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:
(1 Samuel 23:13,14 NLT)
So David and his men—about 600 of them now—left Keilah and began roaming the countryside. Word soon reached Saul that David had escaped, so he didn’t go to Keilah after all. David now stayed in the strongholds of the wilderness and in the hill country of Ziph. Saul hunted him day after day, but God didn’t let Saul find him.
Setting the Stage. (From 1 Samuel 23:13,14)
Yesterday, I covered 12 verses, and when I cover a large passage, I simply suggest you read it, but I don’t give you the entire text in the message. I am only covering two verses this morning, so I have provided the text. Two major points jumped out at me this morning from these two verses. I will tell you what they are.
After God led David to save the people of Keilah from the hand of the Philistines, and he found out that Saul was on his way to attack him, David asked God two questions. They were basically, “Is Saul coming?” and “Will these people, who I just saved, betray me and hand me over to Saul?” God’s answer to David was “Yes” for both questions. The fact that Saul was coming was not strange to David, because it was no secret that Saul wanted him dead. But I am sure that David was disappointed to find out that the people of Keilah, whom he had just saved, were so quick to stab him in the back. So David had to do what he had been doing for a while, and he went back on the run.
David did not flee back to the safety of the Cave of Adullam. Instead, David and his men roamed the countryside. As I was picturing David and his men, attempting to find cover and concealment along the countryside, I noticed that the text said David had 600 men by now. Chapter 22 opened with David hitting his lowest point in a cave, all alone, when God started to send people his way until he had 400 men to lead. Here we are a chapter later. Not much has happened since David became the commander of his rag-tag bunch, and already, the group has grown by 50%. The Bible does not tell us how the growth happened, but while David was waiting on God and doing what God was leading him to do, men kept coming and joining his militia. That’s the first thing that jumped out at me from this passage.
The second point that resonated with me this morning comes from this phrase: “Saul hunted him day after day, but God didn’t let Saul find him.” For years, I have taught about faith and our responsibility towards God, but in this series, where the Lord is leading me to teach about grace, I am being forced to acknowledge God’s sovereignty and His commitment to us. While David and his men were roaming the countryside, not necessarily standing in faith, not making any sacrifices to God, not performing any acts of worship, and not doing anything to initiate the supernatural, God was shielding them from Saul, confusing Saul’s scouts, and not allowing Saul to find David. Why did God do it? The answer is simple: GRACE. The grace of God is amazing!
So, what does this mean to you today? A few things.
1. God’s Blessings Flow Continuously, Not Just at Milestones.
Many like to acknowledge significant checkpoints in life like a graduation, a promotion, arriving at a certain level, putting on a certain rank, etc., but God does not hold back His Blessing until a major moment. No, His Blessing flows daily, and while many only acknowledge The Blessing of the Lord during major moments, if you would slow down long enough to recognize the fact that the Lord is blessing you daily, DURING the process of becoming the person He has destined you to be.
David was called to be king, and so far (from what we have studied), David is doing everything BUT becoming the king. But guess what? The Blessing was still working in his life even when he was in a cave or roaming the countryside on the run. So don’t wait for a major moment to acknowledge what God is doing in your life, because He is working daily. Every day, you should be on the lookout for ways God is moving in your life, and you should be quick to give Him praise every step of the way. Yes, you are in the process of development, but guess what? You are being blessed IN the process. You serve a God who does not withhold His Blessing for special occasions. He wants to bless you richly, daily!
How this applies to you:
— Recognize God’s daily blessings, not just the big, obvious ones.
— Appreciate the small ways God provides for you and protects you each day.
— Cultivate a habit of gratitude for God’s constant presence and provision.
— Look for evidence of God’s work in your life, even in challenging seasons.
— Understand that God’s blessings often come in unexpected forms and times.
— Make time to take self-inventory. It’s not like God sent 200 men to David all at once to add to the previous 400. But little by little, day by day, men were being added, and then, one day, David realized his group had grown by 50%. That’s how it is with God. If you look around, you will realize how blessed you are. There are blessings you were not paying attention to IN the process.
