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 2 Samuel 3:20-30)
In yesterday’s message, we saw David’s life take a significant turn for the better. General Abner, the man responsible for making Saul’s son Ishbosheth king over 11 of the 12 tribes of Israel, got fed up with Ishbosheth and decided to change sides. Abner was very influential and determined to use his influence to make David the king of the entire nation of Israel. To make the situation even better, Abner brought David’s first wife (Michal) with him when he came. Abner and 20 of his men had a good meeting with David in Hebron. Abner asked David for permission to call an assembly of all Israel where he would ask for their support in making David the king of the unified nation. Of course, David agreed, Abner took off to prepare for the assembly, and life was looking good for David.
Meanwhile, David’s own military commander, General Joab, was out performing a raid. After returning with the plunder from the raid, Joab was informed of Abner’s visit with David. Joab was furious. He rushed to David and asked the king why he had let Abner get away. David explained what was going on, but Joab was suspicious. Joab thought Abner was there as a spy. So he took it upon himself to send messengers to catch up with Abner and ask him to return. When Abner arrived back at Hebron, Joab took him aside as if to speak with him privately. But once he had Abner all alone, Joab stabbed him in the stomach and killed him in revenge for killing his brother Asahel. With that one blow, Joab killed the man who had the power and influence to make him king of Israel. When David found out what happened, he was furious. David declared, “I vow by the LORD that I and my kingdom are forever innocent of this crime against Abner son of Ner. Joab and his family are the guilty ones. May the family of Joab be cursed in every generation with a man who has open sores or leprosy or who walks on crutches or dies by the sword or begs for food!“
So what does this mean to you today? A few things.
1. Your Breakthrough Can Be Right Around the Corner.
A major shift was about to happen in David’s life. After years of running and waiting, his destiny was within reach. General Abner’s defection to David’s side was nothing short of a miracle. When God is ready to move in your life, He can use anyone – even former enemies – to bring His plans to pass. The thing about breakthroughs is that they often come through unexpected sources and in unexpected ways.
How this applies to you:
— Stay open to God moving in unexpected ways in your life.
— Remember (as I shared yesterday) that God can turn your enemies into allies.
— Keep your faith active; your breakthrough could be closer than you think.
— Trust God’s timing, even when things seem delayed. It can happen at any time and it will happen at just the right time.
2. People Can Derail What God is Doing (But Only Temporarily).
David was on the verge of seeing his divine destiny fulfilled. General Abner, who had been supporting Saul’s son Ishbosheth as king over 11 of the 12 tribes of Israel, had switched his allegiance to David. This was huge! Abner had a concrete plan to unite all of Israel under David’s leadership. He even brought David’s wife Michal with him as a show of good faith. After a successful meeting in Hebron, David approved Abner’s plan and sent him off with his blessing. Everything was looking up. The promise God made to David years ago was about to be fulfilled. But then, David’s own military commander Joab, who missed the meeting because he was out on a raid, returned. Operating with limited information and personal vengeance in his heart, Joab took matters into his own hands. He secretly sent for Abner, and when Abner returned, Joab murdered him in cold blood. In one moment, the plan to unite Israel was shattered, and David’s path to the throne was delayed yet again.
How this applies to you:
— Understand that not everyone will understand or support God’s plan for your life.
— Even the most well-intentioned people often do things to you or for you (things they think will help you) that cause a delay in the manifestation of God’s plans. This happens every time someone is operating with limited knowledge. They think they know, but they don’t truly understand what God is doing in your life.
— Remember that these actions can delay but not deny God’s purpose.
— Learn to recognize the difference between godly counsel and human interference.
— Don’t allow others’ limited perspective to limit or cloud your vision.
— Keep your eyes on God’s promises, not people’s actions. If God said, it will still come to pass!
