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 30:9-19)
Quick note: the story you are about to read, directly from the Bible’s account, is like something out of the movies. I love the Bible!
After hearing from God and with the confidence that God’s Word would come true (that they would recover all), David and his 600 men set out on their rescue-and-recover mission. The men had been on an emotional roller coaster. First, they cried until they ran out of tears. Then, they felt anger towards David and wanted to stone him to death. Then, they had to build up their expectations and courage for the mission. This all took a toll on some of the men. 200 of them were exhausted by the time they arrived at the Besor brook. The 200 men were too drained to make it across the water. But David was in the mindset to waste any time, so he left those 200 men behind and continued the mission with 400 of his men.
‘It just so happened’ that as David and his men went along, not really sure how they were going to find the Amalekites, they stumbled upon an Egyptian man stranded in a field. I personally believe this was an act of God’s grace. The group gave the man bread to eat and water to drink. They also gave him part of a fig cake and two clusters of raisins, for he hadn’t had anything to eat or drink for three days. After his strength returned, David asked him, “To whom do you belong, and where do you come from?” The man replied, “I am an Egyptian—the slave of an Amalekite. My master abandoned me three days ago because I was sick. We were on our way back from raiding the Kerethites in the Negev, the territory of Judah, and the land of Caleb, and we had just burned Ziklag.” This was exactly what David needed. David asked, “Will you lead me to this band of raiders?” David asked. The young Egyptian replied, “If you take an oath in God’s name that you will not kill me or give me back to my master, then I will guide you to them.” David agreed, took the oath, and the mission continued.
The young Egyptian led David and his men to the Amalekites. They were spread out across the fields, eating, drinking, and dancing with joy because of the vast plunder they had taken from the Philistines and the land of Judah. It was evening, but David wasted no time. David and his men rushed into the enemy’s camp and fought them all night and the entire next day until evening. After the 24-hour battle, 400 young men who fled on camels were the only Amalekites who escaped. David got back everything the Amalekites had taken, and he rescued his two wives. The Bible says, “Nothing was missing: small or great, son or daughter, nor anything else that had been taken. David brought everything back.”
So what does this mean to you today? A few things:
1. God’s Promise is Your Foundation.
The Bible says, “God is not a man, so he does not lie. He is not human, so he does not change his mind. Has he ever spoken and failed to act? Has he ever promised and not carried it through?” (Num 23:19). If God said it, He will do it. If God promised it, He will ensure it comes to pass. God told David he would recover all, and David recovered all, just like God said! The same will happen for you!
How this applies to you:
— When God speaks a word of promise into your situation, you can bank on it.
— God’s track record of faithfulness is perfect. He never fails to perform His Word, and He never makes a promise He won’t keep.
— When God makes you a promise, it’s not just a possibility – it’s a guarantee signed in heaven and waiting to be manifested on earth.
— Let God’s promises be the foundation for your faith and actions.
— Stand firmly on God’s Word, especially when circumstances seem contrary.
— Remember that God’s promises are “yes and amen” in Christ Jesus. God provided the YES when He made the promise. He is now looking for your AMEN!
2. Divine Help Appears at the Just Right Time.
When David needed help finding the Amalekites, he ‘just so happened’ to stumble upon an Egyptian who could lead them to the enemy’s camp. The “chance” encounter with the abandoned Egyptian slave was no coincidence – it was divine providence. Likewise, with you, God will not just give you the grace to succeed when you get there, but He will also give you grace along the way. When you seem to hit a stumbling block, trust God; He will give you the grace and help you need along your life’s journey.
How this applies to you:
— God often positions key people and resources exactly where you need them, precisely when you need them.
— The Egyptian in the text became the bridge to David’s breakthrough. God will do the same for you.
— God ensures that supernatural help shows up at just the right time.
— Expect divine appointments on your journey to recovery.
— Stay alert to God’s supernatural provision of help.
— Thank God in advance for the strategic connections He will provide.
— Trust that God’s timing is perfect in bringing assistance.
3. Victory Requires Faith and Action.
Sometimes, people expect God to hand them everything as if all their blessings will fall out of heaven. Victories in Christ are sweatless, but they are not effortless. You are going to have to put in your part. Sometimes, you will have to fight the enemy to get out of the mess you got yourself into. But don’t worry, God will give you the grace to fight… and win!
How this applies to you:
— David and his men had to fight for 24 hours straight to recover what was stolen.
— While God’s grace empowers us, it doesn’t eliminate our responsibility to act.
— Divine promises often require human participation. David had to pursue, fight, and persist until everything was recovered. Your breakthrough might require similar dedication and effort.
— When the Holy Spirit says, “GO,” you must be ready to take Spirit-led action toward your restoration.
— Understand that faith without works is dead.
— Be prepared to persist until complete victory is achieved.
— Don’t confuse God’s grace with passive waiting.
— Remember that your efforts in faith tap into God’s grace.
4. Some Will Get Left Behind.
The fact that 200 men couldn’t continue past the Brook Besor teaches us an important lesson. There are some people in your circle right now who will not have the strength or faith to go the full distance with you. Don’t let those who can’t continue to stop you from pressing forward. Sometimes, you must press on with those who can while ensuring those who can’t are cared for properly. But the hard part is that you will have to leave them behind.
How this applies to you:
— Don’t let others’ limitations become your limitations.
— Press forward with those who share your faith and vision.
— Treat those who can’t continue with dignity and respect, but don’t let their unwillingness to move forward to cause you to slow down or stop.
— Understand that everyone has different levels of endurance.
— Stay focused on your goal regardless of who continues with you.
— Some people are with you for a lifetime, but most are only with you for a season. Don’t try to drag people along who are not anointed to go where you are going. It will cause nothing but frustration (on both sides) if you do.
— This is a hard truth: there are some people that you love, who are with you right now, who are not graced to go with you where you are going. Don’t let that become an issue for you or for them. Love them, but you must keep going. Say, “AMEN” to that!
5. Complete Restoration is God’s Goal.
The Bible specifically states that “nothing was missing.” God’s restoration is thorough and complete. He doesn’t do partial jobs. When God restores, He often gives back more than what was lost. David didn’t just recover the families and possessions of his men; they also gained the spoils of their enemies.
How this applies to you:
— Expect complete restoration, not partial recovery.
— Our God is a God of restoration and restitution!
— Believe for restoration in every area of your life, but also believe God to give you double for your trouble!
— Trust God for above and beyond what was lost.
— Know that God’s restoration often exceeds the original loss.
— Stand firm until everything is recovered.
— Never settle for anything LESS THAN what God said. Walking with God and living by faith often requires bulldog-tenacity! That’s the only way you will GET IT ALL BACK!
Declaration of Faith:
Father, Your promises are the foundation of my faith and actions.
I thank You for the divine appointments You put on my calendar.
You connect me to the right people at just the right time.
As I live by faith, empowered by Your grace, you see it that I receive complete restoration and restitution in every area of my life.
I have the grace to fight and win. I take back what the enemy stole, and You not only RESTORE what was stolen but also give me MORE in the process!
I press forward toward my breakthrough with bulldog tenacity, refusing to settle for anything LESS than Your BEST!
I walk in complete victory through Your divine power.
GREATER IS COMING FOR ME as You restore it all!
I declare this by faith. In Jesus’ name. Amen!
This is Today’s Word. Apply it, and prosper!
