with God through it all.
How this applies to you:
— Faith isn’t about perfection; it’s about progression.
— God’s grace is sufficient in every real-life situation you face.
— Your relationship with God should work in real life, not just in church. And you can’t just know God from a book.
— Walking with God means dealing with life while depending on His grace.
— Your faith grows stronger through real-life challenges.
5. Your Mistakes Don’t Make You a Mistake.
David made mistakes, but he wasn’t a mistake. There’s a difference. His actions weren’t always right, but his identity remained intact. He was still God’s chosen, still anointed, still destined for the throne.
How this applies to you:
— Once you are Born-Again, what you do wrong doesn’t change who you are in Christ.
— Your actions may need correction, but your identity remains secure.
— Your mistakes are events in your life, not the essence of your life.
— God doesn’t confuse your behavior with your calling.
— God’s calling remains even when your conduct wavers.
— Thank God for His grace!
Declaration of Faith:
Father, I thank You for being a God who uses imperfect people for Your perfect purpose.
I acknowledge that my humanity doesn’t nullify my destiny. Therefore, I rest in Your grace.
I declare that my faith works in real life, not just in spiritual settings.
I stand secure in my identity, knowing my mistakes don’t make me a mistake.
Your purpose for my life remains unchanged, regardless of my performance.
I walk in confidence, knowing You factored in my humanity when You called me.
Your grace is sufficient for me, and Your power is perfected in my weakness.
I refuse to be bound by religious performance, choosing instead to live by Your liberating grace.
GREATER IS COMING FOR ME because You perfect what concerns me!
I declare this by faith. In Jesus’ name. Amen!
This is Today’s Word. Apply it, and prosper!