3. Leadership Requires Both Vision and Wisdom.
David’s situation teaches us powerful lessons about leadership. First, as a leader, David had to maintain the vision God gave him while dealing with the actions of those under his authority. Second, he had to handle the devastating actions of Joab with both justice and wisdom. Third, he had to balance his personal disappointment with his public responsibility. This situation demonstrates that leadership is not just about having a vision or reaching a destination; it’s about properly handling the challenges that arise along the way.
How this applies to you:
— Understand that leadership often means dealing with the consequences of others’ actions.
— Remember that as a leader, your response to setbacks sets the tone for those who follow you.
— Recognize that leadership requires you to separate personal disappointment from professional responsibility.
— Know when to take quick action and make clear declarations as a leader to protect the vision.
— Maintain your leadership integrity even when others fail to maintain theirs.
— Remember that great leaders don’t just cast vision – they handle opposition with wisdom.
— Understand that your leadership will be tested most during times of crisis or setback.
— Learn to lead through disappointment without being overcome by it.
4. Setbacks Are Not Final.
While Abner’s death was a significant setback, it was not the end of David’s story. God’s promise that David would be king over all Israel was still true. The path to get there might have changed, but the destination remained the same. When you’re walking in God’s purpose, setbacks are temporary, but His promises are permanent.
How this applies to you:
— View setbacks as detours, not dead ends.
— Remember that God’s promises don’t change because circumstances do.
— Trust that God has alternative routes to your destiny.
— Know that every setback is preparing you for a greater comeback.
— Maintain your faith even when the path seems unclear.
5. Stay Focused on God’s Promise, Not Your Problems.
Let’s pause for a moment to consider how devastating this setback was. David had been waiting for almost 20 years to become the King of Israel, and just when it seemed like everything was lined up because God moved on David’s hardest opponent to become his strongest supporter, one of David’s men killed the man. Can you imagine? Consider how great David felt when General Abner told him the plan. David could see himself, FINALLY, as the King of Israel. It was within reach. And then, when one of his own men, doing something he thought was the right thing to do, KILLED General Abner, it is easy to allow the DREAM to die as well.
Amazingly enough, David didn’t lose sight of God’s promise. He dealt with the situation appropriately – condemning the murder and distancing himself from it – but he didn’t get stuck there. He kept his eyes on God’s promise. When you experience setbacks on the path to your destiny, the key is to stay focused on what God said, not what people did.
How this applies to you:
— Keep your focus on God’s promises, not your problems.
— Handle setbacks appropriately without getting stuck in them.
— Remember that God’s Word is more reliable than circumstances.
— Learn from setbacks without being defined by them.
— Let each challenge push you closer to God, not further from His promise.
Here are some scriptures to meditate on as we close:
Paul said, “We are pressed on every side by troubles, but we are not crushed. We are perplexed, but not driven to despair. We are hunted down, but never abandoned by God. We get knocked down, but we are not destroyed” (2 Cor 4:8,9).
The writer of Hebrews said, “But we’re not quitters who lose out. Oh, no! We’ll stay with it and survive, trusting all the way” (Heb 10:39).
James said, “Take the old prophets as your mentors. They put up with anything, went through everything, and never once quit, all the time honoring God. What a gift life is to those who stay the course!” (James 5:10).
Declaration of Faith:
Father, I declare that my breakthrough can manifest at any moment, despite what I see.
I stand firm on Your promises, knowing that setbacks are temporary, but Your Promise to me is permanent.
I trust You to make a way, even when my original plans are derailed.
I declare that no person’s actions can permanently stop what You have purposed for my life.
I maintain my peace, knowing that You have alternative routes to my destiny.
I walk in wisdom, properly handling setbacks without being delayed by them.
I keep my eyes fixed on Your promises, regardless of what comes against them.
Your grace empowers me to stay focused and faithful, even when the path changes.
Living this way, I know GREATER IS COMING FOR ME!
I declare this by faith. In Jesus’ name. Amen!
This is Today’s Word. Apply it, and prosper!
