In this small section of scripture, David takes the time to thank God for all that God is, for all that He has done, and to celebrate what He has in store for His people in the future. David knows the Lord’s goodness, and that comes because he takes the time to seek out God, to listen and hear Him closely. David desired to hear what the Lord really had in store for him and his people. He wanted to do what was right for the Lord and for the people he ruled over.
David sought guidance and direction from the Lord. He heard His words and trusted in them. Wouldn’t it be great if more people living today were like David? Imagine what the world would look like if we turned to God in times of anxiousness or uncertainty. What would the world look like if leaders heard the words of Lord to help them lead? It would be a different world, that’s for sure!
David didn’t always know what to do, but instead of taking his best stab at it, he turned to God. He listened and then acted upon God’s response. In chapter 16 of 1 Chronicles, David lifts up the Lord and thanks Him for all that He has done. He is very thankful. He’s thankful because God didn’t let him down. God won’t let us down. We have lots to be thankful for. Especially as I write this on such a significant day, as we remember the story of 9/11, I think about how troubled and lost much of our world is. We’re searching for safety and we’re looking for a way that we as human beings can provide that. I’m not sure that we will ever find complete safety in this world; however we can rest assured that God has promised good to us. God has done wonderful acts and we can always look to Him and seek his face. I think even David recognized the world then wasn’t perfect and that it wouldn’t be perfect. He did what he could to lead his people and follow the Lord and that is honorable and to be commended. We too, can live to serve God and others each day. As you go out and serve, remember to thank the one who empowered you to serve, thank the one who daily strengthens you to serve.
So this week has been crazy busy. Actually who am I kidding, the last 5 months of my life have been crazy busy. And on that note, how does that make me any different from the billions of other people in this world with places to go, people to see and things to do? And who’s to say my to-do list is even that important? When I was reading through the chapter, the thoughts on my mind were how behind I was, how many other things I had to do, how I had to get up early and should have already been asleep. The LAST thing on my mind was the idea that prayer was a blessed liberty. If anything, in that moment it was something on my to-do list, a burden even.
Yet the first words out of David’s mouth are “I have been bold enough to pray for you”. Another translation speaks of David having the “courage” to pray to God. I definitely re-read that verse a couple of times, and each time was confused as to why David might need boldness to pray to God. And the words that kept popping into my head were “honor” and “privilege”. That not just anyone could pray, but those with the strength and at that, those with the authority. David saw it as a privilege to pray to God. A valuable liberty. It wasn’t a right or an entitlement or a requirement of faith, but a privilege that came with having a right relationship with God. Prayer as a privilege. The thought had never crossed my mind. But it made me stop and think.
We can come to God in prayer in any moment, in any state and in an instant be covered in his grace. We don’t have to worry about having the courage, or the boldness or the guts to pray to God.
Yet David’s humility before God is something to be admired, even imitated. If I were to think of prayer as a privilege, as an incredible opportunity to have direct communication with my creator, how might that impact on my to-do list? If I were to begin each moment of prayer by thanking God for the honor of coming before Him, how might that change my perspective? Time with God was never created to be a burden, but a glorious privilege we have as His children.
So this week I challenge you to join me in seeing devotional time as a privilege, as an honor. And see how that changes things.
This week think about this!
Humility Time Blessings
Sisters in Christ,
~Allison & Elizabeth
Hey! I had to fix a typo. ;) You had "This week thing about this!" and I made it "This week think about this!"
ReplyDeleteYou two are both wonderfully wise, and I love what you have to say about this! It's also kinda cool that you were able to zero in on one verse or phrase to really dig into. I love the revelations that you were able to have.
ReplyDeleteElizabeth: Where in your life would you want to be more like David?
Allison: How can you/I/everyone else go about making prayer more of a blessing than an obligation?
I wish I took more time to pray and hear God's responses to my prayers. I think that may help me in the work that I do...would keep things in the right perspective. I would feel more like I'm being guided to serve and not aimlessly attempting serve on my own. Does that make sense?
ReplyDeleteI think it starts with your perspective going into it. "I get to do this" rather than "I have/need to do this". And I think a lot of that comes with beginning prayer with praise and thanks. For me, it really was just the realization that I can have direct communication with the God who made me, knows me through and through, and has incredible plans for me. I get to have that, to go to Him in every circumstance.
ReplyDeleteAnd then literally taking prayer off my to-do list. The more it becomes a privilege, the less you have to remind yourself to pray. You look forward to it and value it.
Awesome thoughts about one tough book! I'm not sure you have many of the faithful looking to comment on 1 Chronicles.
ReplyDeleteElizabeth- I love that you point out the "what if more people turned to God" scenario. It actually inspired me to remember that I should always turn to God. To wake the day and start with God and walk close throughout. What can be difficult is the time it takes to discern God's answer. How do we live practically while waiting for an answer? How might that look for a leader who needs to make a decision quickly? How does it work when we are privileged to only a part of the will of God?
Allison- Great thought about the privilege of prayer. I have already started working on your challenge by meeting my devotional time in the morning with joy...and actually just doing it, putting it first rather than last. Your words about being able to come to God at any time and be covered in Grace are comforting, but I still feel like I need some courage to come before God. Especially when I have messed up. It's hard to name that especially when God already knows. It's like the Relient K song "I Am Understood?" Ever feel like that?