2. God’s Protection is a Gift of His Grace.
The scripture tells us that “Saul hunted him day after day, but God didn’t let Saul find him.” This simple statement reveals a profound truth about God’s grace. David wasn’t explicitly standing in faith or performing acts of worship at this time. He was simply trying to survive. Yet, God protected him anyway. This protection wasn’t earned or initiated by David’s actions; it was a pure gift of God’s grace.
I may not know you, but if I met you someday and asked you to tell me your story and say what God has done for you, I am sure you would have something to say. However, you can only tell me PART of the story. You will have to wait until you get to heaven to find out ALL God has done for you. You don’t know of the countless times God stepped in — without you knowing it and without you doing anything to prompt it — to protect you from an enemy, from an attack, from an accident, from a drunk driver, from… you get the point.
God has been working behind the scenes in your life, all your life, protecting you for His plans and purposes and He has been doing it by grace. Not because you deserved it, not because you did anything to initiate it, not because you earned it, but simply because He loves you and He wanted to protect you. Isn’t that awesome?
So this morning, before you leave where you are right now, take a few minutes to give God praise for ALL He has done in your life – for what you know about and for what you won’t find out about until you get to heaven. As you do, you will acknowledge God’s amazing grace in your life.
How this applies to you:
— Trust in God’s protection even when you feel undeserving.
— Recognize that God’s grace operates independently of your performance.
— Rest in the knowledge that God is working for your good, even when you can’t see it.
— Embrace the reality that God’s protection often works behind the scenes.
— The more you acknowledge God’s unmerited grace, the more you will deepen your love and gratitude towards Him.
3. God Prepares You in the Process.
David’s time in the wilderness wasn’t just about survival; it was a crucial period of preparation for his future role as king. During this time, David learned valuable lessons about leadership, strategy, and dependence on God. In like fashion, God uses our challenging seasons to shape us for our destiny.
How this applies to you:
— Everything you go through is preparing you for your life’s purpose.
— Embrace the lessons God is teaching you in difficult times. Sometimes, these are the most powerful lessons because they come from moments you will never forget.
— David had his share of struggles during his 13 years on the run. But God was preparing him to be king the entire time. It’s the same with you. Trust that God is developing your character through your struggles.
— Look for opportunities to grow in faith and wisdom during trials.
— Understand that your present difficulties are shaping you for future effectiveness.
— Understand that God’s preparation process is a form of long-term provision for your future. God is three-dimensional chess, while most believers are playing checkers with their faith and their prayer life. They are asking for relief from their present struggles while God is looking 5, 10, 15, and 20 years down the road, and He is processing us for our long-term purpose.
4. God’s Faithfulness Surpasses Human Betrayal.
The betrayal David faced from the people of Keilah could have left him bitter and distrustful. Instead, it became an opportunity for David to experience God’s faithfulness on a deeper level. When human loyalty fails, God’s unwavering commitment shines even brighter.
How this applies to you:
— Allow God’s faithfulness to heal the wounds of betrayal and the other things we will face from humans who are flawed.
— Trust God’s plan even when people disappoint you. God will never fail you!
— Focus on God’s constant love rather than dwelling on human inconsistency and unreliability.
— Let God’s faithfulness inspire you to remain faithful to others.
— Remember that God’s faithfulness includes His unfailing protection and provision, even when others fail you.
— If you focus on God’s faithfulness more than on people’s inability to be faithful toward you, it will keep you from getting bitter. You may actually get better!
Declaration of Faith:
Father, I thank You for Your continuous blessings that flow in every season of my life.
I rest secure in Your unmerited protection, knowing it surrounds me even when I’m unaware.
Your faithfulness is my anchor, far surpassing any human loyalty or betrayal I may face.
I recognize and appreciate Your daily provisions, both big and small.
Your grace empowers me to thrive, even in the midst of challenges and uncertainties.
I trust in Your perfect timing and sovereignty over every aspect of my journey.
You are developing my character and skills for the greater purpose You have for me.
While I am impatient and I plead for relief from present struggles, I know You are often looking down the road 5, 10, 20 years, and Your overall purpose for my life is more important to You than my temporary relief. I learn to rest in Your big picture, Your long-term plans.
GREATER IS COMING FOR ME as I walk in the fullness of Your grace and faithful love.
I declare this by faith. In Jesus’ name. Amen!
This is Today’s Word. Apply it and prosper!????????????????
