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.
(Proverbs 4:25 TPT)
Set your gaze on the path before you. With fixed purpose, looking straight ahead, ignore life’s distractions.
Scriptures for today:
(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
(1 Samuel 18:12 NLT)
Saul was then afraid of David, for the LORD was with David and had turned away from Saul.
Setting the Stage.
Yesterday, we saw how trouble followed David’s triumph, and the king, who once loved him for his harp playing and who was thankful to him for killing Goliath, quickly turned on him and attempted to kill him. Of course, the same grace that had been on David was still on him, therefore there was a hedge of protection around David that shielded him from the attack. But where did this leave David and Saul’s relationship? David was the hero, and Saul was the king. David was the new kid on the block, and Saul was the seasoned veteran and national leader. Saul should not have been intimidated by David whatsoever, but he was. Our text says, “Saul was then afraid of David, for the LORD was with David and had turned away from Saul.”
No matter how popular David was, Saul was still the king. I think it is hard for us (Americans) to truly understand the king dynamic. There is a vast difference between today’s Presidents and Prime Ministers and the Kings of yesteryear. Saul was a sovereign. He had no checks or balances. His word was the supreme authority. By just speaking a word Saul could bequeath land, forgive debt, overturn a legal sentence, or pronounce a death sentence. No one questioned the king. No newspaper articles could question his methods. No bloggers could dissect his decisions. No news anchormen/women could criticize his ways. Saul was like a ‘little g’ god to the people. And this man — a man who seemingly had it all — was intimidated and afraid of a young boy who had the grace of God upon his life.
So, what does this mean to you today? A few things:
1. Divine favor may make others uncomfortable with you.
Some people might feel threatened when God’s grace flows through you. This isn’t because you’re doing anything wrong. It’s because they’re dealing with their own issues. Don’t let their insecurities become your problem. Keep walking in God’s grace and purpose for your life. Remember, you’re not responsible for how others feel about your success. Your job is to keep your eyes on Jesus and to walk in the calling He has placed on your life.
How this applies to you:
— Recognize that others’ discomfort with your success is not your responsibility. Nor should you allow it to distract you or derail you from your purpose.
— Maintain a humble and loving attitude despite others’ reactions.
— Continue to pursue your God-given purpose without compromise. Don’t let their discomfort cause you to hold back from the fullness of your assignment.
— Pray for those who feel threatened by your growth and success. Pray for them in earnest.
— Use discernment to navigate relationships affected by others’ insecurities. The Holy Spirit will lead you concerning how to deal with them, especially when you are around them.
2. People may come against you for no good reason.
You might find yourself facing opposition from people who have no real reason to dislike you. This could even come from those in positions of authority. Remember, their negative feelings are usually more about their own struggles than about you. Don’t let their disapproval shake you. God’s approval is what really matters. God’s blessing on your life can’t be canceled out by human criticism.
How this applies to you:
— Stay focused on God’s approval rather than human opinions.
— Respond to hostility with grace and understanding, resting in the fact that their poison cannot stop your purpose.
— Don’t internalize others’ negative attitudes or let them define you. If you define yourself by God’s purpose for your life, then the weight of their opinions will be too “light” for it to affect you because you give more weight (or value) to God’s opinion of you.
— Use these experiences to strengthen your faith and character. Part of maturing in Christ is learning to deal with difficult people and circumstances.
— Seek wisdom from God in how to interact with those who display unwarranted animosity. The Holy Spirit will lead you in what to do.
— Don’t feel any pressure to take revenge into your own hands. Let’s learn from the Apostle Paul on this point. He said:
Romans? ?12?:?17?-?21? ?NIV??
“Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord. On the contrary: “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.” Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”
3. Don’t change who God made you to be.
There’s a temptation to either downplay who you are to make others comfortable or to get prideful because of the attention you’re receiving. Resist both. Stay true to who God created you to be. Don’t try to be less to appease others, and don’t try to be more to impress them. Just be you; the you God designed and created for His purpose. That’s more than enough.
How this applies to you:
— Regularly reflect on and affirm your God-given identity.
— Resist the temptation to downplay your abilities or successes. While God does not want you to operate in pride, He does not want you to ‘dim your light’ because of the insecurities of others.
— Guard against pride when receiving attention or praise. Make sure to deflect the glory back to God.
— Seek God’s guidance in maintaining authenticity in various situations.
— Surround yourself with people who support your true self. These are people who can tell you when they see you going off course. You need friends who will keep you accountable to your purpose (keeping you in check).
4. Use opposition as a chance to grow.
When you face negativity or opposition, see it as an opportunity for spiritual growth. These challenges can help you develop patience, resilience, and wisdom. They can also deepen your empathy for others who are struggling. By reframing these difficulties, you can turn potential roadblocks into stepping stones for your personal and spiritual development.
David would not have been ready to serve as Saul’s replacement if he had not dealt with all the opposition Saul provided. To be clear, Saul opposed David for 13 long years before he died. God used these 13 years of preparation to prepare David to be King of Judah. He was there for seven years before becoming the Unified Israel’s King. So, while it is “nice” to think that the prophet anointed David to be king, and it happened quickly, the truth is that it, too, took 20 years of preparation, opposition, struggle, and pain to prepare David to rule as the King of Israel. He was anointed at 17, but he was not ready! You can be anointed, but that does not mean you are ready!
How this applies to you:
— Recognize that your season of preparation may be longer than you expect.
— Understand that anointing and readiness are not always simultaneous.
— View prolonged challenges as God’s way of preparing you for your destiny.
— Develop patience and perseverance, knowing that God’s timing is perfect.
— Use every experience, even negative ones, to grow in character and wisdom.
— Actively seek lessons and insights from difficult experiences.
— Use adversity to develop empathy and understanding for others.
Declaration of Faith:
Father, I embrace the grace You’ve placed on my life, regardless of others’ reactions.
I stand firm in Your purpose, undeterred by unwarranted opposition or criticism.
I refuse to compromise my God-given identity to appease others or feed my own pride.
I see every challenge as an opportunity for spiritual growth and character development.
Your approval alone defines me, not the opinions or insecurities of others.
I walk confidently in my calling, knowing Your grace is sufficient in every situation.
I choose to respond to adversity with love, understanding, and unwavering faith.
I am committed to being authentically who You created me to be, in all circumstances.
GREATER IS COMING FOR ME because I remain true to Your design, regardless of external pressures.
I declare this by faith. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
This is Today’s Word. Apply it and prosper!????????????????
