E23 - Hope’s Harbor Gritty Bible Devotions - Seeking GOD – Making time for GOD’s Wisdom and Guidance
Hope’s Harbor
Gritty Bible Devotions
Episode #23
Title: Seeking GOD – Making time for GOD’s Wisdom and Guidance
Date: October 11, 2021
Contact: info@hopesharbor.net
Key verse(s): James 1:5 – ‘If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given.’
Intro: I’m going to draw a lesson from the life of David, before he became king, and look at how David trusted GOD (evidence he spent time with GOD) and looked to GOD when in need while on the run from King Saul.
During these years in David’s life, GOD gave him responsibilities, not only as part of learning to lead but at times to bring David out of despair by keeping him busy caring for others.
When this happens to us, when GOD is teaching us lessons of responsibility, all too often we become so bogged down with the responsibilities and neglect GOD by no longer spending time with Him.
What does this look like when it happens to us? And, how do we usually justify it?
Devotion Focus: Time spent with GOD is well spent
In today’s modern world a downside to conveniences is we are assaulted from every side by the noise coming from those trying to sell us more, the need to keep all the conveniences operating (putting tires on it; a new roof; new flooring; new HVAC, water heater, dishwasher, oh no, the washer and dryer are going out, now the fridge. What about the stovetop oven? Might as well replace it too).
Then I need to maintain a balance of time with work, family, worship and somewhere in there try to rest and relax with ‘time away.’
Ever tried to rest while on ‘vacation?’ You know, the ones at Disney Land/World or any other of a hundred places to ‘go have fun?’
So wherein all of this is GOD?
I’ll tell you… He’s waiting – waiting to hear from us.
The means of communicating with GOD is prayer.
You see, GOD has so much He wants to give us.
Give us what?
First, think of the time you spend with someone you love or even a friend you like being with or hearing from. GOD is intelligent. He has a personality. He created ours. Remember in Genesis chapter 1? Genesis 1:26 – ‘Then GOD said, "Let Us make mankind in Our image, according to Our likeness;”
And then besides enjoying time spent within our friendship, GOD has Wisdom and Guidance in abundance He wants us to have.
David in the Bible trusted GOD with his life. He went to GOD for guidance throughout his life and only got into trouble while king when he ignored GOD’s guidance given as a commandment, “You shall not commit adultery.” Exodus 20:14
Other times he sought GOD’s guidance when in dire straits. When on the run from King Saul David stopped by a small town of Nob in which lived a priest, Ahimelech. It was reported to King Saul later that Ahimelech inquired of the LORD for David.
David was a warrior and there were times he didn’t hesitate to act. At other times he asked GOD what he should do. In 1Samuel 23:4&5 is an account of David asking GOD what to do:
1Samuel 23:4 – ‘Then David inquired of the LORD once again. And the LORD answered him and said, "Arise, go down to Keilah. For I will deliver the Philistines into your hand."’
1Samuel 23:5 – ‘And David and his men went to Keilah and fought with the Philistines, struck them with a mighty blow, and took away their livestock. So David saved the inhabitants of Keilah.’
Just before becoming king, David was threatened with death by his own men when they returned from a raid and found the village they used as a base of operations destroyed and their families taken captive. Listen to David’s distress and what he did about it:
Samuel 30:6 – ‘Now David was greatly distressed, for the people spoke of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and his daughters. But David strengthened himself in the LORD his God.’
Hear that? Prayer strengthened David ‘in the LORD his GOD.’
1Samuel 30:7 – ‘Then David said to Abiathar the priest, Ahimelech's son, "Please bring the ephod here to me." And Abiathar brought the ephod to David.’
1Samuel 30:8 - So David inquired of the LORD, saying, "Shall I pursue this troop? Shall I overtake them?" And He answered him, "Pursue, for you shall surely overtake them and without fail recover all."
So let me ask you – what is going on in your life in which you need GOD?
Are you willing to spend time sitting quietly, with your Bible and read passages containing promises that fit the trouble you’re having, or the trouble you’re in?
If you’re willing to seek GOD during this time and stay with it until you hear from GOD, not an audible voice, but you receive insight from the Bible, or GOD speaks to your spirit by an impression on your mind, you’ll be glad you made the effort
Summary: GOD has all we need or could want, but it’s hard to realize this truth because we are not allowed a moment’s break from the noise and pressing issues that are latched onto us via our minds.
Some responsibilities of course are valid. Others not so much so.
Regardless, our loving GOD desires that we seek Him daily. First for companionship, then to get our need for Guidance and Wisdom met.
The wonderful thing is when we get GOD’s Guidance, it is bathed in His Wisdom!
Action to consider: Will you make time each day soon after rising from bed to spend a few minutes with GOD?
I read a couple of devotionals each morning and then read a couple of passages in the Bible – one from the Old Testament and one from the New.
Next week’s devotion: I want to look at the Shield of Faith in Ephesians 6:16 – ‘… above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one.